Xanadu Should Be On Record
by Guy Burdick
Some movies should be heard and not seen. This maxim was given to me by my uncle and I in turn pass it on to the reader because it certainly applies to the latest movie musical, “Xanadu.”
“Xanadu” has an interesting soundtrack album with some late summer hits from Olivia Newton-John and the Electric Light Orchestra. I would advise anyone who likes the music being played from the movie to buy the soundtrack album.
The music is probably the most interesting facet of this weak attempt to bring the musical back to the screen. Certainly the plot is not the film’s strongest point.
Does anyone remember the muses of Greek mythology and British romantic poetry? Well, Olivia Newton-John is one of them. Fulfilling her purpose as Kira the muse, Newton-John leaves the mural where she and the eight other muses have been painted, and then dons roller skates.
Newton-John, the dedicated muse, has the task of inspiring a discouraged artist played by Michael Beck. Beck meets construction tycoon Gene Kelly and they decide to build Xanadu, a roller disco palace. Kelly, who had an encounter with the muse Newton-John when he was a clarinet player in the forties, is again inspired by the building of Xanadu. Beck is inspired, Kelly is inspired and Newton-John is in love (with Beck).
She realizes that a muse should not be in love and so returns to Mount Olympus before the opening of Xanadu. Sad isn’t it? Never fear, this is a musical and love must conquer all, even Mount Olympus. Beck, determined to keep his muse, charges with his roller skates into the mural of the muses. Beck then finds himself in the greater Mount Olympus area.
Zeus is a god with a big enough heart to let Newton-John the opening night. Everyone is excited and the opening night is a big success. Newton-John sings her heart out and then disappears again.
The plot is a little hard to take no matter how pretty Olivia Newton-John is or how charming Gene Kelly is. The talent going into this film seems wasted on the laughable script.
Perhaps such talents will go into a musical with a stronger script. Most people like to see musicals; they just don’t like to see bad musicals like “Xanadu.”