Big Wednesday
Director: John Milius
Year Released: 1978
Rating: 2.0
Really, three movies in one: a goofy 'teen' comedy with lots of fisticuffs and physical humor, a 'drama' about aging and a documentary about surfing in California. Being divided into thirds limits its effectiveness, and the changes in tone disrupt cohesion: I like the surfing footage a lot, but a full half-hour of it leads me to think Milius wanted to turn this into Endless Summer; likewise, I didn't care much for the proto-Porky's partying and fighting. Jan-Michael Vincent's mixed-up, brooding alcoholic character is arguably the most compelling figure in here - Vincent borrows a bit of James Dean to create a strong, silent but disturbed type - while Gary Busey shines periodically as wild, forever young wanderer (who knew that Busey wasn't really 'acting' at all?). The Vietnam recruitment sequence - which includes great character actor Joe Spinell as a psychiatrist - is a gonzo classic.
