The Nude Bomb

The Nude Bomb (AKA The Return of Maxwell Smart)
May 9, 1980
Universal (obviously)
Comedy, Action
VHS
C-

And sometimes retaking stock of the '60s looks like this.  A big-screen sort of sequel to the once very popular 1965-70 TV spycom, this flopped on initial release, and it's not hard to see why.  Not that I agree with those who emphasize the "bomb" in the title, but it is a misfire.  To put it bluntly, it is just not that funny.  The only part that works is the last fifteen minutes or so, where the blend of comedy and action is finally well done.  (And the then-edgy topic of cloning ends up being less dated than expected.)  Don Adams, wearing platform shoes and flared pants that look more '74 than '80, does his best in his old role, but it's just not the same without most of his supporting cast.  Andrea Howard, as earnest as in Thank God It's Friday, also does her best, but yes, she's no Barbara "99" Feldon.  The movie is actually most interesting for its plug for its own studio and the famous tour (which as a Southern Californian kid I went on multiple times, usually with out-of-state relatives).  Also, dawn-of-'80s note, there are two young computer genius siblings, but the super-computer still fills most of the room.

Don Adams's cousin Robert Karvelas reprises his role as Larrabee and he was the diner customer that Annabel vents to in Freaky Friday.  Landlady Ceil Cabot was also in Freaky Friday, as Miss McGuirk.  Hospital patient Leslie Hoffman was in I Wanna Hold Your Hand.  Hap Lawrence, a sergeant major here, was a soldier in Rabbit Test.  Adam Anderson was not only the sobbing sailor in Rabbit Test, but he was a policeman in Scavenger Hunt, and he's one of the many pilots here.

Byron Webster was the restroom attendant in Scavenger Hunt and he's the English delegate here.  This time Vito Scotti plays the Italian delegate.  The American delegate, Walter Brooke, was Mr. Ames in The Big Bus.  The German delegate, Richard Sanders, is instantly recognizable as WKRP's Les Nessman, and he'd have a small but funny role in Valley Girl as the Drivers' Ed teacher.

Supply your own caption with one of the famous catchphrases.

Thank God It's Friday

Thank God It's Friday
May 19, 1978
Columbia
Comedy, Musical
VHS
C

This plays like one of the more forgettable episodes of The Love Boat, only with casual drug use and of course a disco setting.  There are different plot threads and characters, many of them involving romance, and they only somewhat overlap.  None of them is particularly interesting, and I can only recommend this movie for maybe half a dozen decent to good songs and a chance to spot a handful of people who went on to better things, notably Fame's Valerie Landsburg (playing a teen who's supposed to be a marvelous dancer, although we can't really tell from the brief sample) and poor Debra Winger, as a nice girl looking for a nice guy.

And there's Jeff Goldblum, still only 25 at that point, but looking older and reptilian as the sleazy owner of the Zoo disco.  His character tries to seduce Sue, played by Andrea Howard, who'd be the love interest in The Nude Bomb.  Her husband Dave is played by Mark Lonow, who'd be a Father of the Bride in The Wedding Singer.  

As for the music, Donna Summer sings the Oscar-winning "Last Dance" and three other songs, and the Commodores sing "Hot to Trot" and the classic "She's a Brick House."  Just about everything else is forgettable, except for the over-the-top title track, which makes the Columbia lady boogie down.

Phil Adams, who's Tarzan here, would be a "hood" in C.H.O.M.P.S.  Wade Collings would also dance in Can't Stop the Music.  MacIntyre Dixon, a bartender here, would have a more substantial role, as Cole Oyl in Popeye.  Paul Jabara, who plays Carl and performs (on the soundtrack rather than as Carl) "Disco Queen" and "Trapped in a Stairway," wrote not only "Last Dance" but "It's Raining Men," which plays in Bridget Jones's Diary among other movies.

Director Robert Klane went on to the Weekend at Bernie's movies, which I don't own.