Highly Overrated But Still Good

A bit overrated, but still an amazing film

n my opinion it was a great movie with some interesting elements, even though having some plot holes and the ending probably was just too messy and crammed together, but still fun to watch and not your casual movie that is similar to all other ones.

Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.

Greetings again from the darkness. Yes, I readily admit to being spoiled. Attending university in Austin, Texas meant (cheap) access to some truly amazing bands and music. Some of these performers went on to various levels of success, while others just kind of vanished. Because of this, I easily relate to Lee Aronsohn's nostalgic and emotional mission to document the history of his favorite band, Magic Music, and pull off a nearly miraculous reunion concert some 40 years after the band broke up. Sure, his roots are Boulder, Colorado in the early 1970's, but the connection he feels is universal.When an early title card informs us that the film's soundtrack consists of various unreleased songs from 1970-76, you will likely wonder why you should have any interest in a local Colorado band from five decades ago - especially one that never even had a recording contract. When we hear the music for the first time, we begin to understand. It's a mixture of The Byrds, The Hollies, and CSNY with a dose of Grateful Dead. These hippies produced some beautiful harmonies! And hippies they were. Name another band that was formed at Pygmy Farms, a naturalistic living commune. The band members often lived in school buses in the mountains, only returning to Boulder to play music - often on the college campus.The history of the band is fairly interesting, and over the years, it was made up of 7-8 different guys with nicknames like Tode, Flatbush, Poonah, and Spoons. They were the opening act for both Jesse Colin Young and Cat Stevens, and turned down their shot at a record deal because they steadfastly refused to add a drummer. Of course, 40 years later, they admit that "drums are pretty cool". A total lack of business sense stood in the way of the wide world hearing their music. We've often known of bands breaking up due to a battle of egos, and this one is no different. After the breakup in 1976, the band members spread out across North America, their music only a distant memory to those who had heard them play live.Enter TV writer/producer Lee Aronsohn, known for two mega-hits, "The Big Bang Theory" and "Two and a Half Men". When Mr. Aronsohn became a father, he found himself singing Magic Music songs to his young daughter. Since he could never escape the music of his college years, he decided to see if he could recreate it. This is as much a personal journey for Aronsohn as it is a history of a band that never "made" it. His efforts to track down the band and arrange for the 2015 reunion concert are impressive and quite emotional. While you are likely unfamiliar with Magic Music, there is a certain pleasure and satisfaction in imagining one's favorite band getting back together for one last jam. It's obvious this meant a great deal to Mr. Aronsohn, and it's a reminder of the power of music ... and the magic.

This film does a fantastic job of giving you a look into another time. It's obvious that Lee Aronson has a genuine enthusiasm and passion for this project as well as for the band's music. It does a superb job of showing but not telling each character's personality traits. The members of the band each have such memorable presences. A must-see if you're a music lover or Colorado native!

Lee Aronsohn did an amazing job making the film feel super nostalgic! I really felt like I individually knew these band members and understood what they went through. The way the film was structured was amazing front start to finish and I felt engaged throughout the whole jam. A must see!

Anyone who has ever loved music has probably had at least one of their "favorite'" bands break up. It happens all the time. But most of us don't know what happened to them later, and most of us don't remember their songs 40 years after the breakup...especially if they never released an album. But Lee Aronsohn did, and had the time and the abilities to get his favorite band back together and make it into a movie.That's the premise of the film, which is equal parts this nostalgia fest of telling the "after the breakup" story from a band that was truly living out the hippie ideals that so many aspired to, and a story about one guy's love for this band that, let's be honest, most people have never heard of. It's sweet, it's endearing, its educational, and its fascinating. If you're looking for a feel-good story, a bit of history on what happened to (some) hippies, and some really great music, give this one a watch.