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Thank God It's Friday More at IMDbPro »

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39 reviews in total

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23 out of 24 people found the following review useful:
Nice Timecapsule to the late '70s, 22 May 2002

Author: dgordon-1 from Toronto, Canada

This is about the only "disco" movie that I have ever liked. To me, it really captures the time & spirit of the late '70s disco craze. Everyone from Debra Winger and her co-worker looking for guys that don't wear polyester, to the great music of the Commodores and Donna Summer make this a nice slice of '70s nostalgia. Everything '70s is represented in this movie: 8-tracks, platform shoes, bell-bottom pants, leisure suits, I think there is even a Ford Pinto in the parking lot of the disco. I feel that this movie never got the recognition that it deserved. It seemed to be drowned out by "Saturday Night Fever" and "Can't Stop The Music". If you are looking for a movie that will bring back the feeling of the '70s, this one is a great choice.

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22 out of 26 people found the following review useful:
Last Dance of the Disco Era, 3 May 2005

Author: gftbiloxi (gftbiloxi@yahoo.com) from Biloxi, Mississippi

THANK GOD IT'S Friday was released just as the disco craze crested, when anything and everything might happen during a night on the town, when sex was casual, and drink and drugs were still regarded in a lighthearted manner, and music wailed and blared with the likes of Gloria Gaynor and K.C. & the Sunshine Band. Within a few years Disco would be publicly declared dead--but it still lives on in the recordings... and in Donna Summer's screen image of the Disco Diva, shimmering in the spotlight beneath the mirror ball with a hibiscus tucked into her hair as she belts out her megaton hit, "Last Dance."

TGIF is best regarded as a cultural artifact, an attempt to show everything that was shiny about the Disco world without any reference to its down sides of sexually transmitted diseases, next-morning-hangovers, and serious drug addictions. The story is slight: a disco is hosting a big dance contest, and every one arrives at the door with personal ambitions. There is, of course, the singer who hopes to hit it big; two underage teen girls hot to be Disco Queens; a sweet young thing who hates polyester and is looking for Mr. Right in the wrong place; and a ladykiller looking to score his next victim. The film is most memorable for the look of the disco, which is the real star of the film, and the cast, which includes several performers on their way up: Jeff Goldblum as the lady killer; Deborah Winger as the anti-polyester good girl; and of all people a very, very young Terri Nunn, who would later score big as the front singer for the band Berlin.

There are all the usual running gags, and as a whole the film is only mildly entertaining. But then Donna Summer steps into the spotlight--and for a few moments everything that was magic about Disco lives and breathes again. For what it is--an incredibly light, mindless bit of tinsel--the film is well done, but it has an extremely limited appeal for a contemporary audience. Unless you were actually part of the disco scene and want to revisit old memories, you're better off catching it on the late-late show. But my oh my... wasn't Donna Summer something special!

Gary F. Taylor, aka GFT, Amazon Reviewer

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18 out of 19 people found the following review useful:
One good reason to watch is....., 20 December 2002

Author: peacepit from New Zealand

.....DONNA SUMMER.

All Donna Summers scenes are great and funny. If you get a chance take a look at her FEET, she has the biggest feet I have seen on a woman. Maybe her shoes were to small or something but it's hilarious.

Donna steals the show when she sings the CLASSIC song "Last Dance" and leaves the Commadores looking a little flat.

One other moment in the movie is when Donna breaks into the DJ box and trys to sing on the microphone over the track playing. The song is another classic of hers "Love To Love You Baby".

Jeff Goldblum, Debra Winger and "Doris" from Fame are also thrown in the mix.

Definitive Disco Nostalgia

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13 out of 13 people found the following review useful:
I Really Like It !, 27 January 2004

