The Gong Show Movie

source: The Gong Show Movie

Trailer—The Gong Show Movie

The Gong Show Movie

How often do we see a movie version of a game show, huh????? Not much!!!!! Now, this review's on the TV show AND the film!!!!! A real 2 in 1!!!!! The show: "The Gong Show" is no ordinary game show. There's no puzzles or wheel spinning if I can remember; it's more of a talent show. The "50 Greatest Game Shows" on GSN aired an episode of this recently; unfortunately, I missed the episode, but I found out that it not only had Steve Martin in it; it also had probably one of the loudest crowd gestures the series has ever had!!!!! However, I do recall that "Tool Time" made fun of this when they were searching for words to add to the wordless theme song. The movie: I haven't seen it, but can you believe it????? How's about "Wheel of Fortune: The Movie" or "The Price Is Right: The Movie?????" Now THAT will get everybody going to see those movies!!!!! Overall, I give "The Gong Show" a 10 out of 10; no, make that a 20 out of 15 as this will make the show skyrocket!!!!! LOL

Like a trip back in time, late 70s hair, clothes, cars, shops, and wacky, sleazy humour. The only real plot concerns the host of an amateur talent show trying to either give up or come to terms with his job. He is constantly buttonholed by wannabe contestants who audition for him in hospitals, cafes, elevators and anywhere. We also see numerous a TS from the show, with much crass humour. Barris has a certain similarity to the darker persona of Jerry Lewis. At first he seems kind of non-descript and dull, but you are that this is his way of contrasting with all the zaniness around him. For a film almost universally despised, it was often good fun to watch.

Hollywood gave us "Birth Of A Nation. It gave us "Gone With The Wind" and "The Wizard of Oz" in one year, 1939. "Citizen Kane" followed and was itself followed by such classics as "The Best Years Of Our Lives," "On The Waterfront," "The Ten Commandments" "Ben Hur," and "2001: A Space Odyssey," among other titanic films. Then in 1980, the one true master, the genius that is Chuck Barris, gave us "The Gong Show Movie," based on what was perhaps Newton Minnow's brightest light, the TV show, "The Gong Show." In a nutshell, this is what it's really all about. Life itself. The secrets of the universe revealed and the meaning of life itself, all for you and me in glorious color. All in "The Gong Show Movie." BTW, the 10 score and this review might be just a tad facetious. Maybe. Possibly.

Actually, it's a MUST see for Gong Show fans. The film is uneven, but there are some excellent scenes such as the hospital scene. Plus, you get to see Gong Show rarities like the popsicle twins and Jaye P.'s unsheathing. Note that 30% of the voters (so far) have given this film a 10 and about 30% have given it a 1 !

A much underrated (and sadly, widely unavailable) film about an egomaniacal talent show host starring the co-writer and director of the film who also just happened to be the host of the real Gong Show. Although at times self-indulgent (the film ends with most of the Gong Show regulars trying to woo Barris out of the desert), the film is on the whole truly bizarre and should appeal to fans of "out" cinema of the 60's and early 70's. No surprise, then, that the film was co-written by underground legend Robert Downey Sr. whose presence is strongly felt; fans of his work should not be taken aback by Barris's role in the spotlight as Downey clearly had some significant input here. Don't miss it if opportunity arises, and what with Spike Jonze working on a Barris related project, hopefully opportunity will be more available soon.

Basically this is just a fictional tale of Chuck Barris going crazy trying to keep the "Gong Show" on the air and appease the censors at the same time. Those sections of the movie are drivel--unfunny, really stupid and tedious with pointless drama thrown in. But when they show unedited acts from the "Gong Show" this movie takes off. The acts are sick and crude--and absolutely hilarious. My favorites are a version of the "Vatican Rag" (with one guy dressed as a priest and three other guys as nuns acting out the song) and some teenage girls sucking on popsicles that are--um--a very unusual shape and color. All the acts are good, but these two stand out. I'm shocked that this isn't available in video or DVD! It bombed at the box office but so did "Ishtar" and I see tons of those available! Hopefully with the Chuck Barris movie being released soon this will be rectified. Not a good movie but a very fun good-bad movie. And you get to see Jaye P. Morgan's breasts!

I used to hurry home from school every afternoon in time for The Gong Show, which even my mother would watch instead of whatever soap opera was airing on the other channel. This erratic big screen version of the show captures its anarchic appeal, and whilst the 'story' is less than interesting, the uncensored material from the show itself is priceless. There's also one truly brilliant moment in the framing sequences: toward the end of the film, the cast pursue a harried Chuck to the Sahara Desert and serenade him with a marvelous song called Don't Get Up For Me--one of several songs penned by Barris for the film. It's well past time for the original series to be resurrected on DVD, and it's something of a surprise that this spin-off has been unavailable on home video all these years. A nostalgic treat for those in the 35-55 demographic, The Gong Show Movie may not be high art, but it will certainly leave you laughing.