Review of More American Graffiti (1979) by Jennifer A — 04 Oct 2007

Probably the first, and easily the most influential of all films centered around teenagers, this coming-of-age story pretty much started a new genre.

[b]American Graffiti (1973) - 8.6/10[/b].

Director - George Lucas.

Starring - Richard Dreyfuss, Ron Howard, Paul Le Mat, Cindy Williams, Charles Martin Smith, Candy Clark, Mackenzie Phillips, Bo Hopkins, Harrison Ford, Wolfman Jack, Suzanne Somers, Kathleen Quinlan.

It's the summer of 1962 in this suburban town and a group of teens try to make the most of it before assuming the inevitable responsibility of college and adulthood. Curt (Richard Dreyfuss) is college-bound but has mixed emotions about leaving town. He's obsessed by a mystery blonde (Suzanne Somers) and frantically attempts to find her before getting mixed up with a street gang led by Joe (Bo Hopkins). Steve (Ron Howard) is also college bound and faces being away from his girlfriend Laurie (Cindy Williams) which causes tensions between the couple. John (Paul Le Mat) is a street racer in his early twenties who gets stuck with 13 year old Carol (Mackenzie Phillips) for the night. Terry the Toad (Charles Martin Smith) is a nerdy guy who desperately wants to emulate his cooler friends. He tries to impress the Marilyn Monroeish Debbie (Candy Clark). All through the night the teens listen to the sounds of the early sixties played by legendary disc jockey Wolfman Jack.

Certainly nostalgic, but completely unsentimental in it's approach, George Lucas crafted a gem in this low-budget look at an end of an era. The film basically covers one night and follows the exploits of a group of teens as they party and contemplate the future. The large ensemble cast featured many future stars and the writing is simply superb. There may not be a signficant plotline, but that's not important. The film is about capturing the essence of a soon to be gone era of innocence. It's about characters, typical teens of this era, all well-developed. You care about them and their future. This film was certainly a blueprint of many coming-of-age stories to come, and probably the biggest influence on Richard Linklater's "Dazed and Confused", one of the few films worthy of being mentioned in the same breath. It's signficant and highly enertaining.

[b]More American Graffiti (1979) - 2.3/10[/b].

Director - Bill L. Norton.

Starring - Ron Howard, Cindy Williams, Paul Le Mat, Charles Martin Smith, Candy Clark, Mackenzie Phillips, Bo Hopkins, Scott Glenn, Delroy Lindo.

The innocence is gone in this insipid and uninspired sequel. All of the main characters return with the notable exception of Richard Dreyfuss. We have now enetered the Vietnam Era. Steve (Ron Howard) and Laurie are married with kids. A conservative young couple which contrasts the times. John (Paul Le Mat) is now a professional drag racer. Terry the Toad (Charles Martin Smith) and Joe (Bo Hopkins) are now in Vietnam. Debbie (Candy Clark) and Carol (Mackenzie Phillips) are now hippies.

A sequel to the hugely successful American Graffiti was inevitable, and quite frankly had some potential since the characters were so well-written and the era changed significantly in a few short years. However any potential the sequel had was squandered it left the hands of George Lucas, who only acts as Executive Producer here. Norton, who sealed his fate as a soon-to-be TV dierctor after this debacle, managed to create caricatures out of characters. What's more ludicrous, his interpretation of the anti-war movement or soldiers in Vietnam? It's painful to watch these characters after seeing the first film. It's sad to see this included as a "second feature" on some DVDs of American Graffiti.