Inside the Osmonds

...but honestly, it does have high entertainment value. If not for the sickeningly sweet, poorly written story and truly disgusting acting, then only for the sheer hilarity of the 70's fashion and ridiculous dialogue. It was amazing to me how everything in the Osmond family seemed to magically work itself out, including the impossibly high amount of harbored resentment between the siblings which seemed to vanish into thin air at the end of the movie. Still I laughed very hard at the bellbottoms with playing cards on them and the sequined lobster costumes, so all was not lost on the Osmonds...

Since I like the Osmonds this movie was a decent tribute to the family of Bubble Gum. Although critics see it as a typical piece of sanitized drama, I liked the honest approach of the jealousies, quarrels, insecurities, and control issues that plagued the boys, as well as the Brother Sister duo. There was a very poignant scene when Wayne sits with Merrill on the floor and laments, "We were making history. If we had stayed with it. If we had just kept going, I know it. That the worst part... could have, but didn't." The movie gives a peek into the inner turmoil of the family. Merrill's frustration over the bubble gum sound, Donny's early rise, and feeling his brother's resentment. Marie's image insecurities, and Daddy Osmonds over controlling hold on the boy's careers. It could have been done with a little more realism, but at least it avoids the over dramatized scenarios and scandals about famous people. I would have liked a little more music, and a little less hype about the the Mormon Missions. That part was obscure for the audience at large. But you don't mind any of that if you like the Osmonds.

I have Inside The Osmonds., and i thoroughly enjoyed it. It's great they are still performing, and have not once lost the talent they started with.

I have been to see them a couple of times now, (time permitting)and have also seen Donny several times. I'm a big fan, and probably always will be. Keep it up lads.

Watching the film, showed the fans some insight to their lives, which was an eye opener, as sometimes you only see the stardom side. I have met Donny and Merrill, and have found them very sincere, and always receive their fans with a genuine nature.

Ok, I agree that this script had a Leave It To Beaver complex when it came to working out character's problems in a timely, neat manner. But hey, for those who remember the 1970s with fondness (yes, there are a few of us!), this was a pretty fun look back. Sure, the Osmonds were a pretty saccharine bunch, but they did have a few decent, rocking tunes early on (who knew the boys really longed to be the next Led-Zeppelin?). The movie does a great job in recreating their stage act, and the outfits are a total gas (the wigs and sideburns fare poorly closeup, but are sufficient in long shots). Some aspects of this story, such as their religious convictions and sibling rivalry, only got surface deep, but this was not intended to be the next Citizen Kane. Lighten up! I can't imagine any fan of the Osmonds (and there were millions!) being disappointed in this movie. By the way, did anyone notice that the fellow playing the father is D-Day from Animal House?!

I missed part of the start of Donnie and Maries career because I was overseas in the military in the mid Seventies. But this movie catches you up easily on parts you may have missed. I was always curious about how they lost their money in building the recording studio back in their home state. This movie cleared it up and more. I have read Donnie's autobiography and also Maries. Donnie did not give monetary statistics on how they came close to losing everything. Just that the family threw all their money into one hat and came up losing. This was really heartbreaking to me. The books were very eye opening and such good reading. It shows you how a close, large, and religious family achieved so much with sort of limited resources and a lot of pluck and talent. They would not be where they were today without the father being a guiding hand. Donnie told in his book how the family kept their morals while traveling around the world and in sometimes questionable surroundings (Las Vegas for example). Before anyone knocks this family or this movie they should read the books and examine their own life. The family reached the peak of entertainment success and preserved their families traditions at the same time. I say Bravo to the Osmonds and I wish there were more families that could entertain us all like this!