MovieChat Forums > Welcome to L.A. (1978) Discussion > Second viewing

Second viewing

posted 14 years ago by millerdsplaydzign
1 reply | jump to latest

So I'm sitting here watching it for the second time on MGM's "this" network, and I can't help feeling it down to my bones - this is a baaaaaad movie. Except that it's so freakin' pretentious it demands that I call it a "film", not merely a lowbrow "movie".

I really am trying to understand what the hell the director was going for, but everything seems clumsy, contrived and cheesy.

I'm including this on my shortlist of classically bad movies, along with "Valley of the Dolls" and "The Opposite Sex."

And WHAT is with the pop singer whose overwrought tunes sound like he's ripping off Joni Mitchell?

Like an ugly accident at the side of the highway, I want to turn away from this wreck, but I just can't stop looking.

[–] InvasionofPALs 14 years ago

This is *truly* the kind of movie that invites highly personal reactions. I've seen WELCOME TO L.A. three times and I've come to the conclusion that it's a slice-of-life 1970s style about things that happen. I know that isn't profound but the characters in the film are inter-linked in large or small ways to one another and stuff happens. People come to realizations about their lives; their choice of companions (one-night stands, steady girlfriends, husbands, wives).

Another Truth about this movie: If you like the music you'll definitely enjoy the movie A LOT more. If you don't like the music it's better to turn the movie off because a viewer ain't gonna like the movie any better as it progresses.

You have to be in the right sort of weird mood to enjoy this!

I have to admit I like it. The first time I saw it I was bewildered. I didn't know if I liked it or not! I didn't know if I liked the music or not. So I watched it again . . . and again. And I've come to the conclusion that I like the movie even though I'm still not 100% sure why!

'Nuff said.