Produced at a time of tumult for the cult-favorite television series, the _MST3k_ movie touched down in theaters just as the show’s original run on Comedy Central came to an abrupt end. A fan-powered letter writing campaign would revive it for three more years on the Sci-Fi channel, but a shallow pool of bad movies and the departure of founding cast member Trace Beaulieu made this second iteration feel somewhat lesser than the first. So here, upon the silver screen, lies what is effectively a farewell address from the glory days. They step out on a high note.

The subject of Mike and the bots’ mockery is _This Island Earth_, a 1955 science fiction classic that’s better-known than their usual fodder but no less ripe for ridicule. Its dated special effects and self-serious tone provide ample opportunity for zingers and the boys, still in their prime as a trio, don’t miss a beat. _MST_’s theatrical version is paced a little differently, actually running shorter than the typical episode and with longer pauses between jokes (there was legitimate worry that larger, louder audiences would drown out the puns at their usual rate), but the old quirky magic still shines and the team’s batting average is through the roof.

An absolute side-splitter, whether you’ve seen it a dozen times before or never experienced the _Mystery Science Theater_ treatment at all. It’s been a few years since I sat down with this one, but I was shocked by just how many of its quotes and one-liners still crop up in my own daily lexicon. I’d wager the same is true for any serious fan of the show.