Superbug,
Super Agent

(aka SUPERBUG RIDES AGAIN!, SUPERBUG, SUPER AGENTS!,
EIN KÄFER GIBT VOLLGAS)
(1972, West Germany/Switzerland) color 91 minutes
Barbara Film
Screenplay: Rudolf Zehetgruber
Music: Jürgen Elert
Cinematography: Rüdiger Meichsner, Hannes Staudinger, Acácio de Almeida
Produced by Rudolf Zehetgruber
Directed by Rudolf Zehetgruber

With: Rudolf Zehetgruber (as "Robert Mark") (Jimmy Bondi), Heidi Hansen (Tamara), Joachim Fuchsberger (Plato), Hans Waldherr (Max Dralle), Kathrin Oginski, George Goodman, Arturo Duarte, Ottorino Polentini

English-Language version:
(1977) Coordinator / K-Tel

Plot Outline: Jimmy Bondi and his Super VW Beetle go to Portugal to fight counterfeiters.

***

Unbearably dull sequel to the very dull SUPERBUG is, if anything, a botched tongue-in-cheek secret agent adventure, with sad sack Jimmy Bondi (the child's James Bond?) happening upon an assortment of goofy gangsters and spies in Lisbon, Portugal.

In addition to a gratuitous shot of Bondi's ass as he showers, there are chicks in mini-skirts and bad leather (one of whom has clearly visible nipples), a gay lawyer midget, a Western-style thug who keeps saying, "You think I'm dumb, but I'm not!", and a crime kingpin who's dubbed like James Mason.

The oddest thing about this film, however, is the mysterious "General Service," the company that Jimmy and his sometimes-girlfriend work for. It seems to be a cross between a car garage, an espionage bureau, a high-tech weapons development center, and a Fantasy Island-style group who supply made-to-order dreams: "We make dreams come true!" and "We take pains for your brain!"

Some of their weapons are straight out of cheapjack 007 movies: in addition to the many feats of Superbug DuDu (called "DoDo" in this film), there is a belt with a laser beam weapon, and a coffeepot that can make things levitate. One of the odder tricks occurs when Bondi sprays some junk on DuDu and it turns into a giant oatmeal-like boulder!

DuDu does a lot of sailing in this film, obviously being towed by a barge, and various body parts stick out to knock out villains. The constantly wisecracking DuDu prints a lot of jokes on its computer view-screen, but they're in untranslated German!

Another odd invention, this one owned by the villain, is a hovercraft of some sort that rides both on land and water. Add to this excruciating dubbing and low-rent production values and you have a complete botch job, an odd mix of stupid adult thriller and miserable children's comedy.

(We are unclear whether another title, SUPERBUG; THE WILD ONE, is a third film in the series or a reissue of the original SUEPRBUG. Also, is yet another title, RETURN OF SUPERBUG, a reissue title for SUPERBUG, SUPER AGENTS, or another obscure entry in this most unwelcome series?)

Video/DVD availability: VHS (CIC Video, oop)