- Director:
Bill Fishman - AMG Rating:
- Genre: Comedy
- Movie Type: Media Satire, Farce
- Themes: Nothing Goes Right
- Main Cast: John Cusack, Tim Robbins, Doug McClure, Connie Stevens, Clu Gulager, Katy Boyer
- Release Year: 1988
- Country: US
- Run Time: 93 minutes
- MPAA Rating: R
Plot
In this high-energy satire of the music biz, Ivan Alexov (John Cusack) and Josh Tager (Tim Robbins) lose their jobs as security guards, and they decide to start their own video production company. Their first gigs are less than inspiring, including a rappin' commercial for a chicken-and-waffle place, a living will, and a right-wing Presidential-hopeful's (Clu Gulager) gala dinner. Eventually, they get to direct a heavy-metal music video which becomes a huge surprise success. But now the politician needs to get back a private videotape from the boys, and the Secret Service is put on their trail. This chaotic romp has cameos from more music celebs than you can shake a tape reel at, as well as a hopping little soundtrack by Fishbone. This is also the film that introduced a conservative folksinger/politician character who later got his own movie, Bob Roberts. ~ John Voorhees, All Movie GuideReview
In 1988, the median attention span among the moviegoing population was significantly longer than it would be after the release of Tapeheads. Tapeheads was one of the first to capitalize on the general audience's acceptance of the blisteringly paced editing of the music videos seen on MTV, which at that point was just reaching critical mass in cable TV penetration. It's no coincidence that the setting for the film is the music video milieu: executive producer Michael Nesmith helped create the format for the music video channel (see Elephant Parts). Spiked with intentionally arch performances by emerging stars John Cusack and Tim Robbins -- who recite rapid-fire, high-camp dialogue -- and peppered with up-tempo satires of music videos, Tapeheads bombed on its release because most critics didn't get the joke and the film never reached its audience. Years later the film became warmly regarded as a gently rebellious farce, and it's now spoken of with something akin to reverence, as it's funny and smart and holds up very well against contemporary competition.~ Buzz McClain, All Movie Guide
Cast
- John Cusack - Ivan Alexeev
- Tim Robbins - Josh Tager
- Doug McClure - Sidney Tager
- Connie Stevens - June Tager
- Clu Gulager - Norman Mart
Katy Boyer - Belinda Mart
