Okay, so I am a huge Cheap Trick fan and they do the title song on this movie. Not my favorite CT song, but as a huge fan, I felt the need to check it out. I was pleasantly surprised. Having no expectations, it turns out Roadie is a fun snapshot of late 70s/early 80s rock and roll.
Meatloaf is enjoyable to watch as the lovable cowboy, who goes along with a rock show as their go-to fix-it man. All for the love of a 16-year-old groupie. (Did anybody else have a problem with this? I was trying to remember if there were pedophile laws back then. Contrary to the fleshy movie poster, there is nudity in this movie.) Other fun roles are by Art Carney, Don Corlenlous, Joe Spano and of course, all the music stars. It's always great to see famous musicians in movie roles, where you don't expect them to be great actors, but more of just themselves. Roy Orbison, Alice Cooper, Debbie Harry and Hank Williams Jr. all seems to be having fun and go along with the breezy plot.
The music scene at the time of this movie (1980) was at a crossroads. Mainstream rock and country were up against disco (thankfully, not in this movie), punk and new wave. The soundtrack reflects this - a perfect example is Blondie's cover of Johnny Cash's Ring of Fire. I really wish Meatloaf would have had a chance to sing some of his classics. But the rest of the music is good enough to forgive some of the silly plot moments and acting. I need to try and find the soundtrack, which I hear is out of print. Does anyone know if a CD was ever released?
7 out of 10 stars for a fun trip back in time when rock and roll was a little bit more honest. The life of a roadie can be interesting when you have to keep the circus moving. Roadie definitely doesn't take itself too seriously, which is what a good rock and roll movie should do.
Meatloaf is enjoyable to watch as the lovable cowboy, who goes along with a rock show as their go-to fix-it man. All for the love of a 16-year-old groupie. (Did anybody else have a problem with this? I was trying to remember if there were pedophile laws back then. Contrary to the fleshy movie poster, there is nudity in this movie.) Other fun roles are by Art Carney, Don Corlenlous, Joe Spano and of course, all the music stars. It's always great to see famous musicians in movie roles, where you don't expect them to be great actors, but more of just themselves. Roy Orbison, Alice Cooper, Debbie Harry and Hank Williams Jr. all seems to be having fun and go along with the breezy plot.
The music scene at the time of this movie (1980) was at a crossroads. Mainstream rock and country were up against disco (thankfully, not in this movie), punk and new wave. The soundtrack reflects this - a perfect example is Blondie's cover of Johnny Cash's Ring of Fire. I really wish Meatloaf would have had a chance to sing some of his classics. But the rest of the music is good enough to forgive some of the silly plot moments and acting. I need to try and find the soundtrack, which I hear is out of print. Does anyone know if a CD was ever released?
7 out of 10 stars for a fun trip back in time when rock and roll was a little bit more honest. The life of a roadie can be interesting when you have to keep the circus moving. Roadie definitely doesn't take itself too seriously, which is what a good rock and roll movie should do.