For a good spoof to be appreciated, enough time has to have passed between the present and the time being ridiculed, or else it's just cringeworthy. When this came out in 1990, 1976 was simply not that long ago, and the 1970s in general were derided in every respect, so the film flopped.
With more decades in the rear view mirror, "Spirit of '76" can be seen for the brilliant (albeit low-budget) satire that it was. As someone actually eighteen years old in 1976, I can tell you that the costumes, hair, music, language, decor, cars, fads, and jokes are spot on. Sure, they are occasionally exaggerated, but not that much. David Cassidy and especially Leif Garrett gleefully make fun of their cheesy 1970s teen idol status. If you miss the '70s or wish you'd lived through them, watch this movie and "Take it.... easy." (peace sign)
With more decades in the rear view mirror, "Spirit of '76" can be seen for the brilliant (albeit low-budget) satire that it was. As someone actually eighteen years old in 1976, I can tell you that the costumes, hair, music, language, decor, cars, fads, and jokes are spot on. Sure, they are occasionally exaggerated, but not that much. David Cassidy and especially Leif Garrett gleefully make fun of their cheesy 1970s teen idol status. If you miss the '70s or wish you'd lived through them, watch this movie and "Take it.... easy." (peace sign)