Strictly average movie

Absolutely amazing

A film with more than the usual spoiler issues. Talking about it in any detail feels akin to handing you a gift-wrapped present and saying, "I hope you like it -- It's a thriller about a diabolical secret experiment."

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

Shame on anybody who is trying to defend this absolute waste of studio money. Dennis Quaid - what happened, man? This movie sucks...real, real hard. The writing, the acting, the crappy lip-synching. I mean, is the story of Jerry Lee Lewis really worth telling? Ultra-fanatical bible belt redneck pianist marries his child cousin. Great - can I see a movie about someone interesting now? So sad that this is one of Trey Wilson's last acting jobs. That John Doe guy as Myra's dad was alright, though.

one reviewer here said Quaid "channeled" Jerry Lee...problem is, Jerry, still very much with us, thankfully, in 1989, was busy nursing a fifth of Bourbon at his club in Memphis > especially since JLL insisted on recording the soundtrack himself, no Quaid in imitation, there is no need for any mystical transference.having said all that...this film is okay for the young, or those who just want to enjoy the music and get an "idea" of his career, say from 1956 to 1966.Quaid's portrayal is (teenage) letter thin, Lee Lewis a real wild child who goes on impulse 24-7. no deep thinker...not the genius who found a way to reconcile musically, gospel and pop. he marries his 13 year old 2nd cousin because... he can. any thought about how a 23 year old can actually be *in love* with someone so young? no...he's just rockin' up a storm! I did enjoy the portrayals of Sun Record Owner and Music Visionary Sam Phillips' Brother Judd and Jerry Lee's cousin Jimmy (Reverend Jimmy Swaggart). production numbers look like MTV rejects.

The events that stopped the first wave of Rock n' Roll......Elvis went into the army...Buddy Holly died...Chuck Berry got arrested...Little Richard quit and became a man of the cloth...and Jerry Lee Lewis married his 13 year old cousin. This film is a fun-filled, rocking, over-the-top, snazzy, story of the "Killer". It never lets up on the music (all original performances by Jerry Lee) and the cast is doing nothing more than having a good time with it all. A few 50's style insertions of some "song and dance" numbers work magnificently.During the downfall, which is presented honestly and somberly we understand the devastation and effect on all involved. But just like Lewis himself, it rebounds with guts and gusto and never misses a color saturated beat.No one ever put out those great balls of fire, he played it hard and he played it forever."I can play anything, anytime, anywhere" says Jerry......ain't it the truth.

Great Balls of Fire! (1989)**** (out of 4) Terrific bio-pic follows Jerry Lee Lewis (Dennis Quaid) as he quickly rises up the charts and appears to be about to take over the king of rock 'n roll from Elvis but the media and fans turn on him when they discover that he's married to his 13-year-old cousin (Winona Ryder). For the life of me I'll never understand some of the negative reviews this film gets. Yes, Lewis had a pretty hard life full of violence, drugs, alcohol and various other items that really don't get shown here but the point of this movie wasn't to be a dark and disturbing movie about abuse but instead it was a movie about the glories of rock 'n roll and on that level the movie is a grand slam with great music and great performances. There's no denying that it appears the spirit of Lewis got into Quaid because he delivers a remarkable performance and it's a real shame that he didn't even get an Oscar-nomination. It's very hard for any actor to try and play a personality like Lewis but Quaid has no trouble and in my opinion delivers one of the best performances by an actor playing a real-life person. The spirit, fire and energy he brings to the film is just remarkable and each time I view the film the performance impresses me even more. He gets a strong supporting cast to work with him with Ryder also turning in a great performance as she really captures the spirit of a 13-year-old who gets caught up with his older cousin and his lifestyle. Stephen Tobolowsky and Trey Wilson are terrific as the Phillips brothers and we get Alec Baldwin in nice form playing Lewis' cousin Jimmy Swaggart. The movie features Lewis doing his own singing and piano playing and it's just so energetic that you'll have no problem shaking your leg and wanting to get up and dance. The soundtrack features all his classic tunes and they sound remarkably well and pack one terrific punch. Again, there were several very dark years in the career of Lewis but this film really doesn't look at them and I don't have a problem with it. Most music bios are full of the dark stuff so it's rather refreshing to see something that has fun with the subject matter. Yes, a dark film could have been made about the alcohol. Yes, a dark film could have made about the marriage. This film could have done a lot of things but what it does is deliver entertainment and an energy that is hard to top.