Review of Rock 'n' Roll High School (1979) by Spencer S — 23 Mar 2012

A movie musical that straddles the fine line between sugary sweet and punk rock chic, Rock 'n' Roll bridges that gap between Grease and High School Musical, with songs that aren't nauseating and characters that are against the establishment but don't broach on Fonzie territory.

Somehow this movie makes a case for punk music but in a feel good kind of way. The characters are all high school students up against the new principal, Togar, who hates The Ramones and tries to make an example of the high school's hippest rock and roll protege Riff Randell.

Riff loves The Ramones, and most of the movie is about her getting to meet them, seeing them in concert, and the fight against the principal. A lot of rock and punk music is featured, especially showcasing The Ramones.

Casting the band was a brilliant move, and they really shine here as silent versions of themselves, ribbing with the rest of the characters. The movie also moves really fast from one idea to the next, more of the cuts being featured than the editing.

It's also funny in many ways, including sight gags, references, and a brand of humor that I can only closely describe with parody but on its own superficial level. I loved the mood, the costuming, the gun ho attitude of the students and the unavailability of the entire film.

It was truly manic, Looney Tunes' fun, and if you love The Ramones on top of everything else, than this is the film for you.