Midnight Madness (1980)

A Major Disappointment

Clever and entertaining enough to recommend even to members of the 1%

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

Here's a movie I saw once…ONLY ONE TIME before…when I was probably 8-9 years old and I seriously never forgot...the Midnight Madness theme song throughout my entire life. (Weird how the child's mind works, eh?)Picture it: Paradise Valley, Arizona, early 1980s, I was at a sleepover at one of my friend's house and they were RIIIICH because they had a V/C/R. His mom thought we would enjoy a movie for the night, but in reality she was just trying to tone us (and the volume) down so she and his daddy could sleep.I was captivated – for one, it was a…V/C/R player! We could…PAUSE, REWIND and PLAY! And second, it was a funny adventure with a great intro song I could cling to.Oh, I forgot, we could fast-forward as well. So, fast-forward 30+ years, until tonight and I have to say: This movie was AWFUL. Is it a remake of It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, or a cheap rip-off? Either way, it's enormously offensive in both its tone and dated themes.Some might say this PG-Rated movie was silly, harmless fun, but it's really only "silly." It's not "fun." And it's certainly not "harmless." This movie made me think of a TOP TEN THINGS I TOOK FROM MIDNIGHT MADNESS list:10. Oh, this is sooo 1980s. Racism is so funny! Being so un-P/C is so acceptable! 9. Wearing a wedding ring means you're married? Nah, it means "kid" Stephen Furst forgot to take it off when selecting his marshmallows for the film's prop. 8. Teaching freshmen to follow their dreams, be all-they-can-be and that they're "all right the way they are" only works when you judge their mates by their appearance. 7. Ahhh, that pathetic product placement didn't work on me at all. I just happened to buy this 30-pack of Dr. Pepper bottles coincidentally following this movie. 6. George Lucas isn't one of my favorite people, but even he should sue over the blatant STAR FIRE video game rip off of his famous movie series. The real name of that franchise slipped my mind. 5. Being mean to relatives, heavier-set women, nerds, employees, "dumb" jocks and immigrant maids, can be funny if…if…Actually, not in this day and age. 4. The art of winning something without doing so is just not worth it. 3. Thank God, Marty McFly got work after this. 2. Angry at, said God, for Pee-Wee Herman getting work after this.…and the number one thing I took from Midnight Madness…1. Only the token black guy can "jimmy a lock." Nope, no racial discrimination here. At least, he wasn't wearing a hoodie.Possibly, worst of all – this movie is far too BLEEPING long at 112 minutes. The film, again, is meant to be a "hilarious, 1980s college edition" of It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, and it far overstepped its welcome. It's not recommended, especially by those easily offended today. There is nothing present in this feature that can enhance or teach today's youth. Heck, even the clues to "The Great Allnighter" game of the movie's premise, weren't clever, puzzling or inventive.This movie has been buried and rightfully so. I'm glad I never have to revisit it, again.(…BUT…I might still download that theme song. Hey, now! Its part of my childhood. And…who doesn't miss those sleepovers?!?)

This movie is mind-numbingly awful, it makes you wonder how it's possible that people actually got paid for doing this, it's that bad. The story makes no sense, the actors seem to be doing a bad job on purpose, not to mention that it is as cheesy as can be (and not in a good way).I remember watching this as a kid and decided to watch it just for the nostalgia (knowing it would not be a good movie), but wow, I wasn't expecting it to be THIS bad.You will cringe every time you hear those fat twins laugh, makes you want to put a fist through the TV.The only thing noteworthy is that you can see Michael J Fox and Pee Wee Herman before they were famous, it's amazing that this steaming pile of movie s**t didn't end their careers.

It doesn't quite deserve the disproportionate number of "10" votes it's received on this web site, but "Midnight Madness" is still a lot of fun. The eccentric Leon (Alan Solomon) organizes a cross-city scavenger hunt for five groups of college students ranging from nerds and jocks to babes and good guys. Each team must decipher a series of clues ("Mr. Carson's obese male child" leads to Johnny's Fat Boy Restaurant, and so on) before racing to the next location to do it again, all the while battling some occasional dirty tricks from rivals. The actual laughs few and far between, but you can't deny "Midnight Madness" carries heaps of cheesy '80s appeal. Look for Michael J. Fox (billed without the middle initial) in his film debut.

This is my all time favourite movie ever!!!I remember seeing this when I was younger and since then I have been in love with it. I used to rent it so often from this one video store that used to carry it, and when we moved I couldn't find it any where so I kep going back tot he far away store just so I could watch the movie again!Finally i found it for sale and I bought it and watched it over and over again.... great movie!Since then though it was my very first DVD that I got after I got my DVD player... OK well I got them at the same time, the quality on the DVD is way better I couldn't believe it! You Gotta see this one!