TAKING OFF

The first U.S. film written and directed by Milos Forman is entitled Taking Off.  I’ve appreciated every one of his movies I’ve seen thus far, which includes One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Amadeus, Hair, and The People vs. Larry Flynt.

The critics’ reviews on Rotten Tomatoes give this film 100%, which had my curiosity piqued. Then when I saw that the cast included Georgia Engel (The Mary Tyler Moore Show), Audra Lindley (Three’s Company), and Paul Benedict (The Jeffersons), I knew I had to see it!

Unfortunately, it’s not available on any streaming channel. Not allowing myself to be deterred, I found a DVD of it online. It was worth every penny of my $19.99… and more!

If you lived during the cultural shift of the 1960s/70s, if you are a celebrity buff, if you enjoy great storytelling, and/or if you enjoy having a robust laugh… this movie is for you! I’ll try not to give too much away, but also provide you with enough information to determine if it’s worth you checking it out!

Forman tells the tale of teenager Jeannie Tyne who may, or may not, have run away from home. Contrasted with her story is the tale of her parents who are trying to learn how to cope with her being missing and how the world is changing. The editing is a feat of marvel as scenes of what Jeannie is doing are juxtaposed with what her parents are doing to try to remedy things, and the results are pretty much always hilarious.

Part of the story involves open musical auditions. To tell this part of his story Forman put out notices around New York City and invited aspiring actors and singers of that time to come and audition. Clips of many of these auditions were then edited into the final film. Included among the clips chosen are future Oscar winner Kathy Bates (her first film appearance, billed as Bobo Bates!) and future Grammy winner Carly Simon.

What makes this story different from most “generation gap” type tales is that the true story isn’t about the culture breaking through but about the existing culture being forced to adapt. This movie is all about Jeannie’s parents, played so well by Lynn Carlin and Buck Henry. Also appearing in the film is the amazing character actor Vincent Schiavelli in one of his very first film roles. His sole scene where he attempts to instruct a room full of middle-aged parents on how to smoke a joint is priceless.

The film’s crescendo into a pot and liquor-induced game of strip poker between Jeannie’s parents and their new friends the Lockstons (Lindley and Benedict) is brilliantly acted by all involved.

One could literally mine this film repeatedly and never fully uncover all that it has to offer.  But to be sure, even after only one viewing, I'm confident my $19.99 was extremely well-spent!