AIRHEADS (1994)

Directed By: Michael Lehmann 
Written By: Rich Wilkes 
Cinematography By: John Schwartzman 
Editor: Stephen Semel 
Music By: Carter Burwell 


Cast: Brendan Fraser, Steve Buscemi, Adam Sandler, Joe Mantegna, Amy Locane, Chris Farley, David Arquette, Reg E. Cathey, Michael McKean, Judd Nelson, Michael Richards, Ernie Hudson, Nina Siemaszko, Allen Covert, Harold Ramis, Lemmy, Rob Zombie, Kurt Loder

Three would be rockers Chazz, Rex and Pip, known as The Lone Rangers plan to play their demo on a recording company, but then they're turned down rudely. Then they decide to try the famous rock n' roll radio station, but are not accepted either. Then they decide arm themselves with squirt guns and take the station hostage for not playing their demo. But the three get more than what they have bargained for.

This was a clear cut example of a studio trying to give an audience what they believe they wanted at the time. Only doing it from an outsiders point of view as the studios were a generation ahead. So they didn't completely understand the audience and ended up making a generalization. Trying to appeal to all audiences. Not only watering down the product, but also speaking down to the audience. Trying to catch onto a fad before it's too late.

Even the title seems to either be the studios way of thinking who this will appeal to (considering how bad the film is I would agree) or what they think of the project.

It seems likens film where the soundtrack was thought up first before any other elements of the film.

The cast all seem a little long in the tooth for their roles. They look ridiculous. They seem to look only like a slightly more intelligent three stooges. Like they are letting the wigs do all the acting for them so that they are inhabiting their costumes rather than the characters. Even with those factors considering the names in the cast it should be funnier and it being directed by Micheal Lehmann of the film HEATHERS. This film should be a lot better.

Alexandre Rockwell (IN THE SOUP) was originally slated to direct.

This film has an early performance of Adam Sandler. In one of the rare films where he didn't write or control the production. He is here in not as talent and while he is an animated presence and one of the few things that works in the film. It doesn't save the film at all unfortunately.

It seems like the type of movie that was put together by marketers at MTV at the time to put everything that was in, in one film. It is in the quality of an MTV original movie today. Only back then they still partially produced and held market films like these. It plays like a botched not well thought out skit that is high concept tan degree.

The film is definitely a period piece of the 90's music scene though more hard rock base. When alternative was beginning to take over the airwaves.

At times the film gets a bit raunchy, usually it's out of nowhere as it has a pretty much safe PG-13 vibe as that seems the audience it is best suited for though it seems made to appeal to college aged audience members. It's an obvious comedy that is rarely funny and let's every characters hair tell you all you need to know about them.

It seems a typical Brendan Fraser comedy where, he seems to be a better actor then the material and films he chooses. He is a journey man actor as he always seems to be finding his way to fit into a character. As he is never the obvious choice for the roles that he takes. He is actually a replacement for John Cusack who was originally supposed to star.

It might have been a film better off letting a real popular band make the film as their introduction to the film world as well as helping to define their personalities to the public ala the Beatles with A HARD DAY's NIGHT and The Ramones in ROCK N' ROLL HIGH SCHOOL.

The final film to use the 1980's 20th Century Fox logo. The CGI logo would make its debut in The Scout, another film starring Brendan Fraser.

In the end no one on screen seems to be having any fun. Least of all us in the audience.

Grade: F