Like opening a forty-year-old time capsule. Doubly interesting is the fact that the Monkees, one of the original manufactured rock bands, would participate in such a surreal, and downright subversive film; for perspective, imagine the Jonas Brothers doing the same thing today, or the Backstreet Boys ten years ago.

Strange, plotless piece of nonsense seems to want to leap on the Beatles bandwagon of daffy surrealism -- but lacks even the basic discipline of the Beatles movies. Still works quite well in parts, and provides a faithful collage of imagery that roots it firmly in the late 60s. Rafelson's direction ranges from slack to inspired -- and gives 'The Big Victor' an amusing supporting part which is far more entertaining than his usual 'straight' performances!

An assault of image and sound. Not for everyone, but I loved it. "You're right, Pete. You're always the dummy. I'm sorry...I'm sorry..." (three times)

great surrealism from the US. Director Bob Rafelson was influenced by the French New Wave.

Annoying and somewhat boring film.

"The tradegy of this generation is that they may get what they asked for!!!" I love that quote in this trippy and surprisingly good piece of psychedelia

Stoopid Monkees.

Not really a fan of the Monkees, but this movie does have some interesting sequences, some of which are quite subversive. You have to have some respect for a pop group willing to produce something like this, even if that pop group was manufactured for a television series anyway. That being said, the movie isn't consistent.

Some nicely demented moments, but surrounded by a few too many unsubtle and unfunny ones. The soundtrack is pretty great though. Even if the results are underwhelming, I wish every generation's prefab boy bands would go through an existential crisis like this.

Well, this was the sort of thing that the "Hey, it was the 60s" excuse had to be invented for. The best part about this one was the cameos: the charming dance sequence with Toni Basil, Terri (or Terry) Garr's appearance, and of course Frank Zappa with his cow. Oh yeah, and Carol Doda was somewhere in there too...

the half star is strictly for the novelty cameos of nicholson, hooper et al, other than that this one is one loooooong plotless mess......

Stream of Consciousness film making at it's finest. Good music too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhe3vSe-mmw

Too far, too much, too too.

I feel like I'm giving this extra points for the knowledge of how much this flew in the face of their fanbase's expectations. It cheerfully ignores cause & effect in what must have been an attempt to translate the feeling of an acid trip on screen. A fun ride.

The narrative (it's too vague to be called the plot) is The Monkees dealing with being a manufactured pop band and their struggle to try and break free from that image. Does it succeed? Not even the film really knows. It's wrapped in so many layers of self-awareness and doubt from trying to second guess the reaction of its reception by the audience that it doesn't dare commit to anything. It's a fun psychedelic film made of its time but it ultimately comes over as too safe and not subversive.