American Graffiti (1973) Review

 

American Graffiti (1973)

I’ve heard stories for years about this George Lucas classic, so it’s only fitting that I stumble upon it the day after finally seeing Animal House, both films being set in 1962 coincidentally.

America Graffiti centers on a group of friends who cruise through Modesto, California on the last day of summer break before heading off to college. It’s chock full of classic cars, young love, teenage mischief, and beautiful scenery of a long past era. Like I said in the Animal House review, this movie makes you wish you grew up in the 60s. Where small towns were booming, cars were amazing, love was in the air, and everyone knew everyone. It was a simpler time, and American Graffiti showcases that perfectly.

George Lucas, in technically only his 2nd film following THX 1138, and 4 years before making Star Wars, crafts a beautiful film with inventive, beautiful shots of which are the soul of this movie. Seeing the classic cars, the diners, the school dances, and the hustling bustling streets of his hometown of Modesto, Lucas takes a simple coming of age story and makes it pop right off the screen.

Match that with an entertaining cast with the likes of Richard Drafus, Ron Howard, a young Harrison Ford and one of the best damn soundtracks in any film ever, featuring Runaway, Louie, Louie, and several hits from Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, and The Beach Boys, and you’ve got yourself the perfect end of summer flick that still holds up nearly 50 years later.

It’s biggest flaw though is it’s complete lack of a real plot. But that is somehow excused considering the film is meant to just exist in this one time, in this one place, with all of these interconnecting stories meant to play into the love letter to pre-Vietnam America in the early 60s. 

American Graffiti is a uniquely innocent film that any young adult, transitioning from high school to the real world can relate to. I know I did, once upon a time.

6/10