Dining in Rochester

Alice's Restaurant

Reviews

Rating: 1 / 5
Date: 2010-08-11
Summary: "Not worth the time it takes to watch it"

Along with millions of others, I loved "Alice's Restaurant" from the time I first heard it as a young man, and still laugh when I think about the concept or recall some of the lyrics. So, when I saw the DVD at a going out of business sale for $5, I scooped it up, hurried home, and put it in my player. Shelling out five dollars for it was my first mistake. Actually watching it was an even bigger mistake. What an incredible waste of time...Arlo's father, the great Woody Guthrie, would have been so embarrassed to know that anyone had actually viewed this trash; much less that his son had taken the time to take part in it. Can't rate minus stars, so I'll give it one.

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Rating: 4 / 5
Date: 2010-02-10
Summary: "Lots of fun"

This is a great look into the crazy world of the late 60's and the life and times of Alro Guthrie. A must have if you enjoy the song.

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Rating: 3 / 5
Date: 2009-10-11
Summary: "The Song is better than the movie"


The Song is better than the movie but for those who grew to love the song the movie is a must in that it gives insight into the interplay of timeless real-life challenges and the social issues of the 60's that brought the Song forward to become one of many such uniting forces for half of a generation of Americans.

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Rating: 5 / 5
Date: 2009-05-17
Summary: "Alice's Restaurant"

Great movie. Brought back memories from the 60's. Arlo is so funny. Really love this one!!!

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Rating: 4 / 5
Date: 2009-05-10
Summary: "fine movie despite a few minor flaws"

Alice's Restaurant is based on the song of the same name by Arlo Guthrie; and although it's not the best movie I've ever seen it's far from being the worst. The plot moves along fairly well; they could have edited the first hour a little bit more to make the action tighter; the second part moves along at a much better pace. Some of the actors did a great job; other actors were not so convincing. However, the cinematography and the choreography are very strong; and the movie overall is entertaining.

When the action starts, we meet young Arlo Guthrie who's bouncing around having some adventures. He goes to college but he finds it's not for him; and he has a brush with the law after he gets thrown through a window for the crime of having long hair! Worse yet, his father Woody Guthrie (played by Joseph Boley) is dying of a rare neurological disorder in a New York hospital. Arlo splits his time between visiting friends Alice and Ray (Patricia Quinn and James Broderick) who buy a church in Massachusetts and New York where he visits his father in the hospital.

Ray and Alice get some people to help renovate the church into a home with a restaurant in back (thus we have Alice's Restaurant) and the church takes on a beautiful transformation. Unfortunately, a love triangle complicates things between Alice, Ray and a young man named Shelly (Michael McClanathan).

Shortly before Thanksgiving time, a few key events happen. First, Ray and Alice reconcile after a brief breakup--and Ray surprises Alice when he tells her he's invited "a few" other people for Thanksgiving dinner. Thanksgiving turns into a banquet for tons of people although a good time is had by all; and Arlo and his friend Roger (Geoff Outlaw) innocently dump the garbage at the bottom of a ravine where a lot of garbage already lies--after all, what can you do when you need to dump a ton of garbage and the town dump is closed for Thanksgiving? This creates an unexpected problem for Arlo and Roger; they are arrested by Officer "Obie" (William Obanhein) and the local police have a field day using all their equipment to document the biggest "crime" to hit Stockbridge in nearly 50 years. After Alice gets them out of jail, they must pay a fine and pick up the garbage.

And then Arlo gets his draft notice--he must report to a military screening post on Whitehall Street in New York for a physical and more. When they find out that he was arrested for littering and that he thinks little of it, their reaction is remarkable!

Of course, there's already plenty more that I've left out (believe it or not) and there are questions that remain. Ray and Alice struggle to make their relationship work--will they stay together? Will Arlo be inducted into the military? What about the girl that Arlo likes--her name is Mari-chan (Tina Chen). Will she return Arlo's affection? What about Officer Obie--what happens at Arlo and Roger's trial that could derail his "prosecution" case against Arlo and Roger for littering? Watch and find out!

We do indeed get a commentary by Arlo; and that's grand. There's also a marvelous cameo by the great Pete Seeger who plays and sings along with Arlo in Woody's hospital room.

Alice's Restaurant isn't as well edited as I hoped it would be; the story line has unnecessary complications. Nevertheless, it does explore the issues of life, death, hope, loss, love and more. I recommend this film for people interested in these meaningful issues; and people who want a nostalgic look back at the 1960's would do well to get this DVD.