Two out of
Five stars
Running time:
95 mins
Though this will have a certain cultish appeal for fans of Flash Gordon and Dan Dare, it's sadly not as good as it should have been, thanks to a disappointing script.
What's it all about?
Filmed in "thrilling Card-o-Vision", Captain Eager and the Mark of Voth stars James Vaughan as Dan Dare-style space adventurer Captain Eager, who's tasked with investigating his arch nemesis, Colonel Regamun (Richard Leaf). Eager duly recruits his faithful team – sidekick Scrutty (Mark Heap), old flame Jenny (Tamsin Grieg), loyal friend Professor Moon (Nick Mellersh) and Scamp the Space Dog (Petal) – and they set off in his trusty space rocket, the Victory.
However, little do they know that they're heading straight into a trap, set by the villainous Regamun and his sexy assistant Carmina (Lindsay Carr). Can our heroes foil Regamun's deadly plot and uncover the truth behind the mysterious Mark of Voth?
The Good
The press notes proudly proclaim that "you have never seen a film like Captain Eager and the Mark of Voth" and they're probably right, although it is a little like Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow and also quite a bit like Plan 9 From Outer Space. Essentially, its low-budget rubbishness forms a large part of its charm so your enjoyment of the film will largely depend on how fondly you remember Dan Dare comics or the Flash Gordon serials.
Vaughan makes a decent old-fashioned lead and Grieg is delightful as Jenny (sounding as if she's stepped out of Brief Encounter), while there's strong comic support from Mark Heap. There are also several good jokes, from amusing homages to Star Trek (a dancing green alien lady) to Scamp the Space Dog's memorable first appearance.
The Bad
The story is nigh on incomprehensible, even with the occasional interjections of the Expositionite. Similarly, the plot drags considerably and the script isn't nearly as funny as it should have been.
Worth seeing?
Ultimately, if you're after something a little bit different then Captain Eager and the Mark of Voth is worth seeing, but its disappointing script means that it frequently feels like a wasted opportunity.