Starstruck (1982) User Reviews

Edited from original release, but still fun

[DRomm · 7/10 · 17 May 2007]

The director of "My Brilliant Career", the Production Designer of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show", a choreographer working without trained dancers, several script writers and many composers bring a low-budget post-punk vitality to Sydney Australia.

As the commentary on the DVD mentions, the prints of Starstruck seem to have been severely cut in different releases, and this print has at least one song hacked out of the release I saw in 1982. Still, the bouncy energy survives. Teenage lust and ambition are tempered with working class family values. The homage to Richard Lester and gay Busby Berkeley routine are still hilarious, and the finale will have your toes a-tapping.

More Fun In the New World

[kellysf · 7/10 · 14 March 2004]

I have not seen Starstruck since it's original run in the theaters but I love this movie and hope to see it again soon. I was really into new wave music at the time, especially what was coming from Manchester and Birmingham, and Dublin. I liked some Aussie bands like the Sharks but mostly I liked Aussie movies which were just starting to make an impact in America in the early 80's. Movies like Breaker Morant, Mad Max, Walkabout, Young Einstein, Gallipoli, and Starstruck. Although I have never been to Australia I have been intrigued by the quirky sense of humor I find in Aussie films. Strictly Ballroom a decade later was much in the same tradition, it had the same spirit as Starstruck. What happened to Aussie cinema? It seems that there are many Australian actors like Nicole Kidman and Russell Crowe who take themselves so seriously and mostly act in Hollywood films playing non Australians. Even Peter Weir is no longer making Australian movies. I say bring em back!

Fun and solid workmanship

[bqx99 · 8/10 · 10 August 2001]

I saw this during the Australian wave of films. I was being inundated on sort of dark pieces and this was an eye opener to say the least. I hadn't expected such a bright and lively piece. This is a wonderful piece of work. Everything fits. The cast is perfect. Each so in tune with their roles, each ringing true in dialogue and action. The music is both stylistically correct and true to the genre. Many times tunes written for movies that are rock or pop oriented turn out to be lame, musically incorrect, or both. This is not the case here.

Gillian Armstrong shows an airy touch, while still maintaining that solid control of characters and visually precise scene setup she has demonstrated in other films, such as "My Brilliant Career" and the sadly overlooked "Oscar and Lucinda". All in all this is an enjoyable experience. Nothing earthshattering or profound but good workmanship and totally fun.

Lighthearted, Joyous Musical

[subcityii · 2 February 2004]

I saw this movie when it was originally released in America in the early 1980's. I enjoyed the film quite a bit and eventually bought the soundtrack. I just rented the film on video and it still holds up for me after all these years. It is still simple, quirky, vibrant and lively just as I remembered it. The characters are well drawn and very unique and the dance numbers are just as quirky as the rest of the movie. The "Body and Soul" number in the pub literally gets everyone in on the act and it is a highlight of the film for me. I read where director Gillian Armstrong said the reason she made the film after scoring with a period piece like "My Brilliant Career" is because she wanted to do something unusual and little unexpected. She (and all involved) very much succeed. The soundtrack has 1980's style new wave influenced pop. Whether you enjoy the rest of the movie will probably depend on whether you enjoy that style of music. If you do, give this movie a look, if you do not, then pass on it.

Australian music dreams

[BandSAboutMovies · 6/10 · 21 September 2020]

Journalist Stephen Maclean was raised by his mother as she worked in a Melbourne pub and had an early career as a child actor. He wanted to make an Australian musical and ended up working with Gillian Armstrong (My Brilliant Career, the 1994 version of Little Women) and production designer Brian Thomson (The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Shock Treatment).

Despite being rated NRC (Not Recommended for Children) in its native Australia, the Jo Kennedy song "Body and Soul" (written by Tim Finn of Split Enz) went to #5 on the Australian charts.

Jackie Mullens (Kennedy) dreams of being a star while working in her mother's pub. Her young cousin Angus fancies himself her manager, so he gets her in front of The Wombats, a local band, and gets them on the road to appearing on The Wow! Show. That said, he promises that Jackie will walk a tight rope nude to get on, which ends up getting her sent to jail for the day.

Despite dating guitarist Robbie, she soon falls for the show's host and works on changing her sound to be more commercial. It fails, just as her deadbeat dad comes home and steals what little money her family has left.

Starstruck comes at an interesting time in the Australian movie industry, as three musicals - also including The Pirate Movie and The Return of Captain Invincible - were made between 1982 and 1983.

