An Exercise In Nonsense

This movie tries so hard to be funny, yet it falls flat every time. Just another example of recycled ideas repackaged with women in an attempt to appeal to a certain audience.

The movie is made so realistic it has a lot of that WoW feeling at the right moments and never tooo over the top. the suspense is done so well and the emotion is felt. Very well put together with the music and all.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

Allen Garfield (billed as Allen Goorwitz) plays the owner of a concert hall in Los Angeles, preparing for a New Year's Eve rock and blues blowout, who is threatened with a takeover attempt by slimy concert promoter Ed Begley Jr. Director Allan Arkush knows how to make a cult film, and this one comes complete with hip casting, some great music, wild gags and in-jokes, but what is accomplished with cheerful rebellion is soon mitigated by shapeless scenes and static slapstick, one out-of-control, overeager sequence after another. Despite the work of three credited screenwriters, the dialogue is pothead-smug and has no snap, and Arkush frequently resorts to tastelessness to get a cheap laugh (such as a naked babe sharing space in a bathtub with a guy in scuba gear). The overall tone is jovial and chummy, as if we were co-conspirators in the picture's euphoric craziness, but Garfield is too intense an actor for his role--he pretends to have a good time, much like the rest of the cast, and it doesn't wash. There isn't, in fact, one character in this group as lovable as Riff Randell from Arkush's 1979 midnight-movie entry, "Rock 'n' Roll High School". ** from ****

If you long for the days of 'festival seating", freaks, Frisbees, and free love at the Filmore, find yourself a copy of Rock n Roll High School Director; Alan Arkush's High-larious salute to Bill Graham's Rock and Roll Shrine. Packed with celebrities from the film world as well as classic rockers turning in some great comic performances, such as Lou Reed as a Dylanesque recluse on Dante's cab ride, and John Densmore (actual drummer from the Doors) as the quintessential, wild man on the skins and perfect foil to Malcolm MacDowells Hyper-Jagger/Bowie amalgam. With characters like a walking joint, levitating, hookah vending Rastafarians and every jonesers dream, in the quixotic, cloud of smoke appearing,minute-man drug dealer: Electric Larry, be warned Get Crazy is no after school special. People do drugs and nobody cries and nobody dies. LSD is actually used as an anti-evil solution, and they must seek the well played Captain Trips like character to translate.With a great soundtrack of music spanning genres from punk and glam to classic Chicago blues, featuring the song Hoochie Coochie Man done at least three ways, this is a great party film. I have worn out the copy I recorded from cable 20 years ago, showing it to nearly everyone I have ever called friend. I would love to see a 25th anniversary DVD with any and all extra footage or 'making of" video, that may exist. I don't know if it is even available on DVD. I'm available, am versed in Avid editing, and would work cheap if anyone out there can make it happen (e-mail me).Anyway if you have the chance of seeing this movie, grab a pint of Ben & Jerry's Half Baked, and prepare to Flip Out (alternate title)

The music selected for this movie is just perfect. Don't expect to be watching a serious movie and you may have to watch it more then once to "get it". I'm very disappointed that it's not a bigger classic, and I hope a sequel is never made (can't stand sequels personally, they always seem to ruin the original). There are drug references but done in a very funny (meant to be stupid) manner. Don't expect Cheech & Chong type drug references, it's not a Cheech & Chong movie. If you made it through you twenties without seeing this you missed out. I've personally rang in quite a few new years with this movie. And now that I got at least one teen it's time to start ring in some more new years with this movie. Would like to share more, but I hate giving clues to movies.

I just finished watching it for the 18th time...I only watch it on New Year's Eve. I first found this movie in 1985 and have watched it EVERY New Years Eve since, except for New Year's 1990 while I was in Saudi Arabia for Desert Shield/Storm.The name of this movie fits perfectly, it IS "CRAZY"! Every time I watch it, I notice something different, especially different characters in the crowd at the concert and other things in the background. Malcolm McDowell is one of my all time favorite actors and he puts on a great show, although he should stick to acting and NOT singing. Lou Reed plays a pretty decent song during the credits, so don't turn off the tape as soon as the credits start to roll! The other music consists of the same song in different forms, blues, metal, and whatever you want to call the version that Malcolm McDowell sings. It's well worth a viewing, preferably on with friends and on New Years Eve!!