Shout (1991) Reviews

• Great Music!

  airlee2002-06-28

  I purchased this video at Wal-Mart in a two for ten bucks basket. For anyone who may have grown up in the 50's and loved the old time rock and roll this movie is absolutely great! James Walters plays a rebellious teenager who ends up in a home for boys. John Travolta is a music teacher who comes looking for a job which the boys' home needs. His job is to teach them music but he has been introduced to a black rhythm and blues radio station out of Memphis, which is playing some new music which seems to upset the establishment. That music is the birth of rock and roll. Travolta introduces the boys to this new music by first playing some 45RPM records and then telling them to get a radio and listen to the Midnight Rider. From then on the boys are hooked. Heather Graham is the daughter of the man who runs this boys' school and is the romantic interest of Jamie Walters. She looks wonderful. Walters is a junior James Dean with a rock and roll soul. Ultimately the music is bound to clash with the locals and that is what really brings this movie to an outstanding conclusion. Two songs really kept me going back and watching parts of the movie over and over. "Alimony" by a black couple by the names of Womack & Womack is a fantastic piece of music and the final song by Walters called, "Rockin' the Pad" is produced by Dave Edmunds. The guitar playing could very well be that of Edmunds. Having started high school in 1955 and graduating in 1959 this movie is a real piece of nostalgia.

• "Skip it"? Are you kidding?!?

  cpoet2007-01-08

  Here's a chance to see some smooth moves out of John Travolta, dancing with the lovely Linda Fiorentino. There's a great soundtrack that's apparently impossible to find at less than sky-high prices. There's an impressive early performance by Glenn Quinn, who died too young, and a look at Heather Graham and Gwyneth Paltrow when they were still fresh-faced ingénues. The setting is a little bit "Last Picture Show" meets "Cider House Rules" and there's an interesting surface skim of race and class structure in the '50's. The story line could have been meatier, but having spent two hours today with "Ultraviolet," I was grateful enough for the linear progression.

• I liked this film.

  Neeliesu2006-08-05

  Are you crazy? Any film starring John Travolta is bound to be a good watch, he's such a good actor, the actor playing Jesse was cute as well. The storyline was pretty similar to a few films , bad boy falls in love and turns out to be a good boy really, respecting advice from the older guy, in this case, John Travolta. I loved the music scenes, in fact most films with a bit of music are fine with me. Heather Graham played a good part, and I thought the small guy playing the trombone was good. I think this must have been one of Gwyneth Paltrow's early films, I hardly recognized her. I was entertained, although I haven't figured out why the title was 'Shout' Maybe it wasn't a classic, but hey, it's only rock and roll and I like it.

• Poor Man's Dirty Dancing

  Gemima2006-01-12

  When my friend and I stumbled across this video and watched it we were shocked we'd never heard of it before. I later read it was a complete FLOP when it was released (despite some big name actors). Not only is this film interesting to me as a "spot them before they were stars" exercise (Gwyneth Paltrow, Heather Graham) but a "catch them during their brief period of fame" (Jamie Walters, Becky's boyfriend from Darlene, Jeremy Jackson). I still really don't understand why it was so unsuccessful as it contains all the same clichéd ingredients as most successful 80s teen flicks. It's got the classic set up of good looking, broody male "outsiders" rebelling against the establishment via rock'n'roll and romance. It's set in the late fifties and has plenty of fun, sexy and dramatic montages set to dark rock'n'roll songs. It's not a great film but it's certainly just as bad as Footloose and Dirty Dancing. If you enjoyed either of those I recommend you check this out (particularly if you're female and aged between 12-16). It's tap your foot to the songs, totally enjoyable fluff.

• great movie ! great music ! entertaining A+

  jkck8-12006-01-29

  I found this movie to be fun light hearted and great acting and directing. It was fun to see the chemistry between the teacher and students. Will not go down as one of John Travolta's top ten i am sure, but is is one of mine.Watch this film if you like music,or just a plain good entertaining film. John Travola does a great Job of playing the music teacher. Watching how the students learn to play new music that was in a time when the type of music he taught was restricted. I loved the chemistry between the girl(heather Grame) and i am not sure of the kid she falls for is but non the less very well done! Like i said you have to watch it to appreciate it. Fun fun fun. Jeff