Aloha Bobby and Rose

I caught the last 10-15 minutes of this movie on its network premiere back in 77--- its haunted me all this time, now the DVD is out and I enjoyed it on a number of different levels--This is one of those heart- string pullers that does a great job of encapsulating the mid-70s LA car-youth culture and all those now scarce, classic neon signs! The plot and character development are transparent which gives the whole thing a strange, ethereal vibe heightened by the then hip rock and roll soundtrack. Its almost one long Elton John video in a way. Bobby and Rose are sensitively played, and if the acting and dialog aren't always the best well so what, the actors have heart and are good to look at and don't disturb the zen experience a movie like this can bring about. Mid 70s LA is ancient history and "Aloha, Bobby and Rose" serves as a surprisingly good time capsule for that era. The couple are doomed from the start and this film is depressing for the most part. A lot like "Midnight Cowboy" in many respects, tho not as good. Still AB@R is a cult classic and I think a lot of young folks would enjoy it.

Highly watchable mid 70s car culture film. I first saw it on release when Paul Le Mat was familiar to younger audiences from his role as fading hot rodder John Milner in George Lucas "American Graffiti".

Not an existential roadie like Monte Hellman's "Two Lane Blacktop". Aloha is a conventionally plotted 'kids on the run' affair. However, the cinematography is excellent with vibrant pop cultural references such as Hollywood billboard signage featuring Ringo Starr and Elton John tours and albums of the time. There is also a poignant quality to several scenes including Roses mothers Tequila sodden reminiscing, and, a road bound Lincoln Continental driving childless couple who offer support to the young outlaws.

Gritty details of the unromantic side of Californian life for working people ad unexpected depth to a teen genre picture.

O.k., it may not be a Oscar-winning movie, although I personally think it's better than some of the movies that have won for "Best Picture" of the year.

This movie is a lot of fun, has great music throughout, and a guy (Paul LeMatt) that I thought was very hot when the movie first came out in the '70's, and a hot car. What more could you ask for? I was 14 when this movie came out. It was my favorite movie all through high school. And even today I enjoy sharing it with my 14 year old daughter and her friends.

Not a snooze fest like that other dude said.

We saw this film four or five times, always as the second film of a double program. It was one of our "film-culte". Not a masterpiece at all, just a little film, really simple, with no stars... but it has something, don't know what... It's one of these films you'll remember for the rest of your life and you don't really know why! The songs of Elton John, "Benny and the Jets" and "Your Song" are exactly where they were made for. I saw for the last time about 20 years ago but I know I'll see it again one day. I'm not sure this kind of film exists anymore.

Paul Le Mat, hot off of "American Graffiti", is our male lead in this story by writer / director Floyd Mutrux ("American Hot Wax", "The Hollywood Knights"). Le Mat plays Bobby Eckert, an amiable employee of a car repair shop who likes to set his own hours. One day, he meets a customer, the sweet Rose (Dianne Hull, "The Onion Field", "You Better Watch Out"). It doesn't take a long time for them to start falling for each other. However, one night, while in a liquor store, some thoughtlessness on his part and a bad reaction on hers lead to a death. Bobby is of the mind that NOBODY is likely to believe their version of events, so they take it on the lam.

"Aloha, Bobby and Rose" is not bad for this sort of thing. Ultimately, the story is pretty trite, but the movie gets by on engaging performances by our leads. Bobby and Rose do make for an appealing couple. There are other nice performances, too: Robert Carradine as Bobby's friend / co-worker Moxey, Martine Bartlett as Roses' mom, and the great Southern fried character actor Noble Willingham as Bobby's amiable uncle Charlie. Still, the movie doesn't quite hit its stride until Tim McIntire (who played real life DJ Alan Freed for Mutrux in "American Hot Wax") shows up. Cast as a colorful country boy named Buford, he lights up the screen playing a "life of the party" kind of guy. Leigh French is his gal pal Donna Sue, and other familiar faces like Edward James Olmos, Mario Gallo, and Cliff Emmich turn up as well.

The real value in this flick is the way it gives you a snapshot of California in the mid-70s: its car culture, its sights and sounds, everything. The soundtrack is just PACKED with pop hits of the day, and leads especially heavily on Elton John, using some of his classics like "Your Song", "Tiny Dancer", and "Benny and the Jets".

A fairly entertaining flick that, fortunately, does have some impact after it's over.

Seven out of 10.