amyrourke56
Am I the only Australian to review this on IMDb? A rapid scroll through the offerings would seem that this is true. Unbelievable ! I saw this film on first release at the cinema in true-blue Sydney fashion. It is still a haunting favourite after all these years and is, in fact a love song to a city and her people and places. Stephen MacLean was a boy from Melbourne, who later wrote the famous 'The Boy from Oz' ~ a bio of Peter Allen - later to become a musical stage sensation. But that's another story...This movie is absolutely fabulous Sydney in all her early 80s glory. A time of innocence and fun, ridiculous clothes, a special cousinhood, 'wannabe-in-show-biz', Mickey Rooney & Judy Garlandesque tribute to the talents and humour of our own people. Who needs Hollywood? Features include, singin', dancin' and horsing around in a variety of great Sydney locations. Every song is wonderful and every star shines. A Classic ~ oft overlooked but remembered well and often, by me, Anne-Maree.
johnstonjames
definitely one of cinema's best and under-recognized musical classics. i've loved this movie dearly since i first had the pleasure of seeing and hearing it back in 1982. unfortunately and obviously, i was one of the very few persons here in the States that did. throughout the decades i have always raved and tried to discuss this movie with cinema fans and fans of film musicals. it never fails to draw a blank with everyone. even to this day, there are only twenty reviewers of it on IMDb. compare with the hundreds of reviewers of say, 'High School Musical'. how sad. 'HSM' certainly isn't as bold or intelligent, it isn't even as much fun as this. and the music and dance numbers in 'HSM' aren't nearly as clever or good.Jo Kennedy and Ross O'Donavan give some of the best performances i have ever seen by teen age actors. the 14 year old Donovan is hilarious and brilliant, giving a performance that is wise beyond his years, and the unexpectedly versatile Jo Kennedy is a marvel. not only is her performance comic and her singing off the chart, she also walks a tight rope. yes. literally walks tight rope. this was well before CGI effects and that is obviously her doing her own stunt.in fact. the opening scene with O'Donvan encouraging Kennedy to walk a tight rope over a busy intersection wearing a bare breasted body suit, is so immediately engaging and side splittingly funny. i've seen few movies get this funny this fast.anyone new to the musical 'Starstruck', may be surprised to find that this isn't just a cute and amusing film musical, but is also really good, low budget Aussie cinema. it often feels like what a musical would be like if it were directed by Peter Wier. it's musical numbers are extremely funny and in the example of the dance number "we all live like ants", very unconventional and innovative.in fact this is one of the most unconventional musicals ever made. and it still continues to be more original than most, some thirty years later. most large budget fiasco's would do best to study how this simple film, on a very low budget, manages to be as clever and innovative and so charming with very little resource except inspiration.
jimf42
One of the best original rock musicals! I have just seen the DVD release, having not seen the movie in about 20 years and it holds up very well. It is not at all dated. All of the songs, except for the one which is intentionally bad, are great memorable songs...apparently thanks to Phil Judd of The Swingers. Casting really makes the film. Great chemistry between the two cousins Jackie (Joe Kennedy) and Angus (Ross O Donovan).Although the plot is somewhat thin, as is typical for this type of movie, it moves along quite nicely and has good light-hearted humor.See the movie, you will not be disappointed.
JH-7
Its fuzzy in my memory...but it looked like they had put Manhattan's East Village on a beach where everyone lightened up...put on more than black and broke out in a really rock'n tune.
AD
