Trailer—Starstruck

source: Starstruck

Starstruck

I LOVE this movie! I would be endlessly happy if this would be released in the US on DVD, and also a CD for the soundtrack which is amazing. I had my cousin in Australia buy me the LP years ago, but no longer have the means to play it. I did put a couple of the songs on a walking tape I made years ago, and I never got tired of them. The music is very catchy. I've never seen Jo Kennedy in anything since, which is surprising, because I thought she was quite good. This is a very fun movie, full of great performances and quirky characters. I think this was the start of my love for quirky Australian films. I really do hope to own it on DVD someday! Please! Someone. Someone who has some influence. Please! :-)

I have not seen Starstruck since it's original run in the theaters but I love this movie and hope to see it again soon. I was really into new wave music at the time, especially what was coming from Manchester and Birmingham, and Dublin. I liked some Aussie bands like the Sharks but mostly I liked Aussie movies which were just starting to make an impact in America in the early 80's. Movies like Breaker Morant, Mad Max, Walkabout, Young Einstein, Gallipoli, and Starstruck. Although I have never been to Australia I have been intrigued by the quirky sense of humor I find in Aussie films. Strictly Ballroom a decade later was much in the same tradition, it had the same spirit as Starstruck. What happened to Aussie cinema? It seems that there are many Australian actors like Nicole Kidman and Russell Crowe who take themselves so seriously and mostly act in Hollywood films playing non Australians. Even Peter Weir is no longer making Australian movies. I say bring em back!

Without hesitation I give Starstruck my vote as one the the all-time great movie musicals, right up there with the best of Warner Bros of the 30s, Fox of the 40s and MGM of the 50s. Possibly, it's the only movie to perfectly integrate (original & terrific) rock music with a funny, compassionate & inventive plot. The dance numbers, particularly the campy all-male sharks-in-the-pool scene & the one with all the regulars in the tavern joining in a stunning spine-tingling production number are absolutely outstanding. The "Monkey-in-Me (That Made Me Wanna Do It)" show-stopper is literally that. Jo Kennedy is marvelous, Ross O'Donovan & all the rest are first-rate. They will never make another movie like this. What a gem! I hope it comes out on DVD & the word spreads. A great big gift of joy!!

I saw this during the Australian wave of films. I was being inundated on sort of dark pieces and this was an eye opener to say the least. I hadn't expected such a bright and lively piece. This is a wonderful piece of work. Everything fits. The cast is perfect. Each so in tune with their roles, each ringing true in dialogue and action. The music is both stylistically correct and true to the genre. Many times tunes written for movies that are rock or pop oriented turn out to be lame, musically incorrect, or both. This is not the case here. Gillian Armstrong shows an airy touch, while still maintaining that solid control of characters and visually precise scene setup she has demonstrated in other films, such as "My Brilliant Career" and the sadly overlooked "Oscar and Lucinda". All in all this is an enjoyable experience. Nothing earthshattering or profound but good workmanship and totally fun.

Am I the only Australian to review this on IMDb? A rapid scroll through the offerings would seem that this is true. Unbelievable ! I saw this film on first release at the cinema in true-blue Sydney fashion. It is still a haunting favourite after all these years and is, in fact a love song to a city and her people and places. Stephen MacLean was a boy from Melbourne, who later wrote the famous 'The Boy from Oz' ~ a bio of Peter Allen - later to become a musical stage sensation. But that's another story... This movie is absolutely fabulous Sydney in all her early 80s glory. A time of innocence and fun, ridiculous clothes, a special cousinhood, 'wannabe-in-show-biz', Mickey Rooney & Judy Garlandesque tribute to the talents and humour of our own people. Who needs Hollywood? Features include, singin', dancin' and horsing around in a variety of great Sydney locations. Every song is wonderful and every star shines. A Classic ~ oft overlooked but remembered well and often, by me, Anne-Maree.

This is one of my all-time favorite movie musicals - I've seen them all and have most of them on laserdisc. This one is exceptional in that it mixes all the best elements of classic musical comedies: plot, melodies, humor, characterization, sets and costume with the best of modern pop/rock music. I must have seen it 30 times and I always look forward to seeing it again. The production numbers are among the best in all filmdom!

One of the best original rock musicals! I have just seen the DVD release, having not seen the movie in about 20 years and it holds up very well. It is not at all dated. All of the songs, except for the one which is intentionally bad, are great memorable songs...apparently thanks to Phil Judd of The Swingers. Casting really makes the film. Great chemistry between the two cousins Jackie (Joe Kennedy) and Angus (Ross O Donovan). Although the plot is somewhat thin, as is typical for this type of movie, it moves along quite nicely and has good light-hearted humor. See the movie, you will not be disappointed.