The Phynx (1970)

Directed by Lee H. Katzin. Starring Mike Kellin, Lou Antonio, Dennis Larden, Ray Chippeway, Lonny Stevens, A. Michael Miller, Larry Hankin, Michael Ansara, Joan Blondell, George Tobias.

A truly strange, off-target spoof of 1960s spy films and rock n’ roll pictures. Four youngsters are recruited by the U.S. government to become the ultimate rock group, dubbed the Phynx, so they can go on tour and enter the country of Albania, where numerous showbiz celebrities have been disappearing. Almost fascinating to watch the surrealness of ineptitude when it comes to delivering a punchline that works or tapping into the hippie movement, but it’s trying too hard to be far out, man. The tunes aren’t terrible, but nothing to get excited for, and the four lads picked to play the phony rockers are so lacking in charisma, they make the groups from the earlier crossover movies inspiring their existence (The Beatles, Herman’s Hermits, etc.) look almost accomplished as thespians. Contains a bevy of cameos, most of them literally trotted out one or two at a time during the final act; to be fair, I never imagined a movie featuring James Brown, Busby Berkeley, Johnny Weismuller, and Colonel Sanders could exist, but then I watched this. Despite its potential as a cult artifact, I don’t recommend you do the same.

28/100