Author: vhpstar from Salt Lake City, USA

I really like Thank God It's Friday because reminds me of my very young years. Perhaps this movie today does not represents much, but is itself a simbol of an era. At that time (1978) the movie was a fashion hit due to the disco vogue, becoming the Academy Award Winner as the best musical theme in 1978 (Last Dance). Donna Summer was at the top of her career, and Jeff Goldblum with Debra Winger were new debutants in the movie business, who years later became big Hollywood movie stars because of this movie. This movie is actually a lot much better and fun than many other musicals. The music itself has better quality than much of today's music which absence of quality, taste and talent is so evident (and presence of violence, terrible languaje and sex and drugs abuse is so evident as well). The only one thing I really don't like from this 1978's movie is the consumption of drugs, but at that time that was considered pretty tame. However the young people at that time watched the movie more for the fun to enjoy it and the fashion of the disco vogue, than the drugs use or abuse. This movie is much fun and it is a way to say : go ahead and have fun at least one time in your life!. Be young and be happy once everywhile! Dance and enjoy yourself! This is an Anmerican classic in my opinion because it is the mirror and reflex of an era. 1978's Thank God It's Friday obtained actually the Academy Award that Saturday Night Fever didn't get in 1977! And both are pretty much about the same stuff. However Saturday Night Fever focused more in the personal life of a dancer ("Tony", John Travota), but Thanks God It's Friday was made to focus in the common and real people having fun in the best Disco of the town, as we actually did in the discos at that time, with Tarzan included!.

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9 out of 9 people found the following review useful:
Still a great movie, 9 June 2001
Author: trichenyc from New York City

OK, true, it's dated, and shows its age, and this movie is far from a classic. What the hell?, see it anyway!!. This movie took place at a long gone disco in Los Angeles (Osco's), a favorite hangout of mine back when I lived in L.A. Even though the story is a bit far-fetched, its the DANCING, and MUSIC that brings this movie alive.

This is a fun movie, about a fun almost hedonistic period (remember, this was pre AIDS), when pretty much life was about just having a good time.

The one thing I remember most about the disco period is this: There seemed to be very few lines that divided, the rich, poor, black, white, latin..you name it... we all went to the same clubs, and listened to the same music. This is something you'll see represented in this movie, this cast was about a group of people that in todays society, would hardly be seen on the same street.

The group I'd recommend seeing this film now? young people around 15 to 25, maybe give them a little more focus as to why their parents are so weird!!!

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11 out of 13 people found the following review useful:
The real "That 70's Show", 14 January 2002
Author: youngcreative from Ohio, USA

Every late 70's disco stereotype is well represented, including a brief shot of a working 8-Track tape player. Want a funny flashback? Grab this one. (Want an Oscar-caliber movie? Get something else.) But then, where else can you get Donna Summer, The Commodores AND Jeff Goldblum all in the same film?

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8 out of 8 people found the following review useful:
Wow...so many good actors in this film!!!, 26 July 2006

Author: ceva321 from United States

Debra winger, Jeff Goldblum,the disco queens herself Donna Summer??

That's right! You bet your sweet !!! LOL The new DVD has been digitally transferred to High Defenition!! It looks and Sounds GREAT !!

Let's go back to Los Angeles 1978 ! Great soundtrack, Diana Ross, The Commodores, The Village People, Oscar winner songwriter for Last Dance Paul Jabara, Pattie Brooks, basically the entire Casablance label was featured in this film!

This movie was rated PG, even tho it includes graphic drug use in many scenes, but back then I guess it was normal.

I recommend this fun movie for a rainy Friday night!

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8 out of 9 people found the following review useful:
Just watch it to see Donna Summer sing Last Dance. Awesome., 13 February 2002

Author: peacepit from New Zealand

Donna Summer re-launching her career back then and becoming the undisputed "Disco Queen" of the 70's. Seeing some young faces of some actors of today is also a good reason to get it out, like Geoff (Jeff?) Goldblum from Jurrassic Park 1 and 2. Standout has to be Donna Summer as Nicole when she sings Last dance and gets everyone rocking.

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8 out of 10 people found the following review useful:
Enjoyable multi character film, 12 August 2004
Author: theeht from ny, ny

If you like multi character movies, this will not disapoint. The mainly unknown cast are all rather likeable folks. and Paul Jabara is very good in his only screen role. YOu will be touched by the scene of him and a lovley young girl who are locked in a stairway but end up boogooing anyway. I especially love the plot about the fat guy and the tall thin schoolteacher who are mismatched by a dating service. Except for a few drug scenes, this is a terrific family picture, too. And the best you will ever see Debra Winger on screen. She looks soft and pretty. The music is very good, strong voices and tunes, much better than the dance music of the last 20 years. Check out this movie for some good light entertainment.

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8 out of 10 people found the following review useful:
Disco classic holds up after all these years., 5 January 1999

Author: jeff-150 from Reno, NV

A true classic. Donna Summer as a wanna-be diva, Jeff Goldblum as a player, and Terri Nunn (lead singer of Berlin) as a KISS loving teen! Pretty good soundtrack is made up for with this urban club tale. When Donna lets loose with Last Dance at the end you know it's all good!

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