Bye Bye Birdie (A- or 3.5/4 stars)
'Bye Bye Birdie' is an energetic musical satire on Elvis Presley's 1958 army induction. Using a fun, cornball sense of humor, director George Sidney also spoofs American culture for its preoccupation with idolizing celebrities. The plot concerns gyrating Elvis-like rock-'n-roller, Conrad Birdie (Jesse Pearson). His legions of female fans go into a mass hysteria & utter despair when they find out that he is drafted into the army. As a publicity stunt, Birdie books an Ed Sullivan Show appearance, to be broadcast live from Sweet Apple, Ohio, in which he will bestow a kiss on one teenage girl randomly selected to represent the masses.
Ann-Margret plays the lucky girl, Kim MacAfee, a sweet, if slightly ditzy teen who complicates her relationship with newly steady boyfriend Hugo Peabody (Bobby Rydell) with news of this Conrad Birdie kiss. Meanwhile, in trying to take advantage of this silly/overblown situation, down-on-his-luck songwriter Albert Peterson (Dick Van Dyke) takes a stab at his last chance to break out: he's written a farewell song for Birdie to sing before he departs for the army. If the song is a hit, Albert will have the security (and confidence, which he lacks) to marry his smart, if long-suffering secretary girlfriend Rose De Leon (Janet Leigh in a brunette wig).
As with most movies of this ilk, there are various road blocks to the characters' happy ending. One roadblock includes Albert's smothering mother (a riotous Maureen Stapleton), Kim's father (played with manic hilarity by Paul Lynde), & the Russian dance troupe that threatens to take up the air time needed to debut Albert's song during the Ed Sullivan Show. Melodrama, hilarity, & some fun-fueled songs ensue.
Paul Lynde steals scenes as Kim's irritable, neurotic father; worrying about how the kiss might affect his local fertilizer business. As mentioned, Maureen Stapleton is a hoot; I won't soon forget her sarcastic jabs at Dick Van Dyke, or her head-to-toe attire of fur coat & galoshes. Dick Van Dyke is as amiable a screen presence as ever. Janet Leigh is perfectly pleasant as the plucky Rosie. I loved her "Cha Cha Cha" sing/dance scene at the night club. And the movie's biggest asset is Ann-Margret. Right from the opening credits scene (and coinciding 'Bye Bye Birdie' tune), we're reeled-in to her gorgeous looks, saucy song delivery, & agile way of moving. She just exudes a certain wholesome, yet erotic je ne sais quoi that leaps off the screen.
The energy that the director, editor, production team, & ensemble cast bring is just great. The film looks great. And the songs are so. dang. catchy: aforementioned "Bye Bye Birdie", "The Telephone Hour" (where gossip of Kim being 'pinned' by Hugo spreads like wildfire), "We Love You Conrad", "Honestly Sincere", "Kids" (a comic relief song sung by Lynde & Stapleton), "One Boy" (a sweet, if melancholy quartet sung by Ann-Margret, Rydell, Leigh, & Van Dyke), "One Last Kiss" (Birdie's big number), "A lot of Livin" (with a wonderful choreographed dance number), & "Put On a Happy Face" (Van Dyke's big number). This is a fun, joyous movie musical that is sure to delight audiences of all ages. It reminds me of the amazing ups, downs, highs, lows, thrills, & absurdities that high school love can bring.
Ann-Margret plays the lucky girl, Kim MacAfee, a sweet, if slightly ditzy teen who complicates her relationship with newly steady boyfriend Hugo Peabody (Bobby Rydell) with news of this Conrad Birdie kiss. Meanwhile, in trying to take advantage of this silly/overblown situation, down-on-his-luck songwriter Albert Peterson (Dick Van Dyke) takes a stab at his last chance to break out: he's written a farewell song for Birdie to sing before he departs for the army. If the song is a hit, Albert will have the security (and confidence, which he lacks) to marry his smart, if long-suffering secretary girlfriend Rose De Leon (Janet Leigh in a brunette wig).
As with most movies of this ilk, there are various road blocks to the characters' happy ending. One roadblock includes Albert's smothering mother (a riotous Maureen Stapleton), Kim's father (played with manic hilarity by Paul Lynde), & the Russian dance troupe that threatens to take up the air time needed to debut Albert's song during the Ed Sullivan Show. Melodrama, hilarity, & some fun-fueled songs ensue.
Paul Lynde steals scenes as Kim's irritable, neurotic father; worrying about how the kiss might affect his local fertilizer business. As mentioned, Maureen Stapleton is a hoot; I won't soon forget her sarcastic jabs at Dick Van Dyke, or her head-to-toe attire of fur coat & galoshes. Dick Van Dyke is as amiable a screen presence as ever. Janet Leigh is perfectly pleasant as the plucky Rosie. I loved her "Cha Cha Cha" sing/dance scene at the night club. And the movie's biggest asset is Ann-Margret. Right from the opening credits scene (and coinciding 'Bye Bye Birdie' tune), we're reeled-in to her gorgeous looks, saucy song delivery, & agile way of moving. She just exudes a certain wholesome, yet erotic je ne sais quoi that leaps off the screen.
The energy that the director, editor, production team, & ensemble cast bring is just great. The film looks great. And the songs are so. dang. catchy: aforementioned "Bye Bye Birdie", "The Telephone Hour" (where gossip of Kim being 'pinned' by Hugo spreads like wildfire), "We Love You Conrad", "Honestly Sincere", "Kids" (a comic relief song sung by Lynde & Stapleton), "One Boy" (a sweet, if melancholy quartet sung by Ann-Margret, Rydell, Leigh, & Van Dyke), "One Last Kiss" (Birdie's big number), "A lot of Livin" (with a wonderful choreographed dance number), & "Put On a Happy Face" (Van Dyke's big number). This is a fun, joyous movie musical that is sure to delight audiences of all ages. It reminds me of the amazing ups, downs, highs, lows, thrills, & absurdities that high school love can bring.