Contrary to what some die-hard Dynasty fans may feel, this tele-movie is actually a lot of fun to watch if you lived through the 1980s. OK, it's not completely accurate, but this isn't a documentary. It's an amusing look back at a television phenomenon.
Remember William Goldman's book on writing for Hollywood? His summing-up of the film industry was simply "Nobody knows anything." And here we see it in its fullest flower, with producers and writers literally making it up as they go along.
At one point a character says "Shouldn't we give the viewers what they need rather than finding out what they want and feeding it to them?" The American television industry is affectionately but mercilessly taken apart in this movie and I suspect a lot of people in the industry will squirm with recognition at similar artistic compromises they've made.
But that's much too serious a note to end. I can only say that I found this a fun way to spend two hours. Others may disagree, but I saw every episode of Dynasty and The Colbys that was made, and I enjoyed this movie a lot.
Remember William Goldman's book on writing for Hollywood? His summing-up of the film industry was simply "Nobody knows anything." And here we see it in its fullest flower, with producers and writers literally making it up as they go along.
At one point a character says "Shouldn't we give the viewers what they need rather than finding out what they want and feeding it to them?" The American television industry is affectionately but mercilessly taken apart in this movie and I suspect a lot of people in the industry will squirm with recognition at similar artistic compromises they've made.
But that's much too serious a note to end. I can only say that I found this a fun way to spend two hours. Others may disagree, but I saw every episode of Dynasty and The Colbys that was made, and I enjoyed this movie a lot.