Airheads (1994)

Director:

Michael Lehmann

Writer (WGA):

Rich Wilkes (written by)

Release Date:

5 August 1994 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Music | Crime

Tagline:

The music. The legend. The hostage situation.

Plot:

Three band members hoping for a big break head to a radio station to play their demo tape and wind up holding everyone hostage with plastic guns when the head DJ refuses to play them.

Plot Keywords:

Radio | Radio Station | Hostage | Lead Singer | Heavy Metal

Cast

Brendan Fraser	...	Chester 'Chazz' Darvey
Steve Buscemi	...	Rex
Adam Sandler	...	Pip
Chris Farley	...	Officer Wilson
Michael McKean	...	Milo Jackson
Judd Nelson	...	Jimmie Wing
Ernie Hudson	...	Sergeant O'Malley
Amy Locane	...	Kayla
Nina Siemaszko	...	Suzzi
Marshall Bell	...	Carl Mace
Reg E. Cathey	...	Marcus
David Arquette	...	Carter
Michael Richards	...	Doug Beech
Joe Mantegna	...	Ian
Michelle Hurst	...	Yvonne

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for crude dialogue and some sexuality.

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby SR

Certification:

South Korea:15 | USA:PG-13 (Certificate #32726) | Australia:M | Finland:K-12 | Iceland:L | Netherlands:12 | Spain:18 | Sweden:11 | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Whisky a Go Go - 8901 Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

The members of the band "Sons of Thunder" (Monty Colvin, Alan Doss, Ben Huggins and Mitchell Dane Sonnier) are actually members of another group called "The Galactic Cowboys".

Goofs:

Plot holes: As the movie nears the end there are 2 plot points that are never adequately resolved. The first is the fate of the radio stations accountant, Doug Beech. He spends the majority of the film hiding in the air conditioning ducts and even as the the drama shifts from one of an apparently real hostage situation, to that of an elaborate record company ploy to exploit the band, he never emerges from his hiding place. Even after being blasted by a fire extinguisher, he merely retreats back into the ductwork never to be seen from or even referred to again. The 2nd point involves the SWAT leader, Carl Mace. When the gathered crown storms past the police lines to get near the band, Sgt O'Malley directs the other officers to simply let them pass. At this point we see officer Mace climb to the roof of a car and point a shotgun at the musicians on stage. Unfortunately, that is where his involvement ends and it is never revealed what happened from that scene on with regards to his preparing to shoot.

Quotes:

Marcus: Milo, didn't I tell you to knock when you come to my office?
Milo: Just keep quiet and get that reel-to-reel deck down to the booth.
