User Reviews

I waited over a year and a half to see "Bandwagon" -- and by the time I finished viewing it, I had: developed an even further appreciation for the talents of Kevin Corrigan and Doug MacMillan; discovered some wonderful new actors and a promising new director; and determined that North Carolina and its surrounding states were lovely, must-add places to my future vacation list. Most importantly of all, I left this movie thinking that I really, really wanted to be in a band!

"Bandwagon", in short, is about a band (the tag line even reads: Finally- A Movie About a Band). The band is made up of four twenty something guys who call themselves Circus Monkey. The film chronicles their climb from garages, to clubs, to touring (under the advising of a mysterious road manager), and finally to that big hookup with a record label and decision whether or not to "sell out." Now I've never been a member of a band myself, so I can't say how realistic the story is (though it certainly seems to be relatable and accurate). All I know is that this movie is a heck of a lot of fun!

"Bandwagon" marks the feature-film directorial debut of John Schultz (the original drummer for North Carolina band the Connells). You may recognize Schultz as the director of that Melissa Joan Hart mockery, "Drive Me Crazy". Please don't let that keep you from seeing this film, if so! Schultz' endearingly low-key style is quite evident here, and you don't have to be a teenager to enjoy it.

Even better than Schultz' directorial work are his script and characterizations. It's rare that you'll find such detailed and appealing personalities in one movie! Each member of Circus Monkey is likable and distinct. We have Tony Ridge, the singer-songwriter, who is as committed to his music as he is shy. Tony plays every song with his back turned to the audience (he even practices in a different section of the garage than his band mates, so that they don't see him!), and writes all those songs to some girl named Ann. He's played by Lee Holmes, who looks a little like Christian Slater with spiky blonde hair, and who has an intriguingly soft spoken voice that's very nice to listen to! Then there's Charlie Flagg, the long-haired, big-mouthed drummer who's pretty much into the band scene for the girls that come along with it. Charlie works in a record store, and his garage is where Circus Monkey gets their start. He's played by Matthew Hennessey, a newcomer who captures the mellow slacker essence of his character flawlessly. Thirdly, Eric Ellwood is Circus Monkey's bass player, a trouble making "time bomb"; he gets fired from his job after a fight with Charlie's cynical, whiny sister. Eric is played by Steve Parlavecchio, another big-star lookalike (he's a dead ringer for a short Brad Pitt) who quickly grew as appealing as his co-stars (despite some early scenes that hinted at annoyingness.). Finally, we have Wynn Knapp, the spacey drugged-out guitarist who loves to fish and has a mind "somewhere between the tangerine trees and the marmalade skies." Wynn is played by Kevin Corrigan, the only even somewhat-recognizable name in this cast. Corrigan, a gifted actor and one of my favorites, makes for the perfect Wynn. He's a master at that "lovably odd" thing (and he does a very respectable Southern accent), and this is one of my favorite performances from him!

The only other major character is road manager Linus Tate, who is brought to life by Connells member Doug MacMillan, in his first acting role. Linus, according to Wynn, brings bands to great and exciting peak levels, then mysteriously disappears until he emerges with a brand-new band. When said band becomes Circus Monkey, Linus goes fishing with Wynn, carries around a huge book (the scene where the band members finally find out what that book is is one of many great ones!), and mostly is just there for Circus Monkey ... letting them know when they're on "in five", and quietly guiding them. MacMillan's mellow, North Carolina drawl is as pleasant to listen to as his singing voice, and he gives a performance equivalent in likability to the others! Overall, the entire cast has a wonderful chemistry (particularly Corrigan and MacMillan), and even the minor characters (such as the front man for Circus Monkey's horror-show rival band Spittle, and Ann herself) are entertaining.

The movie takes place in Connells territory (Raleigh -- until Circus Monkey start touring, and then we see Nashville, Alabama, South Carolina, and other beautifully-shot Southern places). I doubt "Bandwagon" is actually autobiographical of the Connells' early days, but it's kind of fun to imagine that, since I'm a fan of their music. Like I said, it's easy for me to imagine ANY band relating to the experiences Circus Monkey go through ... that first failure of a show, the diners, the van, the first college station interview, being billed as Circle Monkey, that first jubilant time hearing your song on the radio, etc. etc.

