I Want You Around
Rock 'n' Roll High School (1979)
directed by Allan Arkush
rating: 4 out of 5 cravats
on DVD from Netflix
Today, my aunt in Texas looks a lot like P. J. Soles. I might always remember her best for Halloween, but she's great in Rock 'n' Roll High School because she's a junior-year dream of the girl who was nice each time you saw her (although "hi" was all you'd ever get). Dey Young is maybe more approachable, what with the glasses and all, but sweethearts like Soles’ Riff Randell could see through that better than you could. In real life, the Kate Rambeaus of the world don't one day switch to contacts and claim their crown in a single stride; it's everyone else who comes around, much too late - just like Tom Roberts - to take her to the movies.
Rock 'n' Roll High School should be screened at public school freshman class commencements on a TV big enough that no one has to strain her eyes to see. The Ramones set the heroic tone for making sure your brief four-year educational window counts, since I imagine that bands, as a rule, are discouraged from letting Hollywood producers co-opt original material for blondes (like Riff) who write mash notes at home. But if Riff getting Joey to sing her song means that even Eaglebauer can have his fun, it's the right call to make on behalf of everyone stuck in an algebra class long after Roger Corman, God bless him, has gone to his grave.
directed by Allan Arkush
rating: 4 out of 5 cravats
on DVD from Netflix
Today, my aunt in Texas looks a lot like P. J. Soles. I might always remember her best for Halloween, but she's great in Rock 'n' Roll High School because she's a junior-year dream of the girl who was nice each time you saw her (although "hi" was all you'd ever get). Dey Young is maybe more approachable, what with the glasses and all, but sweethearts like Soles’ Riff Randell could see through that better than you could. In real life, the Kate Rambeaus of the world don't one day switch to contacts and claim their crown in a single stride; it's everyone else who comes around, much too late - just like Tom Roberts - to take her to the movies.
Rock 'n' Roll High School should be screened at public school freshman class commencements on a TV big enough that no one has to strain her eyes to see. The Ramones set the heroic tone for making sure your brief four-year educational window counts, since I imagine that bands, as a rule, are discouraged from letting Hollywood producers co-opt original material for blondes (like Riff) who write mash notes at home. But if Riff getting Joey to sing her song means that even Eaglebauer can have his fun, it's the right call to make on behalf of everyone stuck in an algebra class long after Roger Corman, God bless him, has gone to his grave.
posted by NPK at 10:21 AM
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