Really Bad with a Couple of Minor Redemptions

DanB-4

OK, I hate Prince. In the two dozen or so albums he has released, there are a total of about 4 good songs. So, keep that in mind when I tell you that this movie stinks.

This is a self-serving, ego-maniacal extended music video, and a bad one at that. Prince can't act, Appolonia can barely stand up on the screen. Most every element of the movie is grossly inferior, plain and simple.

There are two redeeming qualities - Morris Day's self parody role as Prince's rival is wonderful, especially since the real  "The Time" was a far better band than Prince ever put together. Also, the song "When Doves Cry" as much as I hate Prince is a great piece of music and a defining song of the 80's.

I despise movies with no real importance that take themselves too seriously - this is the pinnacle of that description. If you want to hear Prince's music, his score for the first "Batman" is infinitely superior.

I will never understand why Prince - oh sorry, The Artist Formerly Known as Prince - is so popular and dredging through this entertainment black hole brings me no closer to an explanation.

*1/2 out of ****.

score 3/10

DanB-4 21 September 1999

Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw0214197/