Pretty pathetic

Rating: 1/10 (25 November 2003)

Dull, boring story about the legendary Studio 54 and one of its owners, Steve Rubell (played by Mike Meyers). It also deals with three other people played by Ryan Phillippe, Selma Hayek and Breckin Meyer. What their names were, I don't remember...mostly because there's absolutely nothing going on here.
Purportedly, the original version was much stronger--so strong with sex and drug use that it was threatened with an NC-17. Then test audiences reacted VERY negatively to the extreme stuff (a gay kiss was completely cut out). What came out was a seriously watered down version of what might have been a good movie. I HATE those stupid test audiences!! I was actually in Studio 54 back in 1980--what I saw there was in NO way portrayed in the movie. The drug use was out in the open and there were people (literally) having sex--gay and straight! That's not shown here in any way.
Phillippe (as the lead) was terrible. He is handsome and muscular but has a blank face on all the time. Hayek is good but given nothing to do. Ditto with Meyer (who's VERY good). Neve Campbell barely even registered. Myers is (surprisingly) very good in a dramatic role. The movie is ALMOST worth seeing for him. Also there are a few good songs (especially "If You Could Read My Mind").
But, basically, this movie is so light and inconseqential that I forgot about it the next day! A waste. See the E True Hollywood Story on this--that gives a much more accurate portrayal of the club itself.