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Movie Notes: Xanadu

August 13th, 2008

Xanadu

3 stars = 3 stars

Starring Olivia Newton-John, Gene Kelly, Michael Beck
Directed by Robert Greenwald

Synopsis

Commercial artist Sonny Malone (Michael Beck) is frustrated with his work, until one day he’s inspired by roller-skating blonde, Kira (Olivia Newton-John). Together with Sonny’s friend Danny (Gene Kelley), they embark on a dream to build a night club.

The Good

  • Much amusement seeing Gene Kelly and Olivia Newton John essentially in their element – a cheesy musical.
  • This is one instance where the soundtrack, featuring ELO and Olivia Newton John, is fifty times better than the movie itself.
  • Retro-pop culture extravaganza. I guess there really was a time when adults roller-skated in tube socks, and skin-tight polyester jogging shorts with aloha shirts was considered fashionable.
  • The plot is comically uber-innocent – a waify roller skating muse arrives from nowhere and a silly artist falls for her.

The Bad

  • Animated wipes with synthesizer sound effects and back light are used for nearly every transition. You feel like your head is shoved between a neon bar light and a jukebox – stuck permanently playing ELO.
  • While the music is usually entertaining, their visual depiction is sometimes rather dull – either because of the dancing, crazy costumes, or the dated special effects. Even an animated sequence done by Don Bluth feels off.

Conclusion

Cheesy beyond belief, but of some interest to retro musical fans and where all those crappy clothes in Goodwill came from. About 25% falls into the realm of the unintentionally funny. The rest, sadly, is rather a snooze.

IMDB: Xanadu
Wikipedia: Xanadu
Rotten Tomatoes: Xanadu

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6 Comments

  1. Mark 'Rizzn' Hopkins says:
    August 13, 2008 at 10:18 pm

    “Xanadu: where time stops and the magic never ends.”

    No matter how much you wish it would.

    Reply
  2. geechee_girl says:
    August 14, 2008 at 12:20 am

    Oh. My. Unhappy blast from the past. I *may* own this soundtrack on cassette. Somewhere. I'll have to find it and destroy it. Like, now.

    Reply
  3. webomatica says:
    August 14, 2008 at 12:34 am

    If you fell asleep during the trailer, I doubt you'll make it through the
    movie.

    Reply
  4. webomatica says:
    August 14, 2008 at 12:36 am

    I actually liked some of the tunes. I may hit the iTunes and download some
    of 'em. I'd ask you for the cassette, but I have no way of playing it – our
    players were destroyed along with all the tapes…

    Reply
  5. geechee_girl says:
    August 14, 2008 at 10:32 am

    If I can FIND the cassette in my large box of them I can iMic it onto my
    MacBook for you. Haven't had time to look yet. :)

    Reply
  6. AManda says:
    August 18, 2008 at 3:33 pm

    I confess. I'm too young to know the film, and I haven't seen it before. But my father LOVES it!
    And now I'm scared… :S

    Reply

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