Lovedolls Superstar

This low budget film from the Los Angeles mid-80's post-punk (what ever happened to THAT phrase?) underground has more going for it than most big money Hollywood films from that era. Why? It's ingenious inventiveness for one. You would never know it was shot on Super-8 and cast from Southern California's punk scene. It's on-the-money tearing apart of sacred cows for another. Whether it's "rockstars" or record label executives; religious leaders, or pimps. No one is spared! There may not be high production value (although it looks a hell of a lot better than it's predecessor "Desperate Teenage Lovedolls"), it's the ideas and clever execution that shine through and transcend what one would expect. Damningly hilarious parodies of everything from feminism to (surprise) hardcore punk. Also Funny send-ups of "Billy Jack" and Bruce Springsteen's / Brian Depalma directed "Dancing In the Dark" video.) It is also ahead of it's time, witness the political monologue delivered by none other than the President himself (Jello Biafra of the Dead Kennedys. ) 60's icon (and tie to "Psyche-Out"), Sky Saxon of the Seeds appears, as does Walking-Like-An-Egyptian Bangle Victoria Peterson. I get the feeling Quentin Tarantino saw these films as a young 'un, as the dialogue comes from the same 70's pop culture vernacular. Written by Dave Markey, Jennifer Schwartz, Jeff McDonald, & Steve McDonald (the latter two of Redd Kross, who provide much of the great soundtrack.) Director Dave Markey also created the Nirvana vehicle, 1991 The Year Punk Broke.

Hard to appreciate unless you were in the late 80's punk scene. Lovedolls Forever is a time capsule, to be sure. It looks like a bunch of friends and a cam border made a half baked movie, only somehow got Jello Biafra to make a cameo. This is because in the 80's, the punk scene wasn't made up of millionaire rock stars like Green Day. This is how bands like Bad Religion and Black Flag were involved with the first one, Desperate Teenage Lovedolls. Anyway, the movie itself is stupid, poorly acted, and poorly written. Everything about this movie is amateurish even to an amateur. But it's fun and has a great soundtrack. The key is fun. It doesn't think too much of itself, doesn't try to say too much, and isn't boring. I recently saw the director's cut, and there was definitely fat to trim. And how the heck did they get away with so many copyright infringements? I guess because nobody important ever saw this movie. Charles Manson's Garbage Dump, KISS's God of Thunder, Give Peace a Chance, A Day in the Life?! Guerilla filmmaking at its finest!

I would recommend this movie to anyone with a sense of humor.