As a mod revivalist I was wanting to see this for a long time and have only just found the time.
I wasn't expecting Quadrophenia, the movie was crowd funded and never had the budget to be big, it's not going to be a cult classic and to be perfectly honest, I don't think that outside of the mod culture, it wouldn't get the audience it deserves.
The story is good, but is let down by continuing additions to the leading characters dads backstory, which to be fair, seems like he was known to everyone within the mod world at the time. I suppose in hindsight there were a few like that in 79 but not many of us really took any notice. The internet wasn't about and the only way you knew of these people was to either meet them at gigs and scooter runs or you made read about them in fanzines. It just didn't seem like a believable back story.
As said, the story itself is good and it could have been about anyone making that journey. It had a purpose and obviously to make it interesting various additional parts are added into the story. It could have been so much more, going deeper into the characters rather than the backstory of Johns deceased dad. I won't go into it because if you strip away the unnecessary stuff, there's not really much to tell without completely spoiling it.
The music was ok, could have been more included especially by groups like Secret Affair and (my favourites) the Chords. The Jam and Style Council featured too and I'm wondering if Weller really needed the exposure? Guest appearance by Mani from the Stone Roses too. Noted that nothing by many of the other revival groups was included, considering this was supposed to aimed at a mod audience.
Nice scooters too, sure I recognise a couple of those.
On the whole this film could have been so much more, with or without the mod label hung round its neck like a noose. I wonder what it would have been like with a wad of money thrown at it and top direction and production behind it, and had nothing to do with the modernist scene.
I gave it a 5, more for the music and scooters. It's not one that I would go out if my way to watch again.
For those that want to know more about the actual mod revival scene, and how it is now, there is plenty to be found on Facebook. There are still bands doing the circuits and it still has a strong following although many of us are well in our 50's and early 60's now. The Lambrettas still break down and you still need a mate with a transit.
There's millions like us.
