Watchable, but that's about it. It feels like a feature length rock video, more than anything else

Rating: 5/10 (30 October 2013)

I really can't fathom as to why this was such a box office smash. Yes. It has an amazing soundtrack, it's flashy, glossy, glitzy, and hip, but there isn't much story to speak of. It feels like a feature length MTV film, with all of the arresting images, but I wasn't sucked in from the story. Alex's character (Jennifer Beals) isn't given nearly enough detail as to why we should root for her. All we really know is that she lives in a small town, and works for her money, and she wants to be a dancer. I didn't buy her as a welder, either. I would have liked to see more of her downfalls. Jennifer Beals is the heart & soul of this movie, yet it focuses much more on glitzy images, more than a coherent story. The love story between Beals & Nouri is extremely clumsy and laughable at times. Michael Nouri can't act worth a lick, and neither can Beals, but at least she looked fantastic. Whether she had a double or not, watching Beals practice a dance routine to one of the best songs ever, Maniac is extremely sexy, and it was probably my highlight of the film. With all the sweat flying, peaks at her gorgeous flesh, and her amazing body, it's hard not to notice. Jennifer Beals swears a lot in this movie, and throws a rock through Nouri's house window at one point (!) It's the 80's, so this style of movie is to be expected. I loved the 80's, but I cannot figure out why people flocked to see this movie. There is nothing special about it what so ever. I realize it's about living the dream, but it's all so routine and shallow. It's worth watching for the sake of the gorgeous Jennifer Beals, but it's pretty average stuff.
5/10