On R List of Movie Reviews

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Roadie (1980)

Rate: 6
Viewed: 4/21, 1/22

Roadie
4/21: Like many of its time, Roadie is a loud, go-bonkers picture with weird characters engaging in senseless hijinks.

This sort of formula started to subside during the 90's and was seen no more thereafter. I guess people wised up by realizing they were making stupid movies although most of the content was actually creative. I don't have anything against them, but sometimes, I wish they had more substance.

So anyway, Roadie isn't bad for the most part. Plenty of young-looking luminaries from the late 70's and early 80's rock 'n' roll make their appearance: Hank Williams, Jr., Roy Orbison (whose moribund career was actually revived by this movie), Debbie Harry, and Alice Cooper. Sadly, they're underwhelming, only showing up for the music part.

Of the cast, I'm surprised Meat Loaf didn't sing, but he more than makes up for it by playing an endearing character who's instantly likeable. His on-screen relationship with Kaki Hunter reminds me of Paul Le Mat and Mackenzie Phillips in American Graffiti. It's largely the reason why Roadie worked out.

All in all, Roadie is a nice small gem in Alan Rudolph's résumé before scoring big time with Keith Carradine in two films: Choose Me and The Moderns.

1/22: Meat Loaf and Kaki Hunter are the heart and soul of Roadie.

It's a wacky movie with lots of music. The concept of a jack-of-all-trades handyman to make the whole concept fly is passable enough. However, Roadie only works because of the two lead stars. Everything else is stupid. Rhonda Bates, anyone? The biggest mistake is dropping the anvil on the momentum as soon as Blondie's Debbie Harry takes the stage. After she exits for good, things are back to normal, allowing Meat Loaf and Kaki Hunter to pick up where they left off.

All in all, it's true about the two lines for Roadie: "Everything will work if you let it!" and "Bands make it rock, but roadies make it roll!"