How can you find something to like with a bank robber and an embezzler? Very difficult even if it's the former Danny and Sandy of Rydell High. Their magical car ride in the late 50's/early 60's has taken them to this ill-fated fantasy comedy where heaven couldn't wait (to paraphrase the 1978 smash movie and a lyric from Olivia Newton John's hit song from the film, "Twist of Fate") to give them the devil for choosing a script so trite, so cliched, so lacking in sparkle and overloaded with eye rolls.
In spite of critical drubbings for her performance as Sandy, I found Newton John sweet and charming and fresh, and even in "Xanadu", she had the same quality even if it was outrageously bad. But that was bad in a fun way. This is just hideous. Travolta's in trouble with mobsters whom he owes money to so he robs a bank, but teller Olivia switches the bags so he ends up with paper and she ends up with the loot, even if she loses her job. He stalks her to get the money back and as always happens in these situations, they fall in love.
Oh did I forget to mention that there's the presence of angels and Satan, going against each other to either stop or cause the end of the world. God Gene Hackman (voice only) wants to destroy humanity because of corruption and four angels (Charles Durning, Scatman Crothers, Beatrice Straight) go up against singing devil Oliver Reed to prove that there are two decent people left.
Fine premise for light comedy but the script, direction and Olivia's unbelievable performance really make this collapse. Travolta's fine simply by using his sweet nature to make his troubled character likeable, and he seems to believe in the spiritual nature of the story. But even with this cast of beautiful young people and well liked character actors, there's really nothing kind to say. Perhaps as a 20 year old seeing this in the theater made my big innocent eyes see more in this than what is there so nearly 40 years later I couldn't help but laugh at the demise of innocence.
In spite of critical drubbings for her performance as Sandy, I found Newton John sweet and charming and fresh, and even in "Xanadu", she had the same quality even if it was outrageously bad. But that was bad in a fun way. This is just hideous. Travolta's in trouble with mobsters whom he owes money to so he robs a bank, but teller Olivia switches the bags so he ends up with paper and she ends up with the loot, even if she loses her job. He stalks her to get the money back and as always happens in these situations, they fall in love.
Oh did I forget to mention that there's the presence of angels and Satan, going against each other to either stop or cause the end of the world. God Gene Hackman (voice only) wants to destroy humanity because of corruption and four angels (Charles Durning, Scatman Crothers, Beatrice Straight) go up against singing devil Oliver Reed to prove that there are two decent people left.
Fine premise for light comedy but the script, direction and Olivia's unbelievable performance really make this collapse. Travolta's fine simply by using his sweet nature to make his troubled character likeable, and he seems to believe in the spiritual nature of the story. But even with this cast of beautiful young people and well liked character actors, there's really nothing kind to say. Perhaps as a 20 year old seeing this in the theater made my big innocent eyes see more in this than what is there so nearly 40 years later I couldn't help but laugh at the demise of innocence.