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dogopoly · 07-03-2006, 10:49 PM

This is the story of a Minnesota radio show from the 1950s that somehow managed to survive to the 21st century, but time has finally caught up with it and it is scheduled to be shut down.

The radio show broadcasts live to a small audience (about 100-200 people) in a theater while broadcasting live on the radio to many nearby farm towns.

The many vaudeville-style acts and lots of country-westernish music headline the stage like a broadcast of Hee-Haw meets Lawrence Welk, but behind the scenes you learn about the history of the various stage families over the last 50 years.

In my opionion, if you're under age 40, you probably won't get what's going on. I barely did, but it was because I watched a lot of those vaudeville-style shows growing up in the 60's. The music was catchy, and the directing was outstanding, but the thin storyline and bizarre threads running through it didn't quite offer enough to keep me wanting more. If this were a Saturday afternoon movie with nothing else to do, I would have tuned in for a few minutes, channel-surfed, and tuned back in for a few more minutes.

However, there were dozens of older couples in the audience who were roaring with laughter and giddy-ness at scenes that didn't do much for me.

So I'd say it had excellent directing and very good acting, but I'll give it a B- since the storyline and gags were a bit sparse and weak. That's my recommendation for the under-40 crowd. Maybe check it out on video.

BUT...if you are in the over-50 crowd and used to enjoy entertainment radio, I suspect you'll come home all aglow after watching this movie. For you folks, I'll give this an A rating--go out and see it now.

For the 40-50 crowd, I guess you'll just have to decide which way you lean--old slower moving movies: go see it; fast-paced action films: skip it.

07-03-2006, 10:49 PM	#631
dogopoly Captain Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Near Fashion Valley in San Diego Posts: 1,844	A Prarie Home Companion This is the story of a Minnesota radio show from the 1950s that somehow managed to survive to the 21st century, but time has finally caught up with it and it is scheduled to be shut down. The radio show broadcasts live to a small audience (about 100-200 people) in a theater while broadcasting live on the radio to many nearby farm towns. The many vaudeville-style acts and lots of country-westernish music headline the stage like a broadcast of Hee-Haw meets Lawrence Welk, but behind the scenes you learn about the history of the various stage families over the last 50 years. In my opionion, if you're under age 40, you probably won't get what's going on. I barely did, but it was because I watched a lot of those vaudeville-style shows growing up in the 60's. The music was catchy, and the directing was outstanding, but the thin storyline and bizarre threads running through it didn't quite offer enough to keep me wanting more. If this were a Saturday afternoon movie with nothing else to do, I would have tuned in for a few minutes, channel-surfed, and tuned back in for a few more minutes. However, there were dozens of older couples in the audience who were roaring with laughter and giddy-ness at scenes that didn't do much for me. So I'd say it had excellent directing and very good acting, but I'll give it a B- since the storyline and gags were a bit sparse and weak. That's my recommendation for the under-40 crowd. Maybe check it out on video. BUT...if you are in the over-50 crowd and used to enjoy entertainment radio, I suspect you'll come home all aglow after watching this movie. For you folks, I'll give this an A rating--go out and see it now. For the 40-50 crowd, I guess you'll just have to decide which way you lean--old slower moving movies: go see it; fast-paced action films: skip it. __________________ The dog days of summer are gone... my leash is broken...I'm FREE! Let's party? fleas really bug me!