(Toomorrow) Faith, money - and an insult
At the cinema with Albert Watson
HARRY SALTZMAN who must rank as one of the most successful film producers in the world, has put a lot of faith-and a lot of money into his latest offering, Toomorrow.
I’m afraid that he has made an expensive mistake. I cannot see where the audience will come from for this weak, corny, condescending pop film.
Toomorrow is a beat group three boys and a girl at the London College of Arts. The film tells of the minor romantic problems of the foursome. and the interest shown in them by creatures from outer space on the day when they are to make their first professional appearance.
I could go into the plot in more detail, but I don’t think you’d be interested. The sad thing about it is that Toomorrow is a very good group. I heard them rehearsing in their manager’s office a few days ago, and I was very impressed with their musical talent and their personalities but if I was judging them on the film. I couldn’t be so kind.
The plot is incredibly silly and can only be aimed at the 11-13 age group - and it’s an insult to them. Some of the lines given to the Alphoids, as the space creatures are named, must have been positively embarrassing to come out with.
The film jumps half heartedly on to every bandwagon going makes mockery of student protest, pop festivals, young love and race relations by pretending to take them seriously for instance the group includes a Negro, but he in only allowed to kiss black girls.
But worst of all. what should have been the film’s main strength is its biggest weakness: the music is insipid and total unhitworthy.
It is performed efficiently enough by Olivia Newton-John, Benny Thomas, Vic Cooper and Karl Chambers - but throughout the film they look like actors pretending to be a pop group.
So who will enjoy this film? Certainly not the Woodstock audience they’re too intelligent. Certainly not the teeny-boppers Toomorrow is an unknown quantity with no hit records to establish them.
The biggest name in the cast is that of Roy Dotrice but why on earth did he agree to this silly part? He effortlessly acts everyone else off the screen.
Olivia and Benny are proficient enough, but Karl seems ill-at-ease. and Vic should stick to playing panto, at which he is really good.
In fact, this whole film smacks of middle-aged men, with vague idea of what pop is about getting round a table and deciding to make a few bucks out of the kids. I hope they fail and that some day. Toomorrow will be allowed to do its thing.
Photo: OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN: She’s in Toomorrow.