THE COOL ONES
(director/writer: Gene Nelson; screenwriters: Robert Kaufman/Joyce Geller/story by Joyce Geller; cinematographer: Floyd D. Crosby; editor: James Heckert; music: Ernie Freeman ; cast: Roddy McDowall (Tony Krum), Debbie Watson (Hallie Rogers), Gil Peterson (Cliff Donner), Elvira Miller (Mrs. Miller), Phil Harris (Fred MacElwaine), Robert Coote (Stanley Krumley), Nita Talbot (Dee Dee), Jim Begg (Charlie), James Millhollin (Manager), Glen Campbell (Patrick); Runtime: 95; MPAA Rating: NR; producer: Jimmy Lydon; Warner Bros.; 1967)
“An inane rock spoof.”
Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz
An inane rock spoof. Director and co-writer, the former actor Gene Nelson (“Kissin’ Cousins”/”Your Cheatin’ Heart”), is clueless how to direct a pop culture satire. The story by Joyce Geller is the pits. The idiotic screenplay is by Nelson, Geller and Robert Kaufman. The irritating film features bad music, dreadful acting, limp comedy and a narrative that is anything but cool. This film is so dreadful that even its targeted audience should hate on it. Cliff (Gil Peterson) is a forlorn has-been pop idol at age 24. Hallie (Debbie Watson) is an eager-beaver aspiring singer working as a go-go dancer on a popular teen TV show produced by the oily MacElwaine (Phil Harris). Hallie goes off script on live TV and tries sharing the mic with singer Glen Campbell. After fired, she meets Cliff in a Palm Springs, Ca., teen club. Then the obnoxious self-made millionaire publicist Tony (Roddy McDowall) brings them together as a duo and they become a hit. To garner publicity, they become a romantic item as concocted by their irritating handler. The musical stars feud over the fake romance, but in the end realize their love is more important than their careers. The duets by the stars are pitiful. They perform together such forgettable pieces as “Up Where the Air is Thin,” “It’s Your World,” and their pathetic set piece “Do the Tantrum.” To watch this film and not puke, one must love camp that is as dumb as dumb can be.
REVIEWED ON 8/17/2016 GRADE: D https://dennisschwartzreviews.com/