Overrated

Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.

One of the film's great tricks is that, for a time, you think it will go down a rabbit hole of unrealistic glorification.

It is interesting even when nothing much happens, which is for most of its 3-hour running time. Read full review

Ok, this film is BAD. It is no surprise this film was a flop on release. However, it has gone on to become a cult classic and even spawned a Broadway show. What little plot the film contains is totally and utterly predictable. You can pretty much tell how Xanadu will end from the very opening scenes. On to the acting, Olivia Newton John does the best with what little she's been given to play with, Gene Kelly plays it brilliantly, essentially playing himself. Michael Beck however, is just a nothing in this. I'm not sure if this was the way his character had been written, or how he interpreted it, but other than standing about looking slightly bemused his character Sonny doesn't stick out in any way. No classic lines, no heroic actions.. Poorly executed characterisation aside, what Xanadu delivers in spades is music and visual spectacle. It is no surprise the soundtrack did far better than the film. ELO created something amazing. Add to that The Tubes, ONJ herself, and Cliff Richard (not so brilliant, but hey!), and you get a great sounding film.Visually the whole 40s/80s mashup does work, and the scenery throughout is bright and vibrant. Particular standouts are the Xanadu club itself, as well as the All Over The World section. As a lover of "bad" films this is a particular favourite. It was never going to win any Oscars but it is colourful, fun, with a great soundtrack. It doesn't drag or outstay its welcome clocking in at just over 90 minutes.

You have to believe we are magic. Oh yeah, baby! And the main theme, Xanadu, sung by Olivia Newton-John as well. Yeah, of course. But this movie turns out to be a one great music video around which an entire movie was shot. And in the time before music videos were official. Okay, so that explains the reason why this movie lured people to movie theaters. A forerunner of the music video before music videos became big. People got their rhythm fix there in the theater with dancers in spectacular color. And suddenly Olivia Newton- John takes control of the screen and dazzles like she's been pumped full of Ecstasy after a fairly mediocre performance in the rest of the sorry thing.Yeah, this is one hell of a disappointment. I fumed through it, planning my revenge on IMDb. It proved the old adage a picture that's a loser coming out of the starting gate (the first few minutes of the film) ain't gonna cut it. And that held true. Even that one other good song couldn't save it there in the studio (You have to believe we are magic) and the movie stumbled on, and I fumed and fumed thinking about the lowest rating possible. And then it played the one card I knew it still had, Xanadu, the song, and I saw Olivia Newton-John at her best and I am just an old softie...My originally vengeful bit was gonna be: Only if you're really, really gay... But okay, leave it at that. People, approach this one with an open heart. It's definitely not for garage mechanics. It's a chick flick. Years ago, FRIENDS had a gag with this movie mentioned as Phoebe's all-time favorite flick, and well yes, this is especially for dizzy, idealistic hippie chicks. And, yeah, it is filled with smiley happy people during a much better era than ours. So, be warned. Only for the ultra-positive among you. Too sugary sweet (I would have said insipid) for us more morose folks.Hell but Gene Kelly is a bummer in this. Should have been deleted from the entire thing. Just an old piece of furniture in the way of everybody. When it comes to glam, old people should be shot, and that's almost anybody over 35, Heather Locklear in MELROSE PLACE excluded.But if you wanna have a nice musical experience get yourself a music video compilation with Carly Rae Jepsen and Ke$ha, don't bother with this mostly amateurishly made movie.To understand my headline, you'd have to see it though. Be warned, I was actually B-O-R-E-D. I have many, many DVDs and none of them are boring but this one with that old fossil Gene Kelly who got his old age pension supplemented...

Favorite movie quote - "Don't give me any of your "white-ass" attitude!" If you're seriously looking for the cheesiest of the cheesiest of the cheesiest in movie-musicals (circa. 1980), then just say "Xanadu, please!" Nominated for 7 Golden "Razzy" Awards in such top categories as "Worst Actress", "Worst Actor", "Worst Picture", and "Worst Musical", Xanadu so rightly won this highly-coveted prize for "Worst Director" which so deservedly went to Robert Greenwald.When it comes to all-out silliness and stupidity that seems to prevail with so many Rom-Com/Fantasy/Musicals, I honestly don't think that any others in this genre get much more empty-headed and mind-numbingly inferior than did the likes of Xanadu.Neither camp, nor cute, nor hip, nor clever, Xanadu literally scraped the absolute bottom of the barrel when it came to its terribly conceived story-line, its lousy musical numbers and its completely amateurish performances by actors who convinced me that they were total boobs acting out their parts in a second-rate, high school production.This "so-bad-it's-bad" musical extravanganza was a total embarrassment on all counts. Xanadu took the meaning of the word "sucky" to a whole new level of loathsomeness.I cannot fathom why people incessantly rave about veteran actor Gene Kelly and his role in this musical mess. Kelly was 68 years old in Xanadu and not only was he pathetic to watch during his dance numbers (just like everyone else was), but his screen-charisma, in my opinion, registered at a complete "zero".Besides that, I thought that the trite and snivelling on-screen romance that transpired between the 2 lead characters (played by Olivia Newton-John & Michael Beck) sucked to the 10th power, and beyond.I can't believe how utterly dismal Xanadu's visual effects were. With its $20 million budget I should have been wowed right out of this world with this film's dazzling production values.And, talk about a shallow plot-line - Xanadu's dumber-than-dumb story actually hinged on (get this!) having one of Zeus's daughters (Kira) sent to Earth with the all-important mission of seeing to it that Hollywood got to have its very own roller-skating, disco place. (Spare me!) Yes. I will admit that some of ELO's catchy, synth-pop tunes were toe-tapping good, but this was in no way nearly enough to save this piece of extravagant nonsense from sinking down into the muck & mire of movie-musical disaster.I would call Xanadu the Titanic of all musicals, bar none. If you're like me you'll love to hate this movie with an undying passion.

The poster for the movie shows FantasyFantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary plot element, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic and magical creatures are common. Fantasy is generally distinguished from the genres of science fiction and horror by the expectation that it steers clear of scientific and macabre themes.Xanadu is a fantasy!!! not serious,I love the movie because I love Oliva voice she sang and had a lot hits before this! IT SHOW A TIME THAT IS GONE BOTH OLD AND NEW OF IT'S TIME EARLY 1980'S AND 1940'SOLIVA perfect for it! music was great! it was great seeing Gene Kelly again and i believe he directed too. THEY could of found a better actor for her to costar with. there was cartoons, once again great music, dancing, dancing in roller skates, (roller skates never got to the big time like Olimpics and you don't see them in any dancing, but ice skates of course have) roller skates are of pas say now her dancing is rather choppy and when she sings the very last part of Xanadu when dressed a fantasy queen her lip sinking was horrible. maybe what was wrong for people was no sex for adults and not child like for children like oz or like stories that never ends and witches, magic wands and magical places and schools