The Magic Christian
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Movie Reviews of The Magic Christian
Movie Review: When Hippies Make Movies
Summary: 2 Stars
I had looked forward to seeing this movie for quite a while, being a big Sellers fan and a Ringo/Beatles fan - as well had heard through the grapevine that this was supposed to be a fun and interesting movie. It is neither. Perhaps you could rate it a curiosity - if you happened to be a fan such as myself. The idea of the film would seem to offer great opportunities for both Sellers and Starr to shine, but the script and story (what there was of it) fails to deliver on the promises it alludes to. One strange setting after another ends anti-climatically, which in turn quickly leads to a sense of frustration at a great missed opportunity. It really does seem that they "wrote" it as they went along, if there was anything written at all. And one tired anti-establishmment cliche after another gives good example why professionals instead of hippies should run with the good ideas in order to see them well executed.Movie Review: Searching for contemporary redeeming value
Summary: 2 Stars
Certainly this was of a piece with the time it was made and so serves a historical purpose. Perhaps there were many of this sort and there are certainly aspects that point at things like the MP's and the Beatles' own movies -- heck this is Ringo after all. Peter is not the same as many of his other films and that might make for an interesting discussion. My hope was that it would be useful in a classroom situation but I am left searching for a contemporary redeeming value other than remembering how weird things could get, or can get. I can use "Being There" but not "The Magic Christian". Is it just my own lack of imagination?
Certainly the message is not lost on anyone today but neither does anyone need to hear it. Pierre Bourdieu "Firing Back" may be ignored as easily. This message is lost to "Losing Ground".
It at least completes my Peter Sellers collection.
Movie Review: The Boring Christian
Summary: 2 Stars
Tedious tale of the world's richest man(Sellers) and his adopted son(Ringo) out to prove that people will do anything for money. This results in a series of comic(?) vignettes that are out to prove this point. Many cameos (Raquel Welch, Yul Brynner) that prove to be a waste of our and their time. One of the few times I laughed was during a cameo by John Cleese as an auctioneer. "Come and Get It" by Badfinger is played at the beginning and that's pretty catchy. Otherwise, it's a waste of time for both Sellers and Beatles fans.Movie Review: Odd
Summary: 2 Stars
I saw this in about 1969, a time of "awakening" to ideas, but now it seems just odd, off-the-wall, campy. The premise isn't dated though, just terribly dry. I guess movies have become so much more clever since then and my tastes have been honed to higher standards. Peter Sellers is as good as in any other movie but Ringo Starr is just 'okay'. Still, where else can you find a movie with them both and I still love the subject of a 'fool and his money'.Movie Review: The Magic Christian
Summary: 2 Stars
The stellar cast is waisted in this clumsy absurdest effort. The movie is pointed but seems to try too hard only to wind-up a bit of a Freudian mess. It's an oddity of its time.