The Allnighter (1987)

Clever, believable, and super fun to watch. It totally has replay value.

This movie tries so hard to be funny, yet it falls flat every time. Just another example of recycled ideas repackaged with women in an attempt to appeal to a certain audience.

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

Molly (Susanna Hoffs of the Bangles) is on the verge of graduating from Pacifica college. Very smart, she will be delivering the valedictorian's speech on the morrow. But, her confidence is a bit shaken. She secretly loves a male classmate, who seems to prefer surfing to her and has never given her an indication of his undeclared affection. Thus, while her roommate Gina (Joan Cusack) is busy videotaping their last days and minutes, Mol hatches another plan. Dressing up to the hilt, she decides to make a play for a famous musician residing at a nearby hotel. A second roommate, Val (Dedee Pfeiffer), is already there, romancing her obnoxious, rich boyfriend. Yet, the night is young and the police and a bunch of hookers are about to cause trouble for our gals! Will they make it to graduation? This is a fun eighties movie, with attractive performers and a light, zany plot line. No, its not garnered any Oscars yet but will attract fans of romantic comedy, good looking young adults and California scenery. Why night book The Allnighter for tonight?

Oh, come on...I don't mean to be offensive, but this film was absolutely painful to watch. Susanna Hoffs, an attractive and engaging singer, is not engaging (although she is quite attractive) in this role. She seems to have lost the sparkle she could convey through her music. No wonder she doesn't talk about it in interviews.Yes, this film was aimed for my age group at the time, but there have been other films aimed toward the younger set that are intelligent, sexy, and fun at the same...not mindless and silly as this one was. Try "One Crazy Summer," "Say Anything," or anything directed by John Hughes at the time.Sorry, fans. I can't find one redeeming quality about this film. If I were a director, I'd find something better to cast my daughter in.

I don't think I have found a professional film critic who has a good word to say about this film. But it is a good idea to forget what the critics say and try the thing out for yourself. After all, the critics go into ecstasy over Citizen Kane,while the rest of the world sleeps...They say horrible things - like the one that Susanna Hoffs is cast as lead just because her mother is director. I wonder where they got that ridiculous idea from!So I sat down thinking I was about to watch one of the worst films ever made - something that would make Citizen Kane look good. Instead I saw an interesting film that was quite funny, was surprisingly well written with cool dialogue, was very well acted, and had some memorable scenes, such as Hoffs grooving around to Aretha Franklin, and the toilet bowl in the prison cell.The most vivid character I thought was James Shanta as Killer. I thought that we would be hearing a lot more of him and that he would be a pretty big star by now, but evidently not.As one of the characters said in the film: it's been heaven on a stick.

Okay, this might not be an award winning movie but it's sure worth watching! Love the scenery, the eighties style and the obligated happy ending of course! Sometimes it even made me wish I was there! A prep school in a tropical location, lots of pretty people, fun beach parties and lots of cocktails. And hey, mustn't it be wonderful to have a student house at the beach? Susanna did not act that bad and Joan Cusack is her own funny self of course! I saw this movie when I was a teenager, about 15 years ago and loved every second of it, even watched it more than once! Maybe you don't need any brains to understand this movie but must life always be so serious? It most certainly is NOT boring, just watch it with a big bag of popcorn and have fun!