Plot: What’s it about?
In the single digit years of this viewers life, there were two movies that were ever so frequently on most mornings during the day to day operations of Wometco Home Theater. One was the 007 extravaganza that was Moonraker which still plays well after all these years and one that this viewer keeps in mind in debate as to a special place for Roger Moore as James Bond. The other was a combination of multi subplots and music all during one night at the disco and where the song Last Dance originated. When all get through the bump and grind to the week and there’s room for dancing, one gets through and remembers on that last day before the weekend Thank God It’s Friday.
It’s the sixth day and the working week is done, and everyone is ready for the weekend especially at the Zoo disco where characters have their different paths and a lot in store for the night. There’s a danceoff, some getting down, a few couples mix here and there and The Commodores are on their way. In the meantime, Nicole Sims (Donna Summer) takes advantage of this time to have her big break along with all the shenanagins where all paths make it to dance the night away even if the Kiss concert is too far away and two gals go to win money for tickets and come across everyone on this big night where fun is the key and there’s no looking at tomorrow for they are there for the moment.
Well, there are appearances by Debra Winger and Jeff Goldblum before making it to known status and everyone is in their own goofy dilemma but through it all it’s never to be taken seriously and love to know where that Zoo Disco is today. The film itself is short and goes by quick and it’s all predictable but it does suspend the disbelief and after all it’s just a movie and we know that nothing in this film would ever happen but it used to be on every morning and I still say it’s fun and interesting to see that it looked as if it was a big deal when the film came out especially with the dancing Columbia lady in the beginning.
Nevertheless, it’s the same cliched laughs that repeat themselves at least three times but this viewer can’t help but get lost in the routine yet amusing trip down a time when dance was king and the disco ball was queen. And look out for Last Dance’s scribe Paul Jabara as one of the young guys that needs glasses (doing his best Horshack impression) as well as a few other turns along the way. One key thing that drives the movie is the great soundtrack of music from that era that doesn’t give the film a silent moment from start to finish. It’s always there and one that’s high on this viewer’s favorite soundtrack list (with the many songs other than Last Dance).
Get down and boogie even though it seems like a multidirectional television movie of the seventies and enjoy because it’s dancing and everything else is bullshit!
Video: How does it look?
Thank God It’s Friday is in it’s first widescreen presentation anamorphically in 1.85:1 (was never sure of the aspect ratio) and the film after all these years actually looks better than the first time I had seen it. Granted, the visual quality isn’t up to par with today’s films and this viewer didn’t expect it to be but the picture quality looked slightly better than expected with the color and the bright spots looking just about right with a small speck or two but no major color bleeding and a nice clean up job by the Sony folks.
Audio: How does it sound?
The Dolby Digital 5.1 makes great use throughout the channels of the soundtrack and even most of the effects ran mostly through the middle but being that this film is certainly not made for the dialogue, effects were minor and the music lead the way even if the film’s key song sounded better towards the end than when it’s performed in the film. The track continued its solid buildup of music and remained that way all the way through the majority of channels making for a decent one at best. This disc also has a Portuguese Mono track along with English, Spanish, Portuguese and Japanese subtitles.
Supplements: What are the extras?
Sadly there’s no lookbacks, no flashbacks, not a single featurette or trailer. Just the film and nothing more. Although it would’ve been nice to see how they trailered the movie back then, it’s a shame there’s no hope with this release to have that extra added bit.
With Thank God It’s Friday, it’s a fun cheesy ride into the disco seventies with a film that is one of a few that batted 1.000 at the Academy Awards (yes even one nomination in a key category barring the foreign and documentaries counts) and has a song that many hear at the end of festive parties with the origin being right here making for a decent movie only disc.
