'The AllNighter' isn't as bad as it seems

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On the surface, "The Allnighter" appears to be one of those mindless teen beach movies, but it is actually a really good one. The acting isn't great, but the story and music are superb.

Susanna Hoffs of the Bangles (whose mother directed) is the quintessential sixties girl stuck in the eighties and she's no different here. Hoffs wasn't terrific as an actress, but she's so cool that I wish she would have made more films.

Hoffs plays Molly, the valedictorian with a crush on surfer CJ (John Terlesky). CJ is preoccupied with his bud Killer ( James Anthony Shanta), the waves and his girlfriend Mary Lou. Molly, CJ, Killer, Gina (Joan Cusack) and Val (Deedee Pfeiffer) are about to be college graduates. The plan is to spend their last night together but Val's fiancé (Phil Brock) gets in the way.

Hoffs is tired of fighting for CJ's attention and decides she needs an older man. She sets her sights on Mickey (Michael Ontkean), a rocker from the sixties, but her perfect night soon turns to nightmare when she gets stuck on Mickey's hotel balcony while he makes up with his girlfriend, who happens to be the college guidance counselor. Val's night takes a wrong turn at the same hotel as she and Gina are mistaken for prostitutes and are arrested.

As I mentioned, the acting isn't great, but it is still such a fun movie. I would recommend this to fans of beach movies or eighties movies in general. And of course, if you are a fan of Hoffs or The Bangles, then it is certainly worth viewing.

score 8/10

a_at_the_movies 24 October 2020

Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw6202437/