The Allnighter (1987)

Fresh and Exciting

Bad Acting and worse Bad Screenplay

It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

Three self-centered young women are graduating college while struggling with their love lives. Molly (Susanna Hoffs) is longing for an epic romance, preferably with her guy friend who can't seem to grow up. Val (Dedee Pfeiffer) is supposed to be marrying some dickish businessman but doubts emerge. Gina (Joan Cusack) is only concerned with videotaping everything.Boring and tedious with a lame romantic plot that culminates in a cheesy sex scene which poor Susanna Hoffs had to do in front of her mom. Susanna's acting receives a lot of criticism but I don't think she's as terrible as others say. She's not good, really, but there's potential there. She has a likable screen presence and is certainly attractive. The scene of her posing in her underwear in front of a mirror is easily the highlight of the movie. Which says a lot about the movie, I think. Dedee Pfeiffer does well with her limited role. Joan Cusack is the weird one, looking a lot like Boy George here, and doesn't even get a bone thrown to her in the romance department. Pam Grier is wasted in a small role as a cop. The girls have two surfer guy friends that are made from '80s cardboard.Despite the presence of Bangles singer Susanna Hoffs, the music in this is the pits. The romance and comedy elements are bad but the navel-gazing angst will be the most likely reason you'll shut this off. Speaking of the comedy, the only intentional humor that works are the scenes with the hookers. There is some great unintentional comedy, though, in a scene where Hoffs and a mulleted rock star dance. Think mayonnaise on Wonder Bread with a glass of milk to wash it down.

I don't think I have found a professional film critic who has a good word to say about this film. But it is a good idea to forget what the critics say and try the thing out for yourself. After all, the critics go into ecstasy over Citizen Kane,while the rest of the world sleeps...They say horrible things - like the one that Susanna Hoffs is cast as lead just because her mother is director. I wonder where they got that ridiculous idea from!So I sat down thinking I was about to watch one of the worst films ever made - something that would make Citizen Kane look good. Instead I saw an interesting film that was quite funny, was surprisingly well written with cool dialogue, was very well acted, and had some memorable scenes, such as Hoffs grooving around to Aretha Franklin, and the toilet bowl in the prison cell.The most vivid character I thought was James Shanta as Killer. I thought that we would be hearing a lot more of him and that he would be a pretty big star by now, but evidently not.As one of the characters said in the film: it's been heaven on a stick.

It is the night before college graduation and Molly, Gina, and Val want to make it one that they will never forget. Whether it is going to the Fiesta with surfer buds C.J. and Killer or partying with an old rock guitarist that went to their school, they plan on doing it all. Unfortunately, Susanna Hoffs feature film debut will make you wish that they did something even more memorable, because you will forget it an hour after watching it. It is a comedy, but unfortunately it suffers the flaw of not being funny. You might smile once or twice, but I doubt you will even chuckle at any of these misadventures. The film is basically just a dull, overlong, snoozefest. The acting is alright, not really good, but nothing terrible. The soundtrack is decent as well. Unless you are a fan of Susanna Hoffs, leave this one alone. * out of ****

I thought this movie was great. It is your typical 80s flick, and being a child from the 80s I loved it. Susanna Hoffs shows us she cannot only sing but act. And where do they get the cute guys. I just wish it was longer or had a sequel.