While this movie pretty much disappeared upon release in the U.S., it had a rental and cable audience that has kept it alive.

A much loved musical, though not all of the songs still work

[PeterM27 · 6/10 · 19 December 2021]

Australian musicals are rare indeed, but this is a good one, full of energetic pop-songs and jerky 80s dance numbers, but with an engaging story of a quirky, working-class girl who wants be be a pop star. Jo Kennedy plays the girl, Jackie Mullens, with loads of charm and energy, and she is supported by a host of minor characters playing her pub-owning family.

Gillian Armstrong made this film to avoid being pigeon-holed as a director of period piece drama after her success with My Brilliant Career. This film has a lot of ardent fans, and is generally popular with teenage audiences, or those who saw it first when they were young. The film makes the most of its the location in a famous Rocks pub, and captures the feel of early 80s Australia.

In my opinion, the musical numbers are not well enough filmed, with poor lighting and odd production hampering the impact of the songs, and so it's only a partial success, though a brave attempt. It's a film that some people love, and others find unsatisfying.

fun fun fun

[cass3765 · 10/10 · 25 February 2012]

I was fortunate to be standing in a cinema in Sydney city when Gillian Armstrong approached a group of us kids and asked if we would like to see a preview of a new Aussie movie. We didn't know who Gillian Armstrong was we were about 16 at the time. We arranged time and day with her and attended the raw cut of Starstruck. Wow, what a night that was. There was about 15 of us and that was it. We loved it, we left excited and privileged that us teens got to see it before anyone else and gave Gillian a big thumbs up. When we left we were invited to the premier and after party. We met the cast and talked for a long time to come about our chance meeting. This is such a fun movie, great music, JO Kennedy and Ross O'Donovan were fantastic. Typical Aussie humour for the 80's. One of the best musicals of the time, clean, honest, well written, well directed and a wonderful change from the classic Australian period piece.

a beautiful, feel-good film!

[kingmonkey · 10/10 · 1 October 2006]

i had the pleasure of seeing this as a child when living in Australia, and now as an adult i tracked the film down on DVD. 25 years of rose-tinted looking back to it was astute, as watching it again now was just as joyous as watching it back then.

the story of the film, in short, is that of an aspiring singer and her ambitious cousin and their attempts to break out of the mundane suburban life and hit the big time. desperate times, to a degree, expedite the need to hit the big time, but this under no circumstances stops them having fun along the way! Jo Kennedy is fantastic in the lead, and what a voice. rare is it that you get someone capable of singing and acting, and here she is for all the world to see. fans of 80's new wave / new romantic music will love her singing style, and it's difficult not to tap your feet and sing along with it all. the rest of the cast is equally impressive, in particular the young lad playing cousin Angus.

Star Struck is an eloquent, fun and enjoyable way to spend 90 or so minutes of your time. along with the great soundtrack, you get as many bitter sweet moments as you do outright funny ones, and you would have to work very hard to dislike it.

STRUCK by how bad this is.

[sarcasm_for_free · 3/10 · 23 February 2023]

Get this: A wannabe singer fresh out of school decides to listen to her younger 14-year-old brother and put on a fake pair of inflatable breasts to tightrope-walk between two buildings. This will apparently 'get her noticed' and instantly reward her with a recording contract.

And what do you know? It works! Hey, who are you to question this bizarre logic? If Kim Kardashian can become a sensation overnight on account of one sex tape, what's to stop a vocalist from hitting the big time by making a public spectacle of herself (no professional audition required)?

Sarcasm aside though, this really is one of the daftest films I've seen for quite some time. For a dated musical, the songs aren't too bad actually; some are pretty catchy, and they stay just the right side of kitsch. The problems are the ultra-camp 80's staging of them, which is downright unintentionally hilarious when it isn't deathly dull, and the dramatic parts in-between the flamboyant performances.

Let's just say your average Aussie soap has more well-drawn characters and compelling storylines, and leave it at that.

Still, there's a lot of cats in the movie. I like cats. Not that I'm gonna bump up the score for that or anything, but just thought I'd mention it. 3/10.

Let's put on a show Aussie style

[jimf42 · 9/10 · 13 June 2005]

One of the best original rock musicals! I have just seen the DVD release, having not seen the movie in about 20 years and it holds up very well. It is not at all dated. All of the songs, except for the one which is intentionally bad, are great memorable songs...apparently thanks to Phil Judd of The Swingers. Casting really makes the film. Great chemistry between the two cousins Jackie (Joe Kennedy) and Angus (Ross O Donovan).