Of course, a music movie wouldn't be much of a music movie without the music! The "Bandwagon" soundtrack is thoroughly enjoyable, and largely courtesy of musicians Bob and Greg Kendall. As Charlie says in the movie, their tunes go beyond straight pop, but aren't quite hard rock ... "ultrapop", he labels them. Think Paul Westerberg, or the Connells themselves.

I can never shut up about the films I love most. I love this film. Watch it yourself; "Bandwagon" is a blast!

The day after I saw this movie on TV I went to the DVD store to order it. Two days later they told me there is no DVD or VCD for this movie and that got me surprised. ''Bandwagon'' is such a simply-made, feel-good movie I wish to watch over and over again. The cute fairy-tale-like story with quite excellent original songs are the major plus points. There are a number of movies out there dealing with small-town garage bands achieving fame and fortune but... I don't know, this is somehow different. That's probably because the director John Schulz never showed Circus Monkey as a band with really talented musicians. All that happened to them just... happened. That's why I liked it so much, it never abandoned the indifferent attitude towards the characters and in most cases pointed out their follies rather than their musical skills.

There are drawbacks, if one wishes to point them out, like a bit unrealistic tour schedule or some weak dialogs at some times. But I think there's no point in finding out loopholes in these kind of films. These films are meant to please you and in that sense I have to say, the filmmakers did a pretty good job. The four band members, with different personalities are very well portrayed by the actors especially Lee Holmes as the lead singer Tony. The songs are quite better than average. I hummed "It Couldn't Be Ann" for at least a week thereafter. As a whole, one would never be disappointed on watching it. 4/5

As a former member of a band that never quite "made it" but hit the road on occasion, I found this movie enjoyable in its light-hearted portrayal of musicians on the road. It brought back many fond memories of jamming in the garage, dreaming of stardom, and eating cheap food.

Ahhh, good times . . . good times.

I realize that this movie is average or even fairly bad by all standards of cinematography. But it somehow seems to carry an incredible amount of honesty that i don't think i have seen in any film in recent history. The story is good, the acting average, the camera average, the pace, dialogs, character development ... is all average at best. Still, this movie gets a 10/10 from me.

I can understand people who don't like it, they just never dreamed about being rock stars when they were young. Anyone who did have these types of dreams (or maybe still does) really should see this.

For a while, I actually recommend this movie at my video store without actually seeing it, because it starred the underknown Kevin Corrigan. I finally put it on to see if I was recommending anything worthwhile. The first thing that grabbed me was the soundtrack. Circus Monkey's "ultra-pop" is some of the best pop music I've ever heard.

But about the movie itself: What's really refreshing about this film is how low-key it is. Too many movies about rock bands fixate on the excess of rock and roll. This is a disarming, understated film about a bunch of normal guys who know how to play. The four leads are engaging, even Steve P. as the band's token jackass. The humor and direction are both very sly, often flying under the viewer's radar until it goes for the payoff. (The train scene is the best example, but I won't spoil it for you.)

There's a couple of inconsistencies that most musicians will catch: Lee Holmes and Matthew Hennessy don't look like they're really playing most of the time; use a quarter as a guitar pick, and you'll break your high E string; NEVER travel more than 100 miles for less than fifty bucks, etc. But this is a sweet movie that just might make you want to join a band.

It's very hard to comment on what for me personally is the greatest movie ever created but I'll give it a shot anyway.

"Bandwagon" is something of a comedy but it's got some romance and drama thrown in the mix as well. Actually the tag-line says it best - "Bandwagon" is a movie about a band. Four young man who have little in common are joined together by their love for music. It's exactly their incompatibility that most of the humor stems from. The jokes are all funny. Non of them will have you rolling on the floor with laughter but not one seems out of place. I wish there would be more comedies like this...

The movie deals with themes of love and commercialism, friendship and loneliness. Each of the four main character has his own demons. And each of the four characters will have to deal with them. As their journey through the auster reality progresses, some all our band members will experience a shift in values and viewpoints. Gradually they will be able to put aside their differences... but you'd be better off seeing that for yourself. Let's just say integrity is opposed to success in the industry and a choice is going to have to be made.

