Boldly going where no parents have gone before.Only in the 90s could such a far-out premise such as this exist. Falling somewhere between the science fiction based special effects of Hell Comes to Frogtown (1988) and the offbeat, campy humor of Mel Brooks' Spaceballs (1987), Mom and Dad Save the World is fueled by the same nostalgic comedy culture Suburban Commando (1991) or Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989).
For what it is, the actors play their roles rather well even despite a nonsensical plot. Speaking of whom, the film stars a triple threat of comedic talent in the form of Teri Garr (Young Frankenstein, Nightscream), Jeffrey Jones (Howard the Duck, Beetlejuice) and the ever awkwardly amusing Jon Lovitz (Coneheads, The Critic) as Emperor Spengo.
The story (there is one, it just doesn't make a lot of sense) is a soft-headed parody of sci-fi tropes such as "Super Death Ray Lasers" and intergalactic conquest that acts as some sort of marital rehab weekend for Marge and Dick Nelson (played by Teri Garr and Jeffrey Jones respectively). There's probes, action, adventure, stupid shenanigans and yes, even a little romance along the way.
I should also note the great job done by Thomas Zell, Brian Penikas, Bill Sturgeon, Eddie Paul and the rest of the special effects team for their part in making the alien world come alive. I remember being scared stupid by one scene in the film where Dick Nelson is attacked by a pack of hopping, killer mushrooms (known as Lub-Lubs) in a sewer... to this day I still blame that scene for my aversion towards any ground-based fungi.
OMG we LOVE this movie! We reviewed it not long ago, and thought we were the only ones who knew it. This is such a gem from our childhoods :)