A lot of reviewers have wondered why this film wasn't a box-office success when it was released back in 1978, and I think the reason was because, although it's enjoyable enough, it is largely forgettable. Low budget movies like this rely on positive word of mouth but it's four days since I watched it and I've only watched one other film since yet the memory of this one is already growing hazy. Then again, it might just mean that Alzheimer's is setting in early or that I shouldn't have had that last beer while watching
The macguffin here is tickets to the Ed Sullivan show back in 1964 in which the Beatles appeared. Zemeckis recreates a believable facsimile of that period when the world was on the cusp of a social and sexual revolution a revolution embodied by Nancy Allen's character whose sexuality is awoken by one of the Beatles musical instruments in the film's one memorable scene and whose liberation is affirmed by her decision to ditch her commanding boyfriend.
There are some funny moments here and the film's cheerful attitude just about carries it through the less funny moments which grow more frequent as the film progresses. Of the young cast, Allen was the only one who went on to any sort of sustained fame which is a surprise as, apart from Eddie Deezen, they all manage to avoid being annoying or reverting to stereotype.
You'll probably enjoy this one while you watch it, and it will obviously mean more to those who were around when the Beatles first became famous, but it won't take long to fade from your memory.
The macguffin here is tickets to the Ed Sullivan show back in 1964 in which the Beatles appeared. Zemeckis recreates a believable facsimile of that period when the world was on the cusp of a social and sexual revolution a revolution embodied by Nancy Allen's character whose sexuality is awoken by one of the Beatles musical instruments in the film's one memorable scene and whose liberation is affirmed by her decision to ditch her commanding boyfriend.
There are some funny moments here and the film's cheerful attitude just about carries it through the less funny moments which grow more frequent as the film progresses. Of the young cast, Allen was the only one who went on to any sort of sustained fame which is a surprise as, apart from Eddie Deezen, they all manage to avoid being annoying or reverting to stereotype.
You'll probably enjoy this one while you watch it, and it will obviously mean more to those who were around when the Beatles first became famous, but it won't take long to fade from your memory.