The Pom Pom Girls

Trailer—The Pom Pom Girls

This movie doesn't have much of a plot at all, but maybe only "The Van" is more of a time capsule for the 1970's teenager. It makes me laugh how today's so-called critics will praise a movie like "Dazed and Confused" as a masterpiece and laugh at "The Pom Pom Girls" and consider it cheesy and dated. "Dazed and Confused" (while I love that film) is basically a bigger budget remake of "The Pom Pom Girls". The vibe and lack of plot of the two movies are very similar. If you enjoy "Dazed and Confused" you will surely love "The Pom Pom Girls". And don't be misled by the title...there's very little to do with Pom Pom Girls here unfortunately. It's actually more about guys. Overall this is a fun movie that is very much of its time and portrays what it was really like to be a teenager in the carefree crazy 1970's.

"Johnnie" (Robert Carradine) and "Jesse" (Michael Mullins) are two immature high school football players who are constantly in trouble for one thing or another. As it so happens they somehow manage to attract two cheerleaders named "Laurie" (Jennifer Ashley) and "Sally" (Lisa Reeves) to accompany them on several of their pranks. So much for the plot-if you can call it one-as this particular movie simply showcased one childish scene after the other with no letup in between. The dialogue was basic, the humor was absent and to top it off, other than possibly Susan Player (as "Sue Ann"), none of the actresses were all that pretty. Quite frankly the best part of this movie was the end as it contained a slight amount of suspense and after that I was able put this sordid mess behind me. That said I suppose I should at least be thankful for that. Accordingly, I rate this incredibly boring film as definitely below average.

Perhaps there is too much casual rebelliousness and not enough (in fact hardly any) getting down to serious work, but this colorized view of teenage school kids in the seventies certainly has plenty of action - particularly what we might call thoughtless actions - which the script always excuses, hardly ever justifies and never condemns. Although approaching adulthood, the rebellious teenage school kids are always in the right, no matter who they ridicule, steal from, abuse or endanger. This said, the movie is compellingly acted by every one of its large cast of players, and it is directed not only with a great deal of competence, but a certain amount of style. The excellent print I watched was on a DVD in Mill Creek's "Drive-In Cult Classics Collection".

I really liked this although I have to say I was initially interrupted in my viewing and subsequently watched it in bite size chunks. This doesn't seem to have mattered though because the film is itself rather episodic, lacking any particular plot line. Instead we get a procession of largely entertaining sequences. Action, comedy and every now and again a flash of T&A. The music is surprisingly effective too, further adding to the authentic late 70s feel. Though the budget must have been slender there is no evidence of penny pinching and what may be lacking in extravagant sets is made up for with authenticity and imagination. I was intrigued to see, having been impressed with the direction, whether the director had gone on to make anything else and it turns out he most certainly has and is still working. Some feat, for I don't suppose too many of the directors featured on my, 'Drive-In Classics Vol 3' can say the same. A pleasant way to spend some time, even if in ten minute doses.

Two cheerleaders and two football players decide that their last year at Southern California's Rossdale High School is going to be different. Jennifer Ashley and Lisa Reeves team up after a fashion with Michael Mullins and Robert Carradine and do some memorable things. A lot of this has to do with the football rivalry with the next town over. Among the things these high spirited youth do are kidnapping and steal the fire engine from the rival town. A lot of sex scenes with nubile teens is the rest of The Pom Pom Girls. If that's what your taste runs to.

this is by no means a good movie,but being someone from so. cal during the seventies,this movie catches the feel better than most out there.the best movies for that feel were the ones made in the seventies.i enjoyed dazed and confused but in no way felt like the seventies.if you want to know how it was like for people who partied,then check it out

THE POM POM GIRLS is your typical high school sex comedy: a group of young, sex-mad students are after various girls on the cheerleading team, while at the same time determined to have a good time. Their hijinks include stealing public vehicles and generally causing a nuisance, much to the consternation of the authorities. There's little to distinguish this from the usual Crown International Pictures fare: there's the requisite nudity, limited to a couple of exploitational stripping/dressing sequences; the lowbrow humour; the occasional familiar face (this time around it's Robert Carradine) to make it feel like a 'proper' film. But at the same time, it has the usual problems of a Crown picture, namely poor scripting, an almost entire absence of funny jokes, poor acting, and a general forgettable atmosphere. It's not one to waste your time with - unless you were there and you're looking for a nostalgia kick.

1976 was a mellow year. And California was the ground zero of mellowness. The main vibe of "The Pom Pom Girls" would seemingly be mellow tunes drifting out from an 8- track player in the back of a mellow yellow van while "getting it on" or even just "takin' it easy." And yet, the mellowness is but a light frosty layering over a nihilistic cake that makes up the brunt of The Pom Pom Girls. Do these kids care about anything other than engaging in behavior inspired by the Greek god Dionysus? It's all sex, beer and mellow rock and roll as far as they are concerned. They steal a fire truck, urinate in public and punch out the football coach. Sure, it's all in good fun, because you are only young once, but somehow the on-screen shenanigans rarely had the liberating stamp of youthful anarchy that the film seemed to be seeking.

I first saw The Pom Pom Girls way back in 1976, when it was first released. Having graduated from high school in 1975, it was fun to watch. It gave me a feeling of "Why wasn't I lucky enough to live in Southern California at the time?" Being able to catch it again, remastered in 2001, I enjoyed it! Sure, it may be dated, but I think that might be part of it's charm. The time capsule feel, of teen life in the 70's, was a bit nostalgic. Back when condoms were used to prevent pregnancy! If you get the chance, check it out. Especially people like myself, who were teens in the 70's.