1980 science fiction musical satire
Rating: 9/20 (Carrie: 18/20; Libby: 19/20; Fred: 8/20; Johnny 10/20; Josh: 11/20)
Plot: In the near future of 1994, a singing duo from Moose Jaw in Canada are offered a contract by the powerful music company, BIM and its president, Mr. Boogalow. The pair discover that signing a contract with a big record label is a little like signing a contract with the devil.
You might think that the director of Over the Top would excel in the science fiction musical genre, but you’d be totally wrong. Actually, I want to watch what I type about director Menahem Golan since he seems pretty fragile, at least the 1980 version of himself. Apparently, this movie–a science fiction musical–was booed at a festival, and he left the showing and was going to jump off the balcony of his hotel before he was stopped. That would have been terrible because the world would have been deprived of Over the Top. I’d like to know what the budget of this baby. It was enough to make this Fabulous with a capital Fuck. There’s jugglers, clowns, fire-eaters, loads of costumes, about a zillion extras, futuristic cars, glitter, elaborate sets. Seriously, there was quite a bit of money poured into this thing. Oh, and a There’s a little bit of Tommy and Xanadu in this, and it seems like an effort to make the next Rocky Horror. The songs aren’t as good as the ones in any of those movies, and I can say that without even knowing anything about Xanadu. “BIM” gets us started, rambunctiously and all but with enough flamboyance to make you feel a little odd about your erection, if you know what I mean. “The Apple” (by the way–most of the songs are written by a George Clinton, but I want you all to know that it’s not THAT George Clinton) is performed in Menahem Golan’s version of hell, a hell that doesn’t look all that different than Jose Mojica Marins’ vision of the place. Only, of course, more flamboyant. It’s a wild scene, man, complete with a pig-faced man, a guy with two faces, and the titular fruit, a large apple that was probably a prop in Honey, I Shrunk the Dog or something. A wild, wild scene. Of course, it’s nothing compared to a truly what-the-freaking-hell ending with the biggest deus en machina you’re ever likely to see. And OK, I’m man enough to admit that I kind of liked a song called “Speeeeeeeeeeeeeed” (I think that must be the title). Or maybe I didn’t actually like it but was put under a spell by all the shininess on my television screen. I can’t imagine watching this on the big screen, by the way. First, the floor would be too sticky. Second, I think it would have led to an aneurysm. The acting is as bad as the singing. The leads are played by Catherine Mary Stewart who had a little bit of a career, acting in movies like Weekend at Bernie’s and Night of the Comet and George Gilmour who decided he was done after this movie. They’re mostly overshadowed by the off-the-wall characters all over this thing. Mr. Boogalow is played Vladek Sheybal who would have made a fine gay Dracula in a gay Dracula movie. My favorite character was a many-costumed Boogalow assistant named Shake played by Ray Shell who’s been in two other movies, one being Velvet Goldmine which sounds about right. Throw in a big-bosomed landlady, characters named Bulldog and Fatdog, and an uncredited little person who is part of a “shrinking man” gag. Oh, and about three-hundred dancers. And a wizard. And some hippies. Anyway, throw it all together, and you’ve got a glorious gumbo of a movie that is never any good at all but always more than a little fascinating.
This is the second musical we Bad Movie Club members have watched, and only the memories of seeing Bruce Jenner in really short shorts and a half shirt in the Village People movie are keeping this from being the most magical.
