Starstruck

The director of "My Brilliant Career", the Production Designer of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show", a choreographer working without trained dancers, several script writers and many composers bring a low-budget post-punk vitality to Sydney Australia.

As the commentary on the DVD mentions, the prints of Starstruck seem to have been severely cut in different releases, and this print has at least one song hacked out of the release I saw in 1982. Still, the bouncy energy survives. Teenage lust and ambition are tempered with working class family values. The homage to Richard Lester and gay Busby Berkeley routine are still hilarious, and the finale will have your toes a-tapping.

I saw this during the Australian wave of films. I was being inundated on sort of dark pieces and this was an eye opener to say the least. I hadn't expected such a bright and lively piece. This is a wonderful piece of work. Everything fits. The cast is perfect. Each so in tune with their roles, each ringing true in dialogue and action. The music is both stylistically correct and true to the genre. Many times tunes written for movies that are rock or pop oriented turn out to be lame, musically incorrect, or both. This is not the case here.

Gillian Armstrong shows an airy touch, while still maintaining that solid control of characters and visually precise scene setup she has demonstrated in other films, such as "My Brilliant Career" and the sadly overlooked "Oscar and Lucinda". All in all this is an enjoyable experience. Nothing earthshattering or profound but good workmanship and totally fun.

Fun comedy musical with a quirky mix of retro kitsch and early 1980s New Wave music and styles.

Bright and talented aspiring singer Jackie Mullens (played by the bright and talented Jo Kennedy) wants to make it in showbiz, aided and abetted by her precocious 14-year-old cousin/manager/songwriter Angus (Ross O'Donovan). The Mullens family members seem to have showbiz backgrounds (ballroom dancing and fortune telling) but now all live in, and run, a cool kitschy pub next to the Sydney harbour bridge that caters to a boisterous working-class crowd. Jackie is romantically pursued by Robbie (Ned Lander) from her backing band, while she is infatuated with TV talent show host Terry (John O'May).

Kennedy and O'Donovan are fantastic in the lead roles. Kennedy is a great singer, and the various musical numbers work really well. Some songs are presented like early 1980s music videos, others take inspiration from Busby Berkeley.

A Wonderful new wave camp classic,i normally don't really like musicals,but when i saw this back in the eighties i loved it. beautiful sexy Jo Kennedy plays an aspiring singer in Australia. her little cousin Angus,is her agent.campy fun movie with lots of great new wave musical numbers.pokes fun at the MGM musicals from the 40s and 50s.this was a little known,under-appreciated effort from down under. and seldom shown on TV.i don't think its out on DVD yet.but its a great movie.with colorful zany characters,its a cult film.Australia's greatest import since mad max.a must see for everyone even if your not into musicals like me.more then likely you will enjoy.10 out of 10.

This is worth looking for. Australian film maker Gillian Armstrong's delightful gem traces the path of two Aussie teens trying to make their break in show biz. This is a classic fairy tale story that includes such amusing scenes as young star Jo Kennedy practising tight-rope walking across the bar of her grandmother's pub. This film treats its teen subjects with respect rather than condescension and the finale is a showstopper. Great soundtrack of obscure 80s music, as well.