Review of Xanadu (1980) by Jerry H — 17 Jan 2012

As a fan of both classic rock (especially from the "decade of excess") and mythological fantasy, "Xanadu" seemed right up my alley. Although it wasn't a terrible movie, it didn't live up to my expectations.

Let's start with the good: The acting, choreography, and music were all well done. Olivia Newton-John was the perfect choice for the female lead, because she has the voice of an angel. There were also some funny and cute moments; my personal favorite was when the guy on television "talks" to Sonny.

Some of the fantastical scenes were also eye candy, which is surprising when you consider that this movie is over three decades old. The not so good? A moderate amount of profanity, some immodest outfits, occasionally suggestive dancing, and some overly long musical numbers.

More than likely, most people who would like something such as this have already seen it. I definitely wouldn't call this "the worst movie ever," as some reportedly have; although "Xanadu" wasn't great, it's still much better than "Vision Quest," "Fahrenheit 9/11," and "Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit", which I still consider to be the three worst movies I've ever had the displeasure of sitting through.

Still, if you're looking for an amazing cinematic musical, I suggest checking out "The Phantom of the Opera". "Xanadu" is worth little more than a rental, if even that.