Review of American Graffiti (1973) by Justin J — 18 May 2012

American Graffiti.

It is my own belief that most films that take place in a single day or night are generally pretty good. They are all sort of loose in story, more character driven, more about just having fun, chilling out, having a good time. Films like "Superbad", "Dazed and Confused", and "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" all follow this format. But the original, the father of, the best of these one day, all about having fun films is the George Lucas 1973 film "American Graffiti".

Taking place on the last day of summer, "American Graffiti" follows a number of kids in 1962 Modesto, California. The kids include a number of actors who would go on and become stars in their own rights including Richard Dreyffuss, Ron Howard, Mackenzie Phillips, and even Harrison Ford.

The two main characters are played by Dreyfuss and Howard who are best friends about to go to college together, getting out of their "turkey town" as Howard puts it. But the Dreyfuss character is unsure whether he really wants to go to college. After seeing a mysterious woman in a white car who mouths the words "I love you" he spends the whole night trying to track her down, even at the end going to the local radio station to send out a memo to her.

Meanwhile the Howard character is dealing with him and his girlfriend not seeing each other for three months and debating whether their relationship is going to work.

And while that is happening, Toad, the local nerd, gets the Howard's character's car and tries to impress girls with it, eventually getting one girl and adventure ensues.

And yet another story involves a local drag racer and his complications when he ends up with a girl who is too young for him in his car. And at the same time he is being terrorized by a rival racer, the Harrison Ford character.

Overall, with all the stories, the film isn't complicated to follow really, it's more fun. It being the same formula as "Superbad" and "Dazed and Confused", "American Graffiti" sees the potential of this format and shows the fun that can be had. But it being the early 1960's the film doesn't push any limits with language. It plays it relatively safe with the rating. The worse you can say is that you see a bare butt up against a window when some kids are cruising down the main drag.

My only real problem with the film is the music. It's a big soundtrack and each scene is supposed to have a certain sound that occupies mood and scene. But my problem is that sometimes the music is just too loud, you can't really hear what the people in the scene are saying. And when the DJ Wolfman Jack talks, his voice is so raspy and loud through the speakers that that too is very difficult to hear, you can't really understand what the characters are laughing at.

Overall, this being sort of the first of its kind, it's an enjoyable and fun film. To see all the influence that it has had over the years, the fact that the film sort of help make the restaurant Mel's Diner famous, makes the film an important not only for George Lucas, but to America. It shows an innocence and fun that the generation of today may not possess anymore.

3.5/5, A-.