Midnight Madness

"Fagabeefy?" Or Quintessential early '80's romp
OK, in terms of absolute merit, I'll be the first to admit that this is not a 5-star movie. However, in terms of sheer, nostalgic fun and late-night silliness, Midnight Madness is a classic--as the numerous, heartfelt reviews here show.

The plot is simple: a mastermind, Leon, stages a Los Angeles-wide scavenger hunt, inviting five captains and their teams to play for everlasting glory. Heralding in the class-consciousness of later '80's movies, there are the White Team (nerds on mopeds); the Green Team (jocks in Meat Machine convertible); Red Team (sorority gals); Blue Team (outcasts in super-van with computer--TRS-80?); and Yellow Team (the good guys). Any bets on the winners?

It's low-brow, slapstick, often cheesy and utterly improbable stuff. Yet in its own twisted universe, it _works_. The best thing HBO ever did in its youth was airing this movie practically every day. I don't think I ever watched it from start to finish, but I watched segments so many times that it...

It was fun!
Having appeared in this film - on the white "nerd" team - I never thought it would achieve almost "cult" status. I had just finished appearing in a "serious" play, and while I did have fun filming, it was quite a let down for me. Although I thought the finished movie was an light diversion, upon the films release it was blasted by the critics and - I thought- destined to oblivion. But a "cable classic"? What a pleasant surprise. Unknown at the time, Michael J. Fox was nice and friendly to work with...and who knew? For me the film is now a guilty pleasure. Enjoy.

Catch Midnight Madness
I first saw Midnight Madness on HBO late one night as a child, and I remember staying up late everytime it was on just to watch it again and again. Now that it's out on video, I can watch it whenever I want (even though it seems to be best enjoyed in the wee small hours of the morning). Midnight Madness is an absolute laugh riot and a must for any fans of comedies, 1980's movies, or just about anyone with a sense of humor, for that matter. I have yet to meet one person who's seen this film and didn't enjoy. It's just a fun movie, and, as a bonus, it's the first ever big screen appearance of Michael J. Fox. I would have to highly recommend this movie to anyone interested in simply having a good time.

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