AIRHEADS
A film review by Michael John Legeros
Copyright 1994 Michael John Legeros
Directed by Michael Lehmann Written by Rich Wilkes Cast Brendan Fraiser, Steve Buscemi, Adam Sandler, Joe Mantegna, Michael McKean, Michael Richards, Judd Nelson, Chris Farley MPAA Rating PG-13 Running Time 90 minutes
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"Who'd win a wrestling match, Lemmy or God?"
"Ha, trick question."
"Lemmy is God."
- Brendan Fraiser and Steve Buscemi
Heavy-metal humor ain't easy as proven by the air-headed AIRHEADS, a good-to-bad-to-almost-unwatchable comedy about an unsigned band (Brendan Fraiser, Steve Buscemi, and Adam Sandler) that raids a radio station to get their demo played.
Hip helmer Michael Lehmann and writer Rich Wilkes target the MTV metal crowd and, if nothing else, get the costumes and dialogue right. Best exchange:
"69 copies of MOBY DICK."
"The book or the movie?"
"They made a book out of it?"
What's missing, though, are any *real* references to the genre. Oh, sure, there's a cameo from Mr. Kilmister and a couple cracks about both Vince Neil and Ozzy. As well as a call-in in from Beavis and Butthead. But the real *meat*--the tunes, man, the tunes--is missing. Come on, a cover of Van Halen's "I'm the One" by Four Non Blondes?
Play some Sabbath, dude!
Three stooges Fraiser, Buscemi, and Sandler are all extra-appealing. And co-stars Joe Mantegna (jock) and Michael McKean (PD) both emerge unscathed from the plot-from-hell. But steer clear of Michael Richards, Judd Nelson, and Chris Farley. They're not worthy.
BOTTOM LINE: For the definite send-up of the genre, pay a call on
Penelope Spheeris and her documentary THE DECLINE OF
WESTERN CIVILIZATION PART II: THE METAL YEARS.
Grade: C-
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