Although the plot is somewhat thin, as is typical for this type of movie, it moves along quite nicely and has good light-hearted humor.

See the movie, you will not be disappointed.

Edited with a hatchet!

[bricker-59 · 4/10 · 25 November 2007]

I was astonished to learn that this mess of a movie was the 11th film Gillian Armstrong directed. Everything about it is clumsy and hackneyed; it feels like a just-graduated-from-film-school offering from a bright (but ADHD afflicted) young woman. Actress Jo Kennedy is asked to carry the audience through 95 minutes of utter nonsense and, bless her heart, she does. The only other memorable performance is by Pat Evison as the psychic grandma (of course, these psychic abilities are mentioned early on and then just dropped). Of course, this is a musical and I must admit that the pop tunes sprinkled throughout are enjoyable--and instantly forgettable.

Awesome Australian musical!

[vampi1960 · 10/10 · 17 July 2006]

A Wonderful new wave camp classic,i normally don't really like musicals,but when i saw this back in the eighties i loved it. beautiful sexy Jo Kennedy plays an aspiring singer in Australia. her little cousin Angus,is her agent.campy fun movie with lots of great new wave musical numbers.pokes fun at the MGM musicals from the 40s and 50s.this was a little known,under-appreciated effort from down under. and seldom shown on TV.i don't think its out on DVD yet.but its a great movie.with colorful zany characters,its a cult film.Australia's greatest import since mad max.a must see for everyone even if your not into musicals like me.more then likely you will enjoy.10 out of 10.

Sparkling little gem of a movie!

[sschwart · 9/10 · 29 April 1999]

This is worth looking for. Australian film maker Gillian Armstrong's delightful gem traces the path of two Aussie teens trying to make their break in show biz. This is a classic fairy tale story that includes such amusing scenes as young star Jo Kennedy practising tight-rope walking across the bar of her grandmother's pub. This film treats its teen subjects with respect rather than condescension and the finale is a showstopper. Great soundtrack of obscure 80s music, as well.

Not A 'Hard Day's Night', But Still One Of Cinema's Best Musicals After Almost Thirty Years.

[johnstonjames · 9/10 · 6 January 2011]

definitely one of cinema's best and under-recognized musical classics. i've loved this movie dearly since i first had the pleasure of seeing and hearing it back in 1982. unfortunately and obviously, i was one of the very few persons here in the States that did. throughout the decades i have always raved and tried to discuss this movie with cinema fans and fans of film musicals. it never fails to draw a blank with everyone. even to this day, there are only twenty reviewers of it on IMDb. compare with the hundreds of reviewers of say, 'High School Musical'. how sad. 'HSM' certainly isn't as bold or intelligent, it isn't even as much fun as this. and the music and dance numbers in 'HSM' aren't nearly as clever or good.

Jo Kennedy and Ross O'Donavan give some of the best performances i have ever seen by teen age actors. the 14 year old Donovan is hilarious and brilliant, giving a performance that is wise beyond his years, and the unexpectedly versatile Jo Kennedy is a marvel. not only is her performance comic and her singing off the chart, she also walks a tight rope. yes. literally walks tight rope. this was well before CGI effects and that is obviously her doing her own stunt.

in fact. the opening scene with O'Donvan encouraging Kennedy to walk a tight rope over a busy intersection wearing a bare breasted body suit, is so immediately engaging and side splittingly funny. i've seen few movies get this funny this fast.

anyone new to the musical 'Starstruck', may be surprised to find that this isn't just a cute and amusing film musical, but is also really good, low budget Aussie cinema. it often feels like what a musical would be like if it were directed by Peter Wier. it's musical numbers are extremely funny and in the example of the dance number "we all live like ants", very unconventional and innovative.

in fact this is one of the most unconventional musicals ever made. and it still continues to be more original than most, some thirty years later. most large budget fiasco's would do best to study how this simple film, on a very low budget, manages to be as clever and innovative and so charming with very little resource except inspiration.

I Want to Live in a House

[Rrrobert · 10/10 · 20 October 2020]

Fun comedy musical with a quirky mix of retro kitsch and early 1980s New Wave music and styles.

Bright and talented aspiring singer Jackie Mullens (played by the bright and talented Jo Kennedy) wants to make it in showbiz, aided and abetted by her precocious 14-year-old cousin/manager/songwriter Angus (Ross O'Donovan). The Mullens family members seem to have showbiz backgrounds (ballroom dancing and fortune telling) but now all live in, and run, a cool kitschy pub next to the Sydney harbour bridge that caters to a boisterous working-class crowd. Jackie is romantically pursued by Robbie (Ned Lander) from her backing band, while she is infatuated with TV talent show host Terry (John O'May).

