MovieChat Forums > Roller Boogie (1979) Discussion > Way better movie than I remembered...

Way better movie than I remembered...

posted 16 years ago by bettiegia
14 replies | jump to latest

I started watching this tonight, and I was sure that it'd be terrible. The last time I saw it was when it came out in 79' I was pleasantly surprised that it was much more entertaining and interesting than I remembered it. The kid, Jim Bray is extremely talented, graceful and a wonderful athlete, but he's a good actor as well...totally believable. Hard to believe that he was probably only 17 or so when they filmed it. I was still playing with my dolls at that age! I wonder if he was a professional ice skater in his career. I think it looks even harder to do those skating moves on wheels as opposed to blades. I think the movie I remembered being bad was "Skatetown USA" totally corny. Roller Boogie rocks!!

[–] bettiegia 16 years ago

You know what Bettiegia?? YOU rock!!

[–] eleanor-park 16 years ago

No ice skating for Jim Bray, he was all quads. (Though if he had switched over, he might have reached the Olympic level. Alas!)

[–] Haverchuck_Is_King 16 years ago

I don't think it's as bad as the IMDB rating would imply. It's basically a Frankie and Annette beach movie. It should be rated at least as high as those are.

[–] mlone 16 years ago

I agree, bettiegia (and yes, you DO rock!) I saw this movie in the theater when I was 16, and watching it again last night on TCM was just as much fun as it was then. Very entertaining movie for what it was.

[–] v_goggo 16 years ago

I just finished watching this movie and I found it extremely entertaining. It's not at all a good movie, but it is a lot of fun. My favorite scene is when the skaters are throwing fruit at the main villain and his goons.

[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] solex10 9 years ago

People don't remember Roller Boogie nostalgically because the movie has roller disco in it, and most people hate that music and time compared to the 1960's beach movies.

[–] tvstew 16 years ago

I don't remember this movie since I was 2 when it came out, but started watching it the other night on TMC and had to record it. We've watched it twice this week and it keeps getting better. It's cheesy as hell, but really watchable and hilarious. I gave it 8 out of 10, it really is great for what it is. There's definitely a point at which bad movies get good, call it camp or whatever, but when it works, it just works.

[–] Flamingo_22 16 years ago

pleasure type of movie

[–] tpcorless 15 years ago

I bought this thinking it would be Showgirls-level horrible, but I was surprised how entertaining it was. I even showed it to my friends, who are very picky, and they enjoyed it as well.

[–] MedioSiglo 14 years ago

The roller skating scenes were such fun to watch again. It had been so long since I've seen it that I'd completely forgotten the rest of the plot.

Why ain't you at the garden party you heathen?

[–] Aeneas-2 14 years ago

You're really right. I was just a kid when it came out, and I watched it again now as an adult expecting to be embarrassed for having liked it.

It's not Orson Welles or Ingmar Bergman, but you can't help but like it. Read Ebert's review -- even he can't help but fall for it a little. (He makes the same Frankie and Annette beach party movie comparison I see here.)

I think the reason is its heart. It sounds ludicrous to praise the sincerity of a roller disco movie where the kids take down an evil land developer to save their right to boogie, but I can't help but praise it.

I also agree with you that Jim Bray is a surprisingly good actor. He was cast because he could skate, but he was extremely natural and believable. Again, the word that comes to mind is sincere.

I give it a 6.

[–] alisotom 13 years ago

as far as outfits and music, this movie was a MUCH more realistic representation of what the 70's were really like than "that 70's show" ever was.

[–] ElectricWarlock 12 years ago

I typically only watch horror films so this isn't the type of film I would usually watch, but I gave it a chance because Linda Blair is in it and I absolutely loved it. It was great fun to watch. Linda Blair was great as usual, and so was Jim Bray. I am glad I decided to view this film after all because it is a blast.

Come, fly the teeth of the wind. Share my wings.