Great Balls of Fire! (1989)

As a child in rural Louisiana, Jerry Lee Lewis is entranced by black music. In 1956 Memphis, Jerry (Dennis Quaid) moves in with his cousin Rusty Brown's family including his daughter Myra Gale Brown (Winona Ryder). Sam Phillips of Sun Records, who signed Elvis, signs Jerry. His cousin Jimmy Swaggart (Alec Baldwin) tries to get him to serve God. He marries 13-year-old Myra after already married twice. It becomes a scandal during a 1958 British tour.This is a fun light rock-and-roll movie with a great manic performance by Dennis Quaid. The drama is backloaded with the scandal well into the second half. This has great music. A more dramatic story could be done concentrating not on his music but on his personal life and marriages. This is nevertheless a fun rock biopic and a memorable performance.

I saw this movie when it first came out and just happened to see it again tonight - many years later. When I first saw this I had never been a fan of Lewis. After seeing Dennis Quaid's performance, which I thought was incredible by the way, I had to get Whole Lot of Shaking Going On and Great Balls of Fire right away. They soon became party favorites that got everyone on the dance floor. I understood the true genius that embodied Jerry Lee. The movie was fun and the music was fantastic. Wynona Ryder was good as the 13 year old cousin who married him. I can't imagine ever letting my 13 year old daughter marry such a man but he was so endearing that it was hard to hate him for it. I saw Jerry Lee Lewis perform on TV and I always thought he was so crazy and obnoxious and Dennis Quaid nailed him right on the head. Alex Baldwin was an unlikely person to play cousin Jerry Faldwell but he was believable. Over all I loved this movie and it made a fan out of me.

one reviewer here said Quaid "channeled" Jerry Lee...problem is, Jerry, still very much with us, thankfully, in 1989, was busy nursing a fifth of Bourbon at his club in Memphis > especially since JLL insisted on recording the soundtrack himself, no Quaid in imitation, there is no need for any mystical transference.having said all that...this film is okay for the young, or those who just want to enjoy the music and get an "idea" of his career, say from 1956 to 1966.Quaid's portrayal is (teenage) letter thin, Lee Lewis a real wild child who goes on impulse 24-7. no deep thinker...not the genius who found a way to reconcile musically, gospel and pop. he marries his 13 year old 2nd cousin because... he can. any thought about how a 23 year old can actually be *in love* with someone so young? no...he's just rockin' up a storm! I did enjoy the portrayals of Sun Record Owner and Music Visionary Sam Phillips' Brother Judd and Jerry Lee's cousin Jimmy (Reverend Jimmy Swaggart). production numbers look like MTV rejects.

The events that stopped the first wave of Rock n' Roll......Elvis went into the army...Buddy Holly died...Chuck Berry got arrested...Little Richard quit and became a man of the cloth...and Jerry Lee Lewis married his 13 year old cousin. This film is a fun-filled, rocking, over-the-top, snazzy, story of the "Killer". It never lets up on the music (all original performances by Jerry Lee) and the cast is doing nothing more than having a good time with it all. A few 50's style insertions of some "song and dance" numbers work magnificently.During the downfall, which is presented honestly and somberly we understand the devastation and effect on all involved. But just like Lewis himself, it rebounds with guts and gusto and never misses a color saturated beat.No one ever put out those great balls of fire, he played it hard and he played it forever."I can play anything, anytime, anywhere" says Jerry......ain't it the truth.