The Allnighter [Blu-ray]   price checker   price checker Description Gallery Reviews Variations Additional details Product

I’ve just finished watching this movie after watching “Pound of Flesh” a few days ago. There’s something about the movies of Ms Tamar Simon Hoffs that suggests she understands sexuality very, very well and that she presents stories that require an above-average amount of mental processing so as to appreciate them. This movie is no exception — and that’s a significant compliment.I was a girl of the same general age and living in the same general time-frame as the movie portrays … made in the mid-1980s when the actress who plays the central character was in her mid-20s at the time, and presumably playing a character who’s in her early 20s, so perhaps the movie is based on the early 80s or so. I was also raised in a nice neighborhood, I also lived in LA near the beach at the time, and I also graduated from college. So, I relate perhaps more than most, but the points the movie makes are nevertheless universal.The skills and style of the central actress have some parallels with Micheal J Fox, who in various movies and shows played a character younger than the age of the actual actor. The few extra years of life insight enables more credible and endearing a performance than had an actor of that literal age been chosen. Similarly does Susanna Hoffs deliver a credible and endearing performance while having (and probably because of having) a few extra years of life insight relative to the character she portrays.In so many movies nowadays, courage and character are interwoven with story lines punctuated by pyrotechnics, explosives, gunfire and special effects. If a character is portrayed as making a good yet difficult decision, it’s typically the fate of civilization that hangs in the balance. One nuclear explosion is certainly not enough to keep the audience engaged, and machine-gun fire and single shots must fill the gaps in the silence. By contrast to that sort of thing, this movie enables us to consider the courage and character behind decisions and actions made by young adults, as we all once were (unless you’re a very young reader of this review) with all the hesitation, uncertainty and insecurity that comes with being a young adult. And, as a bonus, the scenarios are real-life and realistic. To recap:- Character A realizes she’s a sexual being who has neglected her sexuality, and she takes action to pursue a sexual experience with someone whom she respects for what he’s achieved, and who is nice to her- Character A chooses that person over Character D who is (at the time) mean to her even though she has a crush on Character D- Even though Character A has a crush on Character D, after he’s mean to her, she makes a stand and has an eloquent showdown without saying a word, right when Character D is trying to make a good impression on two other girls- Character A is supposed to write a graduation speech as class valedictorian but instead she allocates the time better, to a night filled with rich life experiences- Character A later ends up giving her graduation speech impromptu instead of having written a speech, with the central point being that experience is the best way to learn- Character B speaks up in support of her friend, Character C, when the latter is having a showdown with her horrible fiance and needs that support- Character C defends her friend, Character B, in a jail cell against a physically intimidating adversary who is about to get violent- Character C stands up to a horrible fiance even though he superficially has appealing features- Character A helps her friends, Characters B and C, when they’re in trouble and she intelligently and methodically pursues every resource she can find, yet without violating her integrity- Character A shows how using a collaborative girl-girl appeal to openness and reason works a lot better at getting problems resolved, in contrast with the approach of someone who tries to help but ends up using pressure tactics that make things worse- Character A embraces her sexuality, while being well aware that she doesn’t have the typical busty figure that girls her age have. The story line is frankly earnest about it, including a scene on the beach where the character admits her concerns as to her physique not being as curvy as that of other girls her age. Even so, by the time she’s done trying to look enticing, she very much does. As a bonus, the movie also shows her in the process of getting ready, during which her basic sexual radiance shows, and bodes well for her likelihood to experience what she’s seeking. After being up all night, doing things that take courage, she ends up in a romantic and sexual scene with Character D on whom she has had a crush all along, and who realizes the value of Character A in his life, and who ends up helping her and being nice to her at a time when she needed it most. The seduction scene seems low- key unless you’re paying attention. Without that sexy scene, or with just that sexy scene as the main theme, the entire point of the movie would have been very different, for the worse.- The best scene is almost at the very end, where perhaps within the hour of having a happy and meaningful sexual experience to add to the intense events of that night and subsequent morning, Character A walks to the podium and gives a short and perfect graduation speech while she radiates a well-earned confidence.Buildings, aliens, planets and cities destroyed: zero. Explosives detonated and bullets fired: zero.Even though at a superficial glance this movie might seem superficial to some, it doesn’t take much analysis to add up a list of commendable decisions and actions by characters who exude more realism yet heroism (in a real-life way, in real-life scenarios) than most characters I’ve seen on-screen.That’s an impressively long list of good life lessons, packaged in so fun and non-preachy a way that the lessons to be learned are perfectly integrated, which is how humans learn best. Lecture them and you’ve lost them; entertain and tell stories, and they learn without realizing they’re learning. It’s like getting a balanced and healthy meal even though it tastes and looks like delicious junk food.The mother-daughter dynamic between the two Hoffs ladies (Tamar Simon Hoffs and Susanna Hoffs) is, of course, totally unknown to me but I suspect that it could make for an intriguing anthropology book, what with the former lady’s likely mentoring of the latter as to the role of sexuality in show business. Equally intriguing is how well that has succeeded — perhaps beyond the ability of anyone to manage and contain; almost like trying to light a camp-fire and then ending up with a nicely roaring camp-fire plus then burning down much of the forest too, as a consequence of runaway success.It is, of course, not appropriate to speculate on the private sexuality of Susanna Hoffs, so I must emphasize that this comment is focused on her skill at working the role of sexuality in show business. With that in mind, what she’s learned and done could probably fill yet another book.Were they ever written, I’d hope that both books would be “required reading” in any class that teaches aspiring performers.The general consensus about this movie seems to be that it’s not all that great a movie. I disagree.

If you are looking at reviews for this movie… chances are you already know the movie well.It looks great on dvd and it’s just as fun to watch as it was decades ago.Definitely worth picking up for $10 or less.

This wasn’t any special movie. The only value it has is Susanna Hoffs is in it, so fans of her and the Bangles could see her. The movie is suppose to be a comedy, but it wasn’t that funny. Overall, it is rather stupid movie, but I’m a Bangles fan so that’s only reason I picked up this movie. There’s no Bangles music and she doesn’t sing, and when does the love scene, I don’t know if it’s a body double or what, but there’s no nudity anyways.

So I used to watch this movie in the late 80’s early 90’s. I love this movie, its such a classic!!!

Not like those Frankie and Annette Beach Party movies…
I gave this movie 5 stars, cause it is fun and enjoyable…Its a b movie for sure, maybe even a c movie but its not without its merrits. The girls are all bad actors except for Joan Cusak…The heart of the movie apparently lies with the two lead male Actors, John Terlesky ( hunk, muscular, very handsome) and James Anthony Shanta ( a blonde demi god if there ever was one, he plays Killer.) Both of these lads are funny, but as I said the heart of the film comes through in the final scene with the two guys as one goes off to surf the world, and the other to law school…the conversation is touching and shows real friendship with the two guys…The film itself contains some nice surfing sequences ( like on water, not internet). The cinematography is stunning and there are some close ups of John, that shows how handsome this dude is. But in these days, if you like surfing and beach movies, you will enjoy this…but dont look for anything substancial…except a crush on John Terlesky!