Groove Review
by "Steve Rhodes" (Steve DOT Rhodes AT InternetReviews DOT com)May 28th, 2000
ROOVE
A film review by Steve Rhodes
Copyright 2000 Steve Rhodes
RATING (0 TO ****): *
In Greg Harrison's ironically titled GROOVE, the action is anything but groovy. Following a group of twentysomethings as they take drugs and dance at a San Francisco rave (underground dance), the movie is remarkably similar to the recently released comedy HUMAN TRAFFIC about the drug scene in Cardiff, Wales. The best way to summarize GROOVE is that it is HUMAN TRAFFIC, denuded of all of that film's energy.
An emotional zero, GROOVE could be considered a strong anti-drug movie. After all, if drugs are this boring, why would anyone buy them.
Populated by actors who appear to have spent days in hot tubs before the shooting, they are so laid back that it is surprising that they can remember any of their lines, of which their aren't many. "You can relax -- it's just a party," Leyla (Lola Glaudini) tells a pseudo-nervous David (Hamish Linklater). David needn't worry since everyone is so relaxed that a massive sleeping sickness appears about to strike at anytime.
As the story starts, a group of kids dressed in rain slickers and carrying flashlights are casing a large warehouse. The movie would have us believe that they are planning a big heist, except -- hello! -- the title of this movie is GROOVE, remember. Well, surprise, surprise, they are inspecting the empty facility to see if it is suitable for crashing that night for their secret party. Being big and vacant, it fills the bill, so the word goes out to all of the Palms, beepers and computers on the party list that the rave is on.
About the only joke in this lifeless movie is the password phrase used to purchase drugs. You say, "I'd like to buy a vowel."
Besides the dance floor, the rave also features a room with professional masseurs to relieve stress and another for group hugs. About the only New Age item missing is a room for Tarot card readings.
With unreal characters that utter meaningless dialog, the movie drifts along on a drug-induced cloud of blissful shallowness. This typical interchange from the movie best summarizes the script's depth: "So?" asks Leyla. "So? replies David. Or was it the other way around? It doesn't matter. Nor does anything else in GROOVE.
GROOVE runs 1:26. It is rated R for drug use, language and brief sexuality and would be acceptable for college students, although I would not suggest that anyone waste their time on this piece of drivel.
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