The movie isn't trying to be overly deep, but it doesn't need to be either. You won't find any symbolism that requires vast contemplating like you would in "Last Days" for instance but for me that has never been the mark of a good movie. Things here are kept on a understandable, human level which, however, in no way means that the movie is a no-brainer, so to speak.

The cast consists of unknowns only but John Schultz somehow manages to draw out an excellent performance out of them. Not a single character seemed forced, not a single line was delivered unconvincingly. On the contrary: all the characters seemed perfectly honest and real. It's like the actors were simply being themselves which might just be the truth. You see, Mr. Schultz is telling us a story that's been told a million times - X meets success, X is torn apart from a world that doesn't give a damn, X falls from grace (where X can be a band, an artist, an actor etc.). But "Bandwagon" tells that story in a much simpler, down-to-earth, and it the end believable way. We can all relate (especially those of us who have been in a band) - something that is missing from most movies out there. In light of that, I'm guessing, it was easy for the cast to get acquainted with their characters. By no means are they one-dimensional, however.

Like most movies about a band, "Bandwagon" has that quirky, neurotic front-man. Rather brilliantly portrayed by Lee Holmes, Tony is always perfectly believable, never going overboard (often happens in similar movies), yet retaining a sense of detachment from the world. He's not that out-of-control Jim Morrison from "The Doors", he's simply a little out there. Also unlike "The Doors", "Bandwagon" is a movie about a band, meaning that John Schultz never neglects his other characters in order to put more emphasis on the front-man. At this point I'm starting to think that the tag-line really does say it all but regardless I push on...

"The Connells" member Doug MacMillan also stars in "Bandwagon". I imagine that can be an extra incentive for their fans to go see this. He's Linus Tate, a mysterious and intriguing character who has acquired lots of wisdom over the years spent in the music business. Although I make him sound like an old Chinese guy from a Karate movie, I assure you he's got nothing to do with one of those.

The music in Bandwagon (much like everything else) is simply brilliant. Catchy indie-rock tracks that could have been hits, had they seen some airplay. Alas, the music industry doesn't care about good music.

John Schutlz... I'd rather not contemplate the reason why a man of his talent went on to direct such awful movies like "Like Mike" and "Drive Me Crazy". At least I have some comfort in the fact that he didn't write any of them with the exception of "When Zachary Beaver Came to Town" which I haven't seen (hopefully I will one day and more hopefully it will be OK).

I must admit that my review is by no means objective but it's hard to stick to the facts with a movie that means so much to me. This is one of the few flicks that brought me to tears without even aspiring to do so (*note: I don't cry to tearjerkers).

It's just a wonderful story told with honesty and zest. It's just a movie about a band, there's isn't much more to it really. And I think everyone out there can relate to it on some level.

I had heard about this movie briefly on a movie review show. The reviewers didn't rate it highly, but I thought it looked interesting. Of course I never got around to see it in the cinema. Two years later I happened upon it in the video store, one rainy Sunday. Well what an excellent suprise, I loved it... Having lived in a house with two local bands, I found it almost unbearably real. Each one of the characters in the movie I knew in real life, giving me the added bonus of finding this movie extremely funny. I strongly recommend this movie to those involved in young bands or those involved in the local band scene. My only gripe is the brief moments of over the top Spinal Tap dialogue. A must see.

When a bunch of guys hit the skids they decide to form a band. Led by Tony Ridge the neurotic song writer who can't handle playing infront of people they face an uphill battle. Starring a bunch of basically unheard of actors (with the possible exception of Kevin Corrigan) they deliver what arthouse and independant films are all about. But ultimately as the film says "It's all about the music" with an absolute killer soundtrack and great laughs all the way through this movie has got to be one of the best movies ever made in my opinion. If you love this movie but cannot find the soundtrack please email me and I'll try to help you out :)

Bandwagon is a movie that every young man who is a fan of Rock'n'Roll must watch. This is a great feel good film that will make anyone who watches it start a garage band. The music is superb and it is a testament to how bad radio is right now that some of the circus monkey songs received no airplay. Although this movie has several dubing mistakes and a few instances of poor acting, in the end you turn of the T.V. with a smile on your face.

