The Spirit of '76

The Spirit of '76

October 12, 1990

Columbia

Comedy, Sci-Fi, Historical

DVD
B-

This is even more of a decade-straddler than its peers, since not only was it filmed in the summer of 1989, but it's mostly set in the summer of 1976.  If this sounds a little early for '70s nostalgia, you're correct.  The film was made for a low budget and didn't make much back.  Even "writer 'n director" Lucas Reiner (son of Carl, who plays Dr. Von Mobil, and little brother of Rob, who is the est-like Dr. Cash) admits on the commentary that they should've waited at least another four or five years.  By the mid-'90s, The Brady Bunch hit the big screen, twice, and before long That '70s Show became very popular on the little screen.

The slight premise, in a not quite rip-off of Bill & Ted, is that three people from 2176 (played by David Cassidy, Wonder Years' Olivia d'Abo, and Geoff Hoyle, who was Scoop the Reporter in Popeye) use a time machine (made out of two hot tubs, much more '70s than B & T's phone booth) to go to 1776 and rediscover what America was founded on, but the machine malfunctions by a couple centuries.  Luckily, it's the Fourth of July, and the Bicentennial, and Julie Brown as "lusty Miss Liberty" is among those who "explain" the founding principles.

The movie is full of '70s touches.  In fact, it's arguably all style and not much substance.  There's enough to look at and listen to that you probably won't much mind.  From Pop Rocks to pop music, much of what you remember (or at least have heard of) about the '70s is represented, including very colorful costumes designed by a teenaged Sofia Coppola.  There are also a lot of cameos, from people I associate more with the '80s (Devo, Moon Unit Zappa) to authentically '70s icons like Iron Eyes Cody and Leif Garrett, the latter in a scene-stealing role as "Eddie Trojan," brother to the insufferable Rodney Snodgrass (played by nobody you've heard of).  There are moments when L. Reiner parodies various '70s movie conventions, like the Inevitable Car Chase, but the movie remains more goofy than clever.

Note, the sci-fi is, per budget, not particularly well done, but it is fun to see the hand-held devices that the futuristic trio use to type, call, and take pictures with.  Who knew?

Arnold F. Turner, who's Voice Talent here, would be Officer Axelrod in The Brady Bunch Movie.