Starring Daniel Stern, Malcom McDowell, Gail Edwards, and Allen Garfield
Directed by Allen Arkush
Music and Lyrics by various
Let's begin 2022 with a bang...and one of the oddest movies I've ever seen. In the last year, I've watched a lot of truly weird musicals - guy uses a genie's magic to become a soldier during World War II, a sunny 50's movie about three former friends who find they hate each other, a rock opera about repossessing human organs - but this one takes the nutty fruitcake. How weird does the story of a huge rock concert put on by a promoter trying to save his theater look today? Let's start at the Saturn Theater, as owner and promoter Max Wolfe (Garfield) is about to take off on a plastic rocket, and find out...
The Story: Max holds a legendarily insane rock concert every New Year's Eve. He and his crew, including stage manager Neil Allen (Stern), Joey the young stagehand (Dan Frischman), former stage manager Willie Loman (Edwards), and Violetta the lighting director (Mary Woronov), are preparing for their big show...but first the fire marshal says no fireworks, then wealthy promoter and stadium owner Colin Beverly (Ed Begley Jr.) wants to buy his theater. He says no, then seemingly collapses from an apparent heart attack. His slimy nephew Sammy (Miles Chapin) wants the theater and is more open to the deal.
Even when it turns out Max isn't quite dying, he uses his near-death experience to round up a truly insane amount of talent. There's Captain Cloud (Howard Kaylan) and the Rainbow Telegraph, a psychedelic hippie group that arrives complete with painted bus and magical drugs in the water cooler. King Blues (Bill Henderson), the King of the Blues, is somehow paired with a Jewish backing group. Nada (Lori Eastside) and her 15-piece pop-punk group are the only ones who can control insane punk rocker Piggy (Lee Ving). Elusive folk rocker Auden (Lou Reed) takes his sweet time coming, while bored long-time star Reggie Wanker (McDowell) wonders what's the point of it all. Before the end of the night, much LSD will be consumed, and a grand and noisy time will be had by all...except the bad guys, of course.
The Song and Dance: If you've been looking for that musical cross between This Is Spinal Tap and Animal House, have I got a piece of lunacy for you. There's more wacky stuff happening in this film then in 10 comedies from the same year. Each act is supposed to represent one from real-life, and they hit the mark more often than not. McDowell actually puts in one of his best performances as the bored rock star who finds the kind of advice he's always wanted from an, er, part of himself, Begley revels in his rare villain role, and Stern has a great time as the harried manager. The costumes in particular beautifully represent the outfits worn by real-life rock stars between 1968 and 1983, from the snappy suits on the blues men to Eastside's brief cheerleading uniform to the rainbow tie-dye on the hippie group.
Favorite Number: Each group does a version of the blues standard "Hoochie Coochie Man" in their own style. McDowell gets the most into it, while Henderson's is probably closest to what it's supposed to sound like. Lee Ving's punk-rock rendition obscures the lyrics but pumps up the crowds. It gets so crazy, people start jumping off the balcony...and others judge them! McDowell has a great time tearing into his other big number, "Hot Shot," as well, electrifying the crowd with his showmanship and moves before he finds his wife with Joey and has his breakdown. Henderson also has a great time with what we see of "The Blues Had a Baby and They Named It Rock and Roll." Even the Jewish band really gets into it, swaying happily with the music.
My favorite number at the concert was by far Eastside's "I'm Not Going to Take It Anymore," a feminist anthem that gives Eastside and her women a chance to show off their splits and vocal dexterity. Check out her cartwheels and flips spoofing Toni Basil's hit video for "Hey Mickey!" Oh, and don't cut out before the credits! Lou Reed finally gets his number, "My Little Sister," sung to appropriately Stacey Nelkin as Neil's sister Susie, and it's almost kind of charming.
Trivia: The Saturn Theater actually exists in LA. It's real name is the Wiltern, and it was used for location shooting because the owners were about to remodel it anyway and Arkush and his crew could trash it to their heart's content. The Wiltern is currently a mixed-use venue that does feature, among other acts, rock concerts.
What I Don't Like: Obviously not for you if you aren't a fan of the genres involved or are looking for a more subdued or traditional show. A lot of the humor is often juvenile, frequently stupid, and very often too weird for it's own good. (A man has a long conversation with a certain body part, for crying out loud. Even Malcom McDowell was shocked at that one.) Heed the R rating, too. There's plenty of sex and many drug references along with all of that rock and roll, including a drug salesman as a major character and a huge walking marijuana cigarette randomly wandering around.
The Big Finale: 2022 is off to a terrific start. I'm glad I discovered this one. If you're a fan of hard rock, blues, or other wacky "frat" comedies from the late 70's and early 80's like Animal House or Caddyshack, you'll have just as much fun ringing in the New Year with the wildest concert ever.
Home Media: It finally came out on DVD and Blu-Ray early last month from Kino International, which is currently the only way to see it.
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