i saw this movie by mistake 3 a.m in the morning and i couldn't make any objective comment about it, cause this movie means a lot to me... i think its underrated.... i know it may not be the greatest movie ever but to me it seems to be... the acting its perfect and the music its amazing... every single song in that movie is good and it is no more than what it pretends to be... a movie about a band....i specially love the fact that tony is a shy guy that has to hide in order to play and i love that Wynn its always smoking...i know they're little details but i 've seen this movie a thousand times and i'd see it another thousand times... anyway i just wanted to know if anybody shares my opinion on it...

Really great movie with excellent music. I saw it 13 years ago and still hum several of the songs. I think I'll go look for the soundtrack right now. Being that I was in a band at the time, I can relate to the songwriting, shyness on stage, and constant fighting between bandmates. As the comment above states, the actors were complete unknowns to me, but did a great job as you grow attached to the characters. The story is a bit cliché, but well put together. It shows that you really don't need a big budget to make a great movie. Why the rating is so low is beyond me. I would recommend this movie to anyone that loves music, or anyone that loves movies.

Too bad Schultz sold out with Drive me Crazy because this was an excellent film. It was on one day on HBO and for some reason I couldn't turn it off. It's not laugh out loud funny but it's still good. I later saw it on IFC and it was still good. YEAH for Bandwagon.

I thought this movie was done pretty well. I saw the box in the video store, & noticed that it claimed it had original music written on the soundtrack written just for the film. I read the back of the box, & took it home. After seeing it once, I had to buy the soundtrack because "It couldn't be Ann" stuck in my head. I thought the movie was good, because it showed how four people who had nothing in common, came together through playing their own music. It felt real to watch, having been through it myself on a smaller level.

Watching these guys go from their drummer's garage to actually touring together, was fun. It also helped me to realize that if the guys I play with off & on went on the road in a van that size, we'd probably end up at each other's throats too. But, like Circus Monkey, no matter what would happen, it'd be worth it just to do it, period.

There were some inconsistencies. The bass player's amp/cabinet alone required two people to carry it (as seen when they steal it back from that dealer). So you're going to tell me that all of their instruments, amps, mikes, mike stands, & an entire PA to tour with fit in the very back of that van? Yeah, right. I can't fit my whole drum kit in my car! And where did they get the money for the van & PA to tour with? Oh well, why gripe, it's just a movie.

I honestly thought this was a pretty accurate portrayal of a band starting out realistically. They didn't just suddenly start playing arenas, & become a huge success. In fact, I really liked how they didn't end up selling out to Rival Records. It felt honest & real. Not everyone wants to be the next Spittle.

If you play, or have played in a garage band that's tried to play your own material, check this film out. And also buy the soundtrack, if only for the four original Circus Monkey tunes. They made me wish that there was an entire album of their music to buy. The liner notes are interesting too. The same group of guys that recorded the Circus Monkey tunes, also recorded the Spittle songs. What irony...

All in all, a pretty light & enjoyable film worth seeing if you've ever wanted to get out of the garage & get on stage.

By Melissa Antoinette Garza

Being a child of the 90s, I often romanticize the decade in my head. I like to convince myself what came out of the 90s was better than anything before or after. Maybe that's because, if not for Nirvana, Live, Soul Asylum, Rage Against the Machine, Weezer, etc. my existence would have been intolerable. When I think back to the insanity of my teenage years, I often see myself in my room with my door closed and headphones blaring the sound of understanding sympathy that was not found anywhere else.

