This off-the-wall, instant cult favorite 80s comedy stars John Cusack and Tim Robbins as Ivan and Josh, two goof-offs who get fired from their dead-end security guard jobs. So they take advantage of the situation to pursue their true lifes' work: making music videos. After a rough start (including doing videos on spec for a character named Mo Fuzz (Don Cornelius)), they soon take the L. A. video world by storm. They also get mixed up with a presidential candidate (Clu Gulager) who's been caught on tape indulging in a fairy-princess fetish.
Full of energy and attitude, "Tapeheads" gets most of its mileage from the non-stop parade of guest stars from the worlds of both film and music. Junior Walker and Sam Moore, in particular, get real showcases as a legendary soul duo dubbed The Swanky Modes (whom Ivan & Josh idolize). It's really an eclectic mix of individuals ranging from Susan Tyrrell to Jello Biafra to Mary Crosby to King Cotton to Bobcat Goldthwait to Lyle Alzado. The soundtrack itself is quite the marvel, with a score by ska-punk band Fishbone. It's highly reminiscent of the films of Alex Cox (no surprise, really, given that it is also "presented" by ex-Monkee Michael Nesmith), and in fact includes small roles for a number of Cox regulars (Sy Richardson, Zander Schloss, Xander Berkeley, etc.).
Not all of the movie works that well, but in general it's zany enough and upbeat enough to make it hard to completely resist. It does have a couple of genuine laugh-out-loud moments. Certainly Cusack and Robbins have solid odd-couple chemistry, with Cusack filling out the role of the big talker with the business mind and Robbins as the more even-keeled creative type. It has a great pace and knows how to leave its audience with smiles on their faces.
Robbins' song "Repave America", which later turned up in his directorial debut, "Bob Roberts", was first heard here.
Seven out of 10.
Full of energy and attitude, "Tapeheads" gets most of its mileage from the non-stop parade of guest stars from the worlds of both film and music. Junior Walker and Sam Moore, in particular, get real showcases as a legendary soul duo dubbed The Swanky Modes (whom Ivan & Josh idolize). It's really an eclectic mix of individuals ranging from Susan Tyrrell to Jello Biafra to Mary Crosby to King Cotton to Bobcat Goldthwait to Lyle Alzado. The soundtrack itself is quite the marvel, with a score by ska-punk band Fishbone. It's highly reminiscent of the films of Alex Cox (no surprise, really, given that it is also "presented" by ex-Monkee Michael Nesmith), and in fact includes small roles for a number of Cox regulars (Sy Richardson, Zander Schloss, Xander Berkeley, etc.).
Not all of the movie works that well, but in general it's zany enough and upbeat enough to make it hard to completely resist. It does have a couple of genuine laugh-out-loud moments. Certainly Cusack and Robbins have solid odd-couple chemistry, with Cusack filling out the role of the big talker with the business mind and Robbins as the more even-keeled creative type. It has a great pace and knows how to leave its audience with smiles on their faces.
Robbins' song "Repave America", which later turned up in his directorial debut, "Bob Roberts", was first heard here.
Seven out of 10.