Kennedy and O'Donovan are fantastic in the lead roles. Kennedy is a great singer, and the various musical numbers work really well. Some songs are presented like early 1980s music videos, others take inspiration from Busby Berkeley.

Timeless, ecstatic fun with lots of heart!

[jackboot · 10/10 · 2 March 2008]

I'll try to describe this without any blatant spoilers, but I'm going to divulge some details, which, it is my hope, will not ruin any aspects of the story for the first-time viewer.

I saw this movie three times in the theatres during it's initial USA release. I was in my early twenties and this movie really captured something that really spoke to me at the time. I was just so charmed by the infectious good feelings engendered in this movie and so delighted by the many visually stunning moments brought to life in vivid, brilliant and eye-popping color and the backdrop of the music was especially effective in reaching me at the time. The musical numbers were really strong, like, right from the first few moments, the first number by (the real Aussie band, headed up by former Split Enz member and total musical genius, Phil Judd) The Swingerz, "One Good Reason"/"Gimme Love", performed "live" in a club setting, with the edgy look and startling dancing going on, hit me like a punch in the gut and then I never looked back, once on the wild ride! I thought that what I was witnessing was the future, this was the beginning of something really smart, vibrant and way-cool! In a way it was, just a year or two later, Australian culture would storm the shores of the U.S. with INXS, Men At Work, Midnight Oil, Hoodoo Gurus, Mental As Anything and a host of other bands would put Australia on the map as a vibrant hot-bed of cool music and edgy culture forever. But, for me, it started with this movie, Star Struck.

The design and the look of this film, from the great look of the "Lizard Lounge" for the first couple of numbers, the kitchy and cool Harbor View Hotel, where Jackie and Angus lived, the awful disco scene of the "Wow! Show", the brilliant homage to the Busby Berkeley "By A Waterfall" number, in the roof-top swimming pool water ballet, the wonderful choreography of the "regulars" who drank at he Harbor View in "She's Got Body, She's Got Soul", to the against-all-odds guerrilla taking of the stage at the Opera House and the wonderful finale - I thought this truly original film was as visually stunning as it was musically forward-reaching. The undeniable enthusiasm of the stars to make it also hearkened back to particular themes, like, Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland putting on a show!

This film, first released in 1982, has held up pretty well. The heart and soul invested and genuine enthusiasm captured in following some young teens in their journey from starry- eye dreamers languishing in obscurity to their amazing triumph, awash in hysterical screams by the end, is so irresistibly infectious that I don't see how anyone could NOT love this movie!

My VHS copy had become pretty worn out and I was so glad to see that it was finally issued in the USA on a nice, two-disc DVD edition, with some wonderful extras, worthy of original. I will say that it took me the longest time to understand all of the dialogue, what with the heavy Australian accents and slang which was unfamiliar to me, but it was such a pleasure to view it over and over that I was happy to decipher every morsel!

One of my favorite films

[jmasalle · 10/10 · 30 September 2006]

I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one who enjoys this film. I discovered Starstruck in the 1990s and look for it whenever it runs on cable. It is meant to be airy, free, fun, and irreverent. The spirit of youth is well presented here by all actors, young and old. Jo Kennedy is sexy. After my first viewing of her I had a crush on her that continues to this day. She is fun to watch, as are Ross O'Donovan as her cousin Angus, the guitarist with the glasses that dances, Pat Evison as Nana - everyone, really. The music is, of course, integral to the experience. This movie just has a way of making me smile as I watch it.

AWESOME!

[chinasyndrome · 14 September 2004]

Warning: possible minor spoilers. This may very well be THE most bizarre movie I've ever seen, and definitely the most fun! I first saw it when I was 7, then just tracked it down a couple days ago (I'm now 19). I didn't realize how much of the movie had stayed with me. From the Australian accents so thick they need subtitles to the synchronized dance number with inflatable sharks, STARSTRUCK is so blissfully over-the-top that it NEVER gets old. In fact, it just keeps getting better! The songs are so silly and ridiculous ("Temper Temper"? "The Monkey In Me"?) that you can't help but hum them all day. Obnoxious but well-intentioned Angus, and his cousin, and the completely batty yet sexy Jackie make perfect off-the-wall leads. These two do the strangest things: Jackie walks the tightrope in the middle of her mum's pub, does a striptease out of a red kangaroo suit (!?) and even surfs on the ironing board! Angus hangs from street signs, cordially throws himself into traffic and even manages to get laid before he turns 15, wearing a tacky leopard print tuxedo, no less! The real icing on the cake here are the song and dance numbers. If you enjoy having fun at all, treat yourself to the rockiest 80s new wave musical ever made! If only STARSTRUCK would be released on DVD in the states... I'd snatch it up in a second!

