Thank God It's Friday (1978)

TGIF feels like a Robert Altman disco film -- multiple characters and story lines intersect and bounce off each other. Released a few months after Saturday Night Fever, TGIF is a wonderful artifact of the 70's. Looking back almost 30 years later, it all seems so carefree and innocent.There are some delightful surprises in the cast -- Debra Winger makes her film debut. Jeff Goldblum gets his biggest film role to date. And best of all, Donna Summer makes her film debut. It is great to see Donna caught on film, performing at the height of her powers. She does the show-stopper Last Dance, a song that would win the Best Song Oscar.In addition, the Commodores make a cameo appearance. Lots of great music throughout -- great Casablanca Records soundtrack.Lots of great character actors -- Chuck Sacci as Gus, a garbage collector who meets up with an unlikely computer date.It is great to see L.A. as it was in late 77/early 78 -- billboards on the Sunset Strip for Eric Clapton's Slowhand and other 1977 albums. Plus, Osko's disco on La Cienega, which is now a strip mall. In one shot looking north on San Vincente, there is a giant gap where the Beverly Center currently sits. Also, gas prices were a lot cheaper back then.In sum, this is a fun movie, a great escape from all the bad news we're bombarded with today.

If you ever tried to sneak into a club while underage, you will definitely be able to relate to our young dancers. The writing is intelligent, the movie was well-paced & exciting. The cinematography was beautifully done.Even if the hilarious antics of the actors, don't make you laugh, the music will be like a trip through a time machine.Donna Summers is beautiful, talented & funny. Unlike Last days of Disco, this movie actually has a reasonably good storyline, with excellent acting throughout.I definitely recommend this movie.

If you like multi character movies, this will not disapoint. The mainly unknown cast are all rather likeable folks. and Paul Jabara is very good in his only screen role. YOu will be touched by the scene of him and a lovley young girl who are locked in a stairway but end up boogooing anyway. I especially love the plot about the fat guy and the tall thin schoolteacher who are mismatched by a dating service. Except for a few drug scenes, this is a terrific family picture, too. And the best you will ever see Debra Winger on screen. She looks soft and pretty. The music is very good, strong voices and tunes, much better than the dance music of the last 20 years. Check out this movie for some good light entertainment.

It's hard to believe this movie was directed by the same Robert Klane who contributed to hilarious movies like WHERE'S POPPA? and FIRE SALE - it's easier to believe it was directed by the same Robert Klane who gave us movies like FOLKS! and WEEKEND AT BERNIE'S. Judging by how the movie plays out, it seems he was determined to direct just about every scene in the dullest and slowest way possible. To be fair, he was saddled with a screenplay that is incredibly unfunny, not just with absolutely lame attempts at humor, but often forgetting to try and be funny in the first place. Also, he didn't exactly have a stellar cast at hand; miscasting is abound, especially with the bizarre decision to cast Jeff Goldblum as the disco club owner who's a ladies' man (!) The one exception is with Chick Vennera - he at least puts some life in his cliched role, enough so that he alone makes one scene - the parking lot dance piece - fun to watch. Overall not recommended, not even just for the soundtrack; despite the Commodores making a few contributions, you'd be better off buying one of their greatest hits albums instead.