Just so...so bad

Good concept, poorly executed.

This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.

Peter Boyle (Young Frankenstein, Everybody Loves Raymond)made an uncredited cameo. It is a scene where Del walks into the studio. Sally Starr, a hero on 1950's Philly kid shows, asks "Uncle Pete" to draw Del a picture. In fact, that is what Peter Boyle's real father, Uncle Pete, did on Philly TV in the 50's, drawing pictures between cartoons on his after school show.

A previous commenter made mention of this film being akin to "Dirty Dancing". I think it is closer to "Hairspray", the plot lines are similar (getting on a dance show, how the crowd you are with can affect you) and the soundtracks to both are indeed quite wonderful. Apparently, Ricki Lake is in both pictures, to boot!While "Hairspray" deserves praise for many things, including, as one critic put it, being so very much entwined in the 1962 Baltimore era it is almost like science fiction, I rather like to root for "In" Crowd, as it has quite a few nice small touches; Del's little brother runs up to him in the middle of the night for fear of monsters and Del lets him crawl into bed with him, Vicky's father's rather inappropriate affection gives us a sad, short insight into her bad home life, the montage of old music shows at the beginning of the film, the silent, paralyzing rage that Parker goes into when he sees Dick Clark (Clark left Philadelphia to go national and Parker never got his national break) to name a few.It is certainly contrived in spots (some of the dance showcases are pleasant enough, but almost unnecessary), clichéd in some (Vicky's boyfriend is seen near the end of the film during a spooooooky thunderstorm), but it is well...earnest in its intent. The dialog is very good and the performances are at worst, very good, almost to a person. The ending is not a perfectly happy one, nor is it a dour one. It fits well with the movie. Rent it or see it. While not a classic, it is certainly better than it should be.

I wasn't going to comment until I read one other comment extolling the "hotness" of Donovan Leitch. As my subject line says, Jennifer Runyon is no slouch either. Not really a tough city girl, more of a naive, simple minded girl who is very appealing. One of the main stars of a dance show, she has to be one of the least talented dancers in the movie and the most watched. But, as in the scene at the bus stop, she does the best "standing there" and groovin' to the music I have ever seen...hehehe... She is the catalyst for the movie's action and does an excellent job as the female lead...

This coming-of-age movie is sort of a male version of "Dirty Dancing" with a young man from a wealthy suburb falling for a tough city girl. The best thing about it is the soundtrack, which is packed with undeservedly overlooked R & B from the '60s--great songs like the Marvelows' "I Do," Tina Britt's "The Real Thing," the Majors' "A Wonderful Dream" and the Marvelettes' "When You're Young And In Love." It's a refreshing change from the typical '60s movie with songs you've already heard a million times. The dancing is terrific, Donovan Leitch and Jennifer Runyon are appealing as the young lovers, and Joe Pantoliano is outstanding as DJ Perry Parker.