Reviews

I avoided this movie for a long time because it was more or less sold as an inspirational-type film, which made me think of saccharine Pax-TV fare. Then I wound up renting it one night on the suggestion of a friend. I stand corrected.

I wound up watching it about 10 times and enjoyed it more and more with each subsequent viewing. It *is* an inspirational-type film, no lie there ... but it's also well-made, well-acted, and beautifully photographed, and has a great soundtrack that combines some great early rock 'n' roll classics with a nice fiddle score. I also thought it was a nice to see a film in which a bunch of young men use their brains instead of their brawn (if any) ... that's what'll get you further in life than anything.

Although to me it couldn't make up its mind whether it wanted to be a snidely funny adolescent comedy or an Afterschool Special, Angus definitely has its moments, especially Angus' speech at the film's high point. I wish I'd had the opportunity to utter such words when I was that age (I'm way over 30).

I have to give good marks to the performances, especially George C. Scott and the two young men in the leads (the not-all-that-fat Charlie Talbert and the adorably geeky Chris Owen) and a really good soundtrack that includes bands like Pansy Division and The Muffs. This film (in somewhat edited form) turns up on either TBS or TNT at some point or another ... worth checking out when it does show up.