Tapeheads

Starring:John Cusack, Tim Robbins, Mary Crosby, Clu Gulager, Katy Boyer, Jessica Walter, Sam Moore (II), Junior Walker, Susan Tyrrell, Doug McClure, Connie Stevens, King Cotton, Don Cornelius, Ebbe Roe Smith, Keith Joe Dick, Lee Arenberg, Lyle Alzado, Rocky Giordani, John Marshall Jones, John Durbin
Director: Bill Fishman
Studio: Anchor Bay
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

This underground comedy pairs two well-known actors with unique comic timing between them in a story of pursuing dreams amidst harsh realities. Two luckless life-long friends and suddenly unemployed security guards (Tim Robbins and John Cusack) seek to fulfill a lifelong dream try their hand at music-video production. Along the way they encounter the worst the music and television business has to offer, falling victim to a few scams and all the while clinging to their unbeatable optimism. Finally they hit upon an idea to resurrect a long-dead 1960s group, with predictably disastrous results. Blues legends Junior Walker and Sam Moore make appearances, and the soundtrack is a treat, featuring the likes of Bo Diddley and Devo. As a satire of the video age, it's hit and miss, but enough comic moments exist between the two leads to make Tapeheads an interesting diversion. --Robert Lane

Customer Reviews:

Were the 80s really like this?.......2006-04-22

I hate to give a movie like this a star rating, simply because it veers somewhere between 1 star--for its chaotic script and annoying moments--and 5 stars for such great bits as the dinner and love making scene between Cusack's character and his date, a vampish blackmailer. At one point, he accidentally sets himself on fire while sipping drinks, and he later receives fellatio in a cemetery. It's that kind of movie. The plot doesn't matter. Only the gags do. They come so fast that you might need to watch this one twice. Made in 1988, Tapeheads seems to mock the excess of the 80s by being extremely excessive. It's not as funny as something like Airplane!, but it has the same manic energy and goofy confidence. Clearly, it's not for all tastes. Reviewers commonly cop-out and say that a movie is "X meets Y" (i.e., Kill Bill is Fist Full of Dollars meets Enter the Dragon, or some such). Allow me a similar cop-out. This movie is something like the Blues Brothers meets Weird Al Yankovich (who makes an appearance here if you can believe it). Tapeheads's problem, however, might not be a lack of orginality, but too much (to lift a line from Sunset Boulevard). As Johnny would say, this is "weird, wild stuff."

John and Tim two funny guys.......2005-12-29

I came by this movie by accident at Kmart. I am a big John Cusack fan so I bought it. We must have watched this movie a dozen or more times. I did become a Swanky Mode fan. The music was fun. The part where they film the video was crazy.We laughed through the chicken commercial they made. Anyone who is a Tim Robbins and John Cusack fan will like this movie. My DVD came with the song "Ordinary Man" on a separate disk so we get to relive the music whenever we can. The songs are catchy and fun. ok, just buy it and add it to your collection.

It made it to DVD.......2004-11-27

This is one of those movies I'm surprised made it to DVD. If Tim Robbins and John Cusack still didn't have careers, it probably wouldn't have. It is a great and funny movie...that, like some other reviewers have mentioned, it seems no one outside of my quirky circle of friends ever saw. Some of the humor is dated...it's an older movie...but a lot of it is funny almost 20 years later. It's not for everyone...some of it is pretty silly...but I still laugh seeing it for the umpteenth time. If you have any knowledge of or interest in the music industry, you should buy or rent this one. You will enjoy it (and the Rosco's Chicken and Waffles video will embed itself in your head whether you resist it or not).

AMAZINGLY INEPT MOVIE.......2004-05-09

Based on these reviews I thought to try a genre I'd not explored.
Ohmy, never again. Suggestion: Critically read reviews; going back
after viewing TAPEHEADS I saw clues to the inept, shallow, silly,
awkward, amateurish nature of this faulty flick.

"Any ordinary man wouldn't think twice...".......2003-11-21

First off, I adore this movie. Both Tim Robbins and John Cusack are, to quote Rik from "The Young Ones", BWILLIANT!!! The cast, the music, the dialogue and everything else about this film is totally turbular (... yes, even though I am from New York AND the 80s are over, I still talk like a Valley Boy...)! Some of the funniest scenes in the movie are how Josh and Ivan's music videos are taken directly from videos that we have all seen on MTV (when there was still "M" in MTV). My personal favourite was their tribute to Duran Duran's video "Is There Something I Should Know?" The whole video is in black and white and then a small child throws a ball that is in colour (orange). I gave a happy sigh when I saw that scene. Anyway, that's all Pat has to say in this review. Right now, I am jonesing for some Vanilla Quik so, I must away. Ciaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaao!

Average customer rating:

Were the 80s really like this?
John and Tim two funny guys
It made it to DVD
AMAZINGLY INEPT MOVIE
"Any ordinary man wouldn't think twice..."

Tapeheads
Starring: John Cusack , Tim Robbins , Mary Crosby , Clu Gulager , and Katy Boyer
Director: Bill Fishman
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video