I remember liking this movie when it first came out in 1980 and finally got to see it last night (DVRed it off the MGM Movie Channel) for the first time since then and it was as good as I remembered it. In regards to what's already been said, I mostly agree although I will hedge my praise a little more than most. Cast is competent, but let's face it, it's Ray Sharkey's performance that drives this film and moves it beyond forgettable. The music is fine and while I get that they incorporated an 80's feel into early 60's-era music to make it sound a bit more timely for movie-goers at that time (did a nice job with this btw), ironically, it makes the music sound sort of dated now. I wish they would have just stayed more true to the sounds of the time depicted and that way like with the wardrobe, cars and setting, it would never really appear dated in future viewings because it invokes a particular time and place. I also thought the music sequences lasted a little too long and kind of dragged things down a bit in spots. I get maybe showing one full performance, but it seems that there were 3 or 4 full-blown sequences when perhaps a 30-45 second segment would have sufficed. Oh well, a minor quibble, still enjoyed the heck out of it.
As for Sharkey, as someone mentioned earlier, he probably should have become a bigger star based on this breakout role and his overall talent, but he pretty much sabotaged his own career with his substance abuse problems that swelled right after this star-making turn. Sad that he could never really shake those demons, but luckily we'll always have Vinnie Vacarri and Sonny Steelgrave to fondly look back on.
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