American Pop
Directed by Ralph Bakshi
Written by Ronnie Kern
With the music of The Doors, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, The Mamas & The Papas, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Pat Benatar, Lou Reed, Bob Seger and more
96 minutes. Rated R. Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1. 1981
DVD cover    It is in my opinion that anyone who (a) lived through the sixties or (b) likes music will appreciate the brilliance of this wonderful film. It's the story of four generations of a family and their love for music. It tracks them from Russia to New York to Kansas to California and back to New York as they pursue their individual goals and dreams. It's the music that ties it all together brilliantly, that and the wonderful animation which, for it's time, was extremely innovative. It uses a technique called "rotoscoping," which is basically animating over top of live action. It's also got flashes of live action spliced in. Add to that some psychedelic sixties effects, and you have a beautiful piece of animation, and a brilliant film.
    The story itself isn't all that innovative, but the characterization of the main players is nice. The main character, the third generation who goes on to write songs for a Jefferson Airplane-esque band, is actually not a very likable bloke, but it's easy to overlook that when you're hearing "Someone to Love." The final generation, a drug dealer who goes on to write songs for Bob Seger (these characters, by the way, are all imagined) could have used more characterization, but that's the only real big flaw in the movie, aside from it's stereotypical portrayal of gangsters.
    But the story isn't the driving force of the film: it's the music, and the passionate - but different - ways each of the four main characters pursue their love of music. It's a brilliant piece of film making that actually gave me chills, and I'm not even from the era it was portraying. But it's an impassioned tribute to music - that's what makes it so wonderful. That, and the incredible animation. And, of course, the great music.
    The bottom line: A good story, wonderful animation, and an impassioned tribute to music.
    My review: B+
    My advice: Rent it TODAY. On DVD, if you've got a player.
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