An irresistibly fun and frothy concoction

[NeelyO · 10/10 · 4 October 1998]

Who would have guessed that Australian director Gillian Armstrong would follow the acclaimed period piece "My Brilliant Career" with this wildly colorful and outrageous New Wave musical? As it turns out, both films are about independent and talented young women who overcome their limited means and family struggles to triumph as artists -- in this case, barmaid Jackie (the delightful Jo Kennedy) gets to sing at the big New Year's show at the Sydney Opera House and make enough money to save the family hotel.

Visually inventive, "Star Struck" features a terrific, energetic cast and lots of great music (buy the soundtrack, it's worth it). Something of a cult film in the U.S., it's a movie that deserves discovery.

Still the Best & Brightest & Prettiest Star

[amyrourke56 · 10/10 · 9 December 2013]

Am I the only Australian to review this on IMDb? A rapid scroll through the offerings would seem that this is true. Unbelievable ! I saw this film on first release at the cinema in true-blue Sydney fashion. It is still a haunting favourite after all these years and is, in fact a love song to a city and her people and places. Stephen MacLean was a boy from Melbourne, who later wrote the famous 'The Boy from Oz' ~ a bio of Peter Allen - later to become a musical stage sensation. But that's another story...

This movie is absolutely fabulous Sydney in all her early 80s glory. A time of innocence and fun, ridiculous clothes, a special cousinhood, 'wannabe-in-show-biz', Mickey Rooney & Judy Garlandesque tribute to the talents and humour of our own people. Who needs Hollywood? Features include, singin', dancin' and horsing around in a variety of great Sydney locations. Every song is wonderful and every star shines. A Classic ~ oft overlooked but remembered well and often, by me, Anne-Maree.

PLEASE release on DVD!

[cujo-7 · 10/10 · 26 August 2004]

I LOVE this movie! I would be endlessly happy if this would be released in the US on DVD, and also a CD for the soundtrack which is amazing. I had my cousin in Australia buy me the LP years ago, but no longer have the means to play it. I did put a couple of the songs on a walking tape I made years ago, and I never got tired of them. The music is very catchy. I've never seen Jo Kennedy in anything since, which is surprising, because I thought she was quite good. This is a very fun movie, full of great performances and quirky characters.

I think this was the start of my love for quirky Australian films. I really do hope to own it on DVD someday! Please! Someone. Someone who has some influence. Please! :-)

First rate movie musical!!!

[inframan · 10/10 · 5 January 2000]

This is one of my all-time favorite movie musicals - I've seen them all and have most of them on laserdisc. This one is exceptional in that it mixes all the best elements of classic musical comedies: plot, melodies, humor, characterization, sets and costume with the best of modern pop/rock music. I must have seen it 30 times and I always look forward to seeing it again. The production numbers are among the best in all filmdom!

Great movie

[lyonspride · 10/10 · 14 November 2002]

This movie is awesome. The characters are great. The music is amazing. The plot is entertaining. I have watched this movie many times and it never gets old. A lost gem of a movie that very few people have ever seen.

Cult Classic

[rebekah-copas · 9/10 · 23 July 2017]

When a teenagers, in the early 1980's, one friend spent a few weeks convincing the rest of us, that her mother's best friend made a movie for herself and her sisters, as surrogate daughters. Before she had me convinced, the film clip of one of the songs was on Countdown, the most watched Australian pop music show of those years. And it didn't sink in what a big thing this film is, until my friend said that Gillian Armstrong also directed "My Brilliant Career". I would have loved this film anyway, without knowing my friend and her sisters needed this much love in their world. "Starstruck" is like 'Rocky Horror Picture Show', meets 'The Princess Bride', and they hit the sack right away before a first date. It is testament to Gillian Armstrong's ability as a director, and producer, that such an ambitious script gets the treatment it deserved, despite the obviously low budget. Yet somehow, the low budget just served to make it feel all the more Australian, as though it all happened just over every Aussie's back fence. The light is unmistakably Australian, and contrasts are exaggerated somewhat by the red, blue, yellow color scheme on set. Definitely worthy of joining the lists of what student film makers need to see, for the value of how to treat the script with respect to the writer's concept.