Hey, Hey, It's the Monkees

When I saw this film listed in my local television listings, I too thought, "Hey, Hey It's The Monkees!" I loved watching the episodes from "The Monkees", the television series. To see that they are back, updated in a movie only but nonetheless back, on prime-time was almost a dream come true. That is until I watched it.

"The Monkees" in general terms, is nostalgic and entertaining. Unfortunately, this movie, directed and written by one of the original lead actors(Michael Nesmith) from the old series, is neither. Don't get me wrong, the large scenic window in their living room brings back some wistful memories. But where's the mayhem ... the romp-around-fun ... the suspense? These guys may be old as my father, but I've seen reunion movies of the gang from "Gilligan's Island" be more edge-of-my-seat thrilling!

This film was supposed to be a 1997 spin on "The Monkees", but is 1997 defined with over-done special effects and lack of a strong plot? Sounds like a cross-between television series "Seinfield" and the movie "Inspector Gadget"! Okay, so they made a nod towards Martha Stewart in a parody of QVC sequence, but it is just hip or effective if Dolenz, Jones, Nesmith, and Tork did the Macarena! There are a few good moments in "Hey, Hey, It's The Monkees", like the first two times where Micky used magic monkee dust, the whole "These are the bones..." sequence, and when The Monkees were getting dressed in their tuxedos while just simply reminiscing about old times. No, the movie does not need to be filled with a lot of reminiscing, but that scene was just pleasant at that particular moment in the story.

The direction was okay to say the least. Nesmith makes the scenes run together almost flawlessly, but the supporting actors(or maybe just the supporting characters) seem heavily sedated, like they all are somnambulists through this film. I did not feel anything towards the supporting characters, for instance scared, angry, pleased, happy, etc. as I did for the supporting characters in the 1960s series. If the supporting characters in this film were edited out of the dialogues, I probably would not ever miss them. Now, that I think about it, the lead characters seem sedated or hypnotized also. Similar to the way the lead characters were in their 1969 special "33 1/3 Revolutions Per Monkee".

Lastly, the music videos in this film were uninteresting, even though they themselves seem to have a point. The style is semi-advant-garde with some nod(or maybe nose thumbing?) towards the ten-year olds that used to watch "The Monkees".

All these flaws I see in the film makes me wonder if some top brass stuck a gun to somebody's head and said "I want you to make a movie with The Monkees in it and I don't care what the movie is about, I don't care what's in it as long as it complies with studio regulations, but you better have Chuck Woolery in it!". It is one thing to simply milk money from fans, but it is another thing to milk money from fans well.

If you have ever been, even a slight bit, interested in The Monkees, whether the episodes from the 1960s or their music or both, I would recommend not watching this movie ever. It proves how bridges should be permanently cremated and, in some cases, should not be re-crossed a long thirty years in the future. Keep your old tapes of the episodes if they are in good shape because there is not anything wrong with just simply looking back at the other side of the cliff.

This is one of the best movies ever! It was just as good as Head and I'm sure it was as good as 33 1/3 too but I haven't seen that. I was laughing the whole time - especially at Peter's funny sayings for throw up and dumb and Mike saying "Life is like a box of chocolates." Mike did a great job writing it and I wish they'd make another movie JUST LIKE IT soon.

I can't believe I missed this movie. How? Why? Where was I? Only the greatest things can withstand the time and this surely did. They created a movie in the late 90's using 60's humor and it works even now in the 2020's. Damn, thats great stuff. I know they had their differences at times, but they put everything aside to give the fans one last romp in, in, Monkee heaven. Their series ended too soon and we are blessed with this wonderful, whacky, funny, corny, did I say funny, great show.

I wonder how many new fans they created in this show with the kids back then that never got to enjoy their antics for more than one show and reruns.

The Monkees are GREAT! Forever!

I enjoyed this very much. I thought that the guys were as funny now as they were in the television seris over 30 years ago. I always enjoyed the monkees and hope that in the coming years we hear more from them and I hope to see more shows like this one one the t.v screen.

This was technically the first "episode" I ever saw. I was almost seventeen when this aired, and had just discovered these zany, loveable boys. So I didn't know what to expect. Now that I've seen the series, itself, I know better. It doesn't compare, but it's still entertaining.

Here's what you get: The Monkees gently poke fun at themselves, and at the series that made them international celebrities. It's cute, but I prefer the actual series. If you don't know what these guys are about, then this is not too bad of an introduction; just bear in mind that it REALLY IS a spoof of the original Sixties sitcom. It does share some things in common with the actual show, though: It's fun, it's quirky, and it naturally has fantastic music.