This movie makes me miss Prince even more. This movie was groundbreaking in 1984 where I had to tape on the late Saturday night movie after the news. Even after almost forty years, the film was groundbreaking for a lot of reasons. Prince proved to be quite an actor as the kid. The cast and crew did a terrific job.

The cast was pretty much playing themselves. First Avenue in Minneapolis is a landmark music venue with historic performances over five decades and going strong. The music was terrific even the best of Prince's career. His character was very much like himself in the movie. Prince always evaded displaying his true self aside from the concert stage.

The supporting cast of characters like Morris, Billy, Appolonia, Lisa and Wendy added to the film. The music was first rate. I still miss Prince very much.

The Kid (Prince) is a young talented leader of his group The Revolution as they play at The First Avenue club in Minneapolis. He comes from a trouble home with an abusive musical father. The loudmouth flamboyant Morris Day and his group The Time are the headliners in the club. Apollonia (Apollonia Kotero) is an aspiring singer who falls for the Kid. Their relationship hits a roadblock when Morris develops a group around Apollonia. The Kid is in danger of losing his spot in the club.

The music ranges from experimental jams to incredible pop sensations. Prince is a passable actor. None of the acting is great. Morris Day seems to be having lots of fun. The Kid is surprisingly violent. He's a volatile self-destructive character. Aside from the great music, this movie offers some truly nice moments. The lake scene is fun. And Prince seems to be really trying.

You can debate Prince's acting talent, or even his choice to parody his own life in this film. There is no debate about his musical talent either then or now. He seems like a shadowy has-been twenty years later, but the music remains relevant and fantastic.

Having lived through the hype of this movie (graduated high school in'85) I can tell you that there was nothing bigger at the time. From Tipper Gore (Al's wife) trying to censor "Little Nikki" and every thing else under the sun via the PMRC (Parents Music Resource Center) to every "Air Band" at the time impersonating Prince, it was the absolute hottest thing out. For a few weeks at least, Prince was bigger than Madonna and Michael Jackson.

We all waited for the film and were soooooo excited when it premiered. It didn't disappoint. EVERYONE was caught up. I was an MTV junkie at the time(they actually played music then....all the time)Prince played at least once or twice an hour. I must qualify this commentary by saying that, at that time, my favorites were Billy Idol, Oingo Boingo, The Fixx, Flock of Seagulls and others in the Punk/ New Wave genre' The music of Prince at the time transcended all types and styles. One of the reasons that some of it seems so cheesy and contrite now is that it was SOOOOOOOO big then. All the things that remind you of the 80's were iconic then. It was mainstream and it seems like a cliché' now. It got so popular that it became ridiculous. It's like the rappin' Granny commercial for Wendy's Hamburgers.

It looks stupid now because EVERYONE was caught up in it (sadly, kind of like a bizarre purple macarena or something. Anyway, I hope this gave you all a little insight.