” Do your parents *know* that you’re Ramones? “
ROCK ‘N’ ROLL HIGH SCHOOL plays midnights this weekend (August 16th and 17th) at the Tivoli as part of their Reel Late at the Tivoli Midnight series. A Facebook invite for the event can be found HERE
It’s amazing that actress P.J. Soles didn’t become a big star after playing Riff Randell, #1 fan of the punk rock group the Ramones, in ROCK ‘N’ ROLL HIGH SCHOOL in 1979. Soles is so exuberant, you don’t mind she’s obviously too old to still be a student in high school (that fact is leveled out by having all the kids look 25). The movie is a fast-paced frolic that doesn’t cop-out; everything gets blown to smithereens at the end, and that’s just as it should be. Mary Woronov, a kinky and funny presence as the Nazi-like principal, gets a great, one-of-a-kind bit at the beginning where Frisbees fly dangerously close to her head (how many takes did they use on that, or was it a fluke?) and Dey Young is very appealing as Randell’s best friend, Kate Rambeau. The Ramones can’t act, but they’re funny, and their concert segment is a blast. One Ramones song, “I Want You Around”, is treated as a fantasy and is well-captured; other incidental songs are good, particularly a rare Paul McCartney ballad, “Did We Meet Somewhere Before?” Great fun!
The Tivoli’s located at 6350 Delmar Blvd., University City, MO. Admission is a mere $8!
The Tivoli’s website can be found HERE
Here’s the line-up for the other films coming to ‘Reel Late at The Tivoli:
Aug. 23-24 NINJA SCROLL (1993) – subtitled
Aug. 30-31 LABYRINTH
Sept. 6-7 HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH New 4K digital re-master
