RiffTrax Shorts Season 20 Episode 8 Let's Pretend: Magic Sneakers

Breaking: RiffTrax has just dropped another episode of their 20th season of Shorts, featuring their signature blend of satire and commentary over bizarre educational films from yesteryear. This time, the gang takes on the classic short film Let's Pretend: Magic Sneakers.

The episode opens with the RiffTrax crew, Mike Nelson, Bill Corbett, and Kevin Murphy, introducing the short's premise: two young boys named Jack and Tommy are shown misbehaving in gym class while their stern teacher, Ms. Smith, tries in vain to wrangle them. Enter a mysterious old man who offers the boys a pair of magic sneakers, promising they'll improve their athletic skills in no time.

The film cuts to Jack and Tommy, now the proud owners of said sneakers, as they demonstrate their newfound athletic prowess on the basketball court, the track, and the gymnasium. The boys are able to run faster, jump higher, and even perform somersaults and handstands with ease, much to the chagrin of their classmates. The RiffTrax crew jumps in, riffing on the cheesy special effects and the exaggerated reactions of the other students.

But of course, there's a catch: the sneakers can only work for as long as the boys believe they're magical. As soon as they lose faith in their power, the sneakers lose their effect. The boys soon learn this lesson the hard way, as their confidence wavers and their classmates ridicule them for their failed attempts at feats of athleticism.

The RiffTrax gang pounces on this aspect of the film, with quips about the boys' "magical thinking" and their sudden "crisis of faith." They also point out the film's various inconsistencies, from the vague explanation of the sneakers' origin to the clearly staged and awkward moments of the boys' supposed sporting triumphs.

As the film reaches its climax, with Jack and Tommy facing off against the school's star athlete in a dramatic relay race, the RiffTrax crew offers up some truly hilarious snark, from sarcastic cheers for "Italy" (for no apparent reason) to cynical asides about the relative athleticism of a giant rubber ball. They even take time to poke fun at the film's closing credits, which feature one of the cast members dancing goofily in front of a backdrop of stars and stripes.

All in all, this episode of RiffTrax Shorts is a treat for anyone who loves a good riff on a bad film. The film itself is a classic of the genre, with all the hilariously clunky elements that make it ripe for the picking. And of course, Mike, Bill, and Kevin are at the top of their game, delivering jokes that range from the silly to the sarcastic to the downright absurd. If you're a fan of RiffTrax or just love a good laugh, you won't want to miss this one.