University of Virginia Library

Vulgar Song

As I look over what I have
written, I realize that I may be
spoiling some of the film's
jokes, but Forman has an
abundance of humorous scenes
throughout the film, which are
enhanced by this clever use of
sounds, especially
asynchronous sound, and the
bizarre editing of the audition
song "Let's Get a Little
Sentimental." Forman's
funniest disruption of sound
occurs during the song "Ode to
a Screw," a song which is sick
and vulgar, but constantly
funny in the manner Forman
has it coming from the lips of
an innocent young girl.

All the characters in the
film are treated like that young
girl, in that Forman never gets
disgusted with his characters.
He likes every person that's on
the screen, and they all have
something humorous about
them. I think that this love of
his characters is what makes
"Taking Off" work. Another
director might have ended the
film with the embarrassing
scene where Jeannie discovers
her parents drunk and stoned
in the living room, playing
cards with some acquaintances.

Forman, however, goes on
and includes a dinner scene,
which would seem to be a coda
to what has happened before.
Then in the middle of it, the
cigarette joke comes back, and,
in a sense, the drama of the
film has been shattered. Rather
than leave the theatre feeling
down, there's a feeling of
exhilaration about the people
in the film. The characters
aren't especially deep, but we
feel that we know them, and
accept their actions at the close
of the film.

When talking to a friend
about the film, I described it as
a warm comedy. "Like a
Thirties comedy?" Well, no;
something more along the lines
of Mel Brooks' "Twelve
Chairs," parts of "The
Landlord" and "The Owl and
the Pussycat." We should take
the problems the film presents
seriously, not panicking about
them, but calmly observing and
thinking about them. Forman's
"Taking Off" is not only one
of the best comedies this year,
but in its own quiet way is one
of the most moving films that
has entertained us in years.

(Now at the Cinema)

Engel, Heacock, Carlin, Henry: Something Humorous