I frequently go to Northampton MA with my husband Steve and best friend Meghan because the 90s are still alive there. Whether it's used record stores, local bands, or vintage clothing my youth feels so much closer there than any other place. My adoration for the decade declared, I feel so cheated that I haven't heard of this movie before. The only reason I know of it now is a combination of my good taste and OCD. I was watching Grounded For Life on Netflix and remembered how fond I was of the character Eddie. My mind working the way it does, I began looking up his filmography and going through the movies I hadn't seen. I saw a picture for Bandwagon online and Mr. Kevin Corrigan was nice enough to let me know the name of the film. Thankfully, Amazon had it for purchase. The movie begins with Charlie (Matthew Hennessey) who works at a music store having the desire to be in his own band. He befriends Tony (Lee Holmes) who loves to write, sing and play music, but is so shy that he has to go into another room to even play in front of Charlie. The duo decide to make a band and enlist the help of the very subdued Wynn (Kevin Corrigan) and the unhinged Eric (Steve Parlavecchio). Together, they become Circus Monkey. There is a small rivalry of sorts with a hardcore metal band named Spittle. Spittle gets a contract with Rival Records and one of the members throws it in the face of Circus Monkey. Charlie too wants a contract and knowing that his band is superior to Spittle, keeps his eye on the prize with the desire to seek out fame. Soon, a big and mysterious name in the music business Linus Tate (Doug MacMillan) shows up and acts as Circus Monkey's manager. He warns the group right away that Rival Records aim in signing them would be to alter their image and ultimately their music to fit into the mainstream. Still the group is un-detoured and though staying with Tate, still desire to make it big. They start a tour and for the most part things go smoothly, until a girl Tony likes and the object of many of his songs has a thing for Charlie. The band almost breaks up over it, which pushes Eric over the edge. As he's trying to "reason" with Tony and Charlie, he sees a guy going in his van. Thinking that it may be Chester (Doug McCallie) a man he screwed over in town, he takes out a gun he stole and shoots. Thankfully, no one was hurt but Wynn's beer bottle was the recipient and it shot as Wynn himself was holding it. When he finds out he was almost killed, he passes out and then after waking up decides he's taking off. He grabs his fishing line and goes to the water where Tony runs after him and pleads for his return. After some major discussions and a little bit of police trouble, the group finds its way to their meeting with Rival Records. In the end, the four guys need to decide if success is worth selling out or if the music holds more value than any contract can offer. This was a fun movie that I'm sad I didn't see when I was younger. This should definitely have a mainstream release and I wonder why it didn't. It's sad that Airheads (1994), a dumbed- down movie about a 90s band, is a far more recognized film. Don't get me wrong, if Airheads was on TV right now, I'd watch it. It's a fun flick, and I'll watch anything with Steve Buscemi in it. It's just Bandwagon had more heart and a higher level of genuine appreciation for the generation it's connecting with. It was a wonderful hour and a half of nostalgia that I'll be sure to relive again soon.

'Bandwagon' had its heart in the right place but like all films had several shortcomings. Firstly, there were not enough laughs to call it a comedy, and secondly, not enough conflict to call it a drama. It was well directed and well acted but the achilles heel lied in the rather cliched script. The worst thing that can be said about 'Bandwagon' is that it is too sweet natured for its own good.

I'd never seen or heard of this one. I put on the television and there it was this morning. I must say it was a very pleasant surprise.

It strikes me that inasmuch as a comedy can be gritty, Bandwagon is a grittier version of the Tom Hanks film, That Thing You Do. Instead of the cute sixties moptops of that film, here we get the tired, bored, living in the van, probably smell bad band of the 90s, Circus Monkey.

The story is a familiar one. Band forms full of idealism and belief in their music. Band goes on the road.Band starts battling. Band reaches breaking point. Anyone who has been in a band will appreciate Bandwagon a bit more than the casual observer. The cast of largely unknown actors does very well. The songs are good, but there should have been more of them.

it was a great movie, the character we're like people we all know, the story line was interesting, the conflict was realistic. it's the kind of movie i'd like to write myself

What a great movie to see once IFC was finally offered in my market! This movie will be especially entertaining for those with any knowledge of indie rock/pop music. Living in Charlotte for 3 years also let me appreciate the little regional establishing shots and references like Krispy Kreme, Cat's Cradle, and ignorant rednecks. While it drags at a couple points, it's nonetheless an entertaining look at the eccentricities and shortsightedness of young musicians, and the nature of the business of show. Definitely worth the 3 star rating it had on my cable program guide. And it's got a catchy few "original" songs a la The Wonders or Stillwater, only in the indie rock vein. I kept looking for Superchunk or Archers of Loaf members to pop up in a crowd shot... :)