A bunch of very white California teens get caught up in some nonsense over a stolen Chinese scroll (that looks like a big hanky), punctuated by some second-string musical groups badly lip-syncing.
A fitful last gasp of the beach party genre, almost fascinating in its unfunniness. Donner's M. Hulot knockoff is particularly egregious in this regard. Ted V. Mikels was the cinematographer, and his camera work is the only thing good about this one. Variety's review sums it up well: "Everything's been under rehearsed and/or done in one take, with results that all lines are read with little inflection." As to be expected with a director like Sholem, a hack whose output is all thoroughly unmemorable. Suitable only as MST3K fodder and Tommy Kirk completists.
Note: The MST3K version looks sunny and colorful, but the actual movie included on the flipside of that disk is a muddy, brown transfer, so apologies for poor caps.
-Dave W. |