Xanadu (C or 2/4 stars)
Sooo, 1980's musical comedy, 'Xanadu' (directed by Robert Greenwald), is unabashedly campy, unrelentingly silly, hilariously misjudged, gloriously bad, and YET, there's something oddly fun about how bad it is, haha. When viewed in the right frame of mind, and with the help of some cheesy-good music, 'Xanadu' has the kind of perverse charm that can sway one from loathing a film, to at least stare on in bemused disbelief at it all. The, ahem, plot ... is suitably bonkers. The God Zeus has a daughter/muse who arrives in Southern California to spread inspiration. Said Muse is Kira (Olivia Newton-John, of Grease fame), who's been selected to re-invigorate the dormant love of painting in penniless artist, Sonny Malone (Michael Beck).
Kira does this with a kiss and, well, a lot of roller skating. Honestly, roller skating is the main plot drive of this movie -- and I wish I was kidding. At the same time, Sonny befriends 60-something clarinetist, Danny McGuire (Gene Kelly, yes ... that Gene Kelly), a former Big Band musician & philanthropist who has the means to open a huge roller-disco rink. With a little help from Kira, the two men become partners and, the result is Xanadu, the hottest night spot in Beverly Hills. But trouble looms ahead. Up in heaven, Zeus wants his daughter back, & he's livid that she has developed feelings for a mere mortal. By breaking the rules, Kira poses a threat to Sonny & Danny's dreams. Eh, nothing a little music & roller skating can't fix, right?
So what does Xanadu even mean? Well, it was Charles Foster Kane's fortress. It was Kubla Khan's pleasure dome. And now, for this movie? Beats me! Ya know, Olivia Newton-John tried to capitalize on her fame from Grease with this film and, then 68 yr. old Gene Kelly wanted a chance to show a new generation of movie goers what he is all about -- Entertainment with a capital E. Unfortunately, the movie is just too bozo to be taken seriously; and the box office wasn't good enough to take the stink off the phrase 'bomb' that was floating around after its release. Today, far from the damning critics of 1980, this film is more of a cult classic; fans are more forgiving of its menagerie of 1940s fantasy {a song & dance number with Newton-John & Kelly}, 1970/80s pop rock music, psychedelic images, a cartoon sequence, & voice-overs from Wilfrid Hyde White & Coral Browne as Zeus & Mnemosyne. What's not to like about that ungainly mix!? Ha.
Olivia Newton-John is lovely here and, her singing is tops. Gene Kelly does his thing, here; recalling the 1950s Movie Musicals that he executed with ease, and trying to make movie magic with that for 1980. Funny enough, he seemed to be the only one in the main cast to actually "get" the inherent garishness, corniness, & silliness of this movie and perform on that wavelength. To that, he comes off best; even though, he is a bit too try-hard. And it's a hoot to see him on skates. Who doesn't register much? Andy Gibb-lookalike Michael Beck. I just didn't buy his performance, at all.
Thank goodness for the music, people. Where nearly all else about this film fails, it is buoyed by the hit soundtrack. 2 tracks were smash hits, "Magic" & Newton-John's energetic, wildly entertaining "Xanadu" - a song sequence that single-handedly lifted my movie rating from a D+ up to a C -- it is that great. "Suddenly" & "Don't Walk Away" did well on the charts, too. And so, though it is impossible not to enjoy Newton-John's warm appeal, and while Gene Kelly brings class & MGM Musical sensibilities, 'Xanadu' is just too moronic, bizarrely designed, & can't sustain the director's lofty ambitions. Still, by being SO stupendously ludicrous, there is definitely an element of enjoyment to be had from watching the sh*t show. There is merit to that.
Kira does this with a kiss and, well, a lot of roller skating. Honestly, roller skating is the main plot drive of this movie -- and I wish I was kidding. At the same time, Sonny befriends 60-something clarinetist, Danny McGuire (Gene Kelly, yes ... that Gene Kelly), a former Big Band musician & philanthropist who has the means to open a huge roller-disco rink. With a little help from Kira, the two men become partners and, the result is Xanadu, the hottest night spot in Beverly Hills. But trouble looms ahead. Up in heaven, Zeus wants his daughter back, & he's livid that she has developed feelings for a mere mortal. By breaking the rules, Kira poses a threat to Sonny & Danny's dreams. Eh, nothing a little music & roller skating can't fix, right?
So what does Xanadu even mean? Well, it was Charles Foster Kane's fortress. It was Kubla Khan's pleasure dome. And now, for this movie? Beats me! Ya know, Olivia Newton-John tried to capitalize on her fame from Grease with this film and, then 68 yr. old Gene Kelly wanted a chance to show a new generation of movie goers what he is all about -- Entertainment with a capital E. Unfortunately, the movie is just too bozo to be taken seriously; and the box office wasn't good enough to take the stink off the phrase 'bomb' that was floating around after its release. Today, far from the damning critics of 1980, this film is more of a cult classic; fans are more forgiving of its menagerie of 1940s fantasy {a song & dance number with Newton-John & Kelly}, 1970/80s pop rock music, psychedelic images, a cartoon sequence, & voice-overs from Wilfrid Hyde White & Coral Browne as Zeus & Mnemosyne. What's not to like about that ungainly mix!? Ha.
Olivia Newton-John is lovely here and, her singing is tops. Gene Kelly does his thing, here; recalling the 1950s Movie Musicals that he executed with ease, and trying to make movie magic with that for 1980. Funny enough, he seemed to be the only one in the main cast to actually "get" the inherent garishness, corniness, & silliness of this movie and perform on that wavelength. To that, he comes off best; even though, he is a bit too try-hard. And it's a hoot to see him on skates. Who doesn't register much? Andy Gibb-lookalike Michael Beck. I just didn't buy his performance, at all.
Thank goodness for the music, people. Where nearly all else about this film fails, it is buoyed by the hit soundtrack. 2 tracks were smash hits, "Magic" & Newton-John's energetic, wildly entertaining "Xanadu" - a song sequence that single-handedly lifted my movie rating from a D+ up to a C -- it is that great. "Suddenly" & "Don't Walk Away" did well on the charts, too. And so, though it is impossible not to enjoy Newton-John's warm appeal, and while Gene Kelly brings class & MGM Musical sensibilities, 'Xanadu' is just too moronic, bizarrely designed, & can't sustain the director's lofty ambitions. Still, by being SO stupendously ludicrous, there is definitely an element of enjoyment to be had from watching the sh*t show. There is merit to that.