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Thank God It's Friday (19-May-1978)
Director: Robert Klane Writer: Armyan Bernstein Keywords: Comedy, Disco
REVIEWS Review by Ian Boulton (posted on 21-Mar-2005) When I was 16 I discovered Donna Summer and the first album I bought was Four Seasons of Love. I rapidly bought her albums and then heard about this film.
I went to see it not once, or twice, but an incredible 25 times. For me it was a wonderful escape, although dated now, I'd love to see it again. Those of you that grew up in the 70's must have see this film and for those of you who are young and like the music of this era will love the film.
Ah.. wonderful memories.
Review by anonymous (posted on 19-Nov-2006) When "Thank God It's Friday" (TGIF) was released in the early Spring of 1978, dance music, then referred to as "Disco" music, was at its peak of popularity dominating both the pop and soul (r&b) music charts. The movie was not well received by most movie industry critics. However, in comparison to what we've been subjected to in recent years as comedy, TGIF (although a little dated) isn't half bad! TGIF gave us a look at a variety of zany, hilarious characters that gather at a dico, "The Zoo," for fun, dating, a live dance contest and a chance to be discovered -- all focused on a Friday night. The movie introduced us to Jeff Goldblum, Debra Winger, Ray Vitte, Paul Jabara, Valerie Landsberg and r&b band, The Commodores. The highlight of the movie, for many (myself included), is music history's sultry dance diva, Donna Summer singing "Last Dance." The song would earn her a first of five Grammies (to date). Additionally, an Academy Award Oscar went to Paul Jabara for Best Original Song of 1978. (Note: The Commodores' Lionel Richie later went solo and became known in the late 70's to mid 80's as a Grammy winning, ballad writer and pop performer.) When you get past some of the poor editing and some less than satisfactory audio enhancing (like hand-clapping added on the 1&3 beats or completely off-beat) the various plots ARE creative, clever and appealing. TGIF is a must see for comedy lovers, dance music lovers, nostalgia buffs and Donna Summer fans.
Review by Fennimore China Cooper (posted on 14-Jun-2008) If it weren't for the historical documentary nature of this film it would be one that actors who were in it would most certainly like to have expunged from their filmography -- it's a bad movie and I'm not going to lie and say otherwise. But I won't spend much time berating each and every aspect of the film that makes it so bad -- you name it and it's not done well here. The redeeming features of this film that will save it from oblivion forever are the stars who appear and the fact that it's a very representative account of the peak of the disco days. I'm sure Jeff Goldblum, who pretty much plays himself here and Debra Winger's first role -- between the time she awoke from her coma and when she turned into the bitch from hell when she was working with others on the movie sets -- where Debra's 24 in the movie but looks 17 and she's a real cutie too. There's a performance by Donna Summer and the Commodores make their cameo as performers of the music to which a disco dance contest is held. Yes... Lionel Richie is there and he sticks a sax in his mouth in the song which may be the reason he left the band because he was so conceited he only wanted to sing OR he was foever embarrassed that the ridiculous space-out, spaceman outfits they poured themselves into were captured forever on film. Hey... if you were born in the 50's and ever once stepped inside a disco, ever once wore elephant bell bottoms or know what whippets are and have inhaled them... then this movie is a must see.
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