Rock ‘n’ Roll High School (1979)

Directed by Allan Arkush. Starring P. J. Soles, Dey Young, Mary Woronov, Vince Van Patten, Paul Bartel, Lynn Farrell, Clint Howard, Don Steele, Ramones.

Anarchic high school comedy set at Vincent Lombardi High School, home to a rowdy, rock n’ rollin’ student body that includes Riff Randell (Soles), the number one fan of legendary Queens punk band Ramones. Hardly any plot, just a series of off-the-wall vignettes, crude and corny gags, and a lot of great tunes, most of them by the Ramones (the title track, “Sheena Is a Punk Rocker,” “Pinhead,” and plenty more)—the band members play themselves, and let’s just say that they act about as well as they play slow love ballads. A hit-or-miss affair, too sloppy for statement behind its subversion, but pretty energetic even at its least smashing. Its cult staying power is solidified by executive producer status for Roger Corman, co-story credit to Joe Dante, and a small role filled by Dick Miller.

66/100