Roller Gator is a low-budget film, released on home video in 1996. Written and directed by Donald G. Jackson, the story is about a baby gator note , who can talk, trying to flee a greedy carnival owner (Joe Estevez). The gator meets up with a young woman named P.J. (Sandra Shuker) who agrees to help him reunite with his owner (Conrad Brooks) while being stalked by the Dark Ninja hired by the carnival owner.
The film was almost unknown until it was featured by the crew of RiffTrax. Watch
as they struggle to get through this flick.
The film features the following tropes:
- Comically Missing the Point: Dennis' nephew Reggie tries to ask P.J. out. Given he's working for the main villain he should know the answer to that.P.J.: "I'd rather kiss goat cheese."Reggie: "You like that too?"(P.J. rolls her eyes)
- Do Not Call Me "Paul": Reggie keeps calling his uncle "Uncle Chichi", although Chico Dennis insists "Mr. Dennis" (not even "Uncle Chico"). Also, the talking gator hates being called "Baby Gator".
- The Ghost: P.J. says she's currently staying with her aunt, but her aunt never appears at all in the film.
- Instant Costume Change: The Dark Ninja pretends to be one of PJ's friends and is dressed in regular clothes. The second she snatches the backpack from Sligshot (thinking the gator is inside), she's back in her ninja garb.
- Known Only by Their Nickname: "Slingshot", "Dark Ninja", and "Karate Instructor". It's almost as if the writer was too lazy to think up actual names.
- Mascot with Attitude: The worst example of this trope. The Gator's "attitude" is nothing but juvenile insults, cheap jabs and aggravatingly bad attempts at rapping.
- Ms. Fanservice: PJ spends her whole first meeting with the gator in just her bikini. During the 2nd half of the film, she skates in a sports bra and jean shorts.
- Noodle Incident: Mr. Dennis and his nephew briefly talk of an incident where they had to hose down some clowns who were stealing taffy. On the Rifftrax commentary they lament that such a scene wasn't featured in the film.
- Sanity Slippage: Mr. Dennis progressively becomes more unhinged, especially upon learning one of his minions is now helping P.J. and the gator.
- By the end of the film in the Rifftrax version, Mike, Bill and Kevin are Laughing Mad and firing automatic weapons until the credits are over.
- Sequel Hook: There's a plug for a "Roller Gator 2" during the end credits. Which never got made...
- Sidekick Creature Nuisance: Take a guess.
- Spiking the Camera: PJ's actress Sandra Shuker does this a few times in the opening shots when she's wandering around the carnival, which makes no sense. It's especially odd, as in a couple shots she's clearly the one holding the camera!
- Unusually Uninteresting Sight: When P.J. first meets the talking gator, the first thing she finds that's strange about him is that he's purple. As opposed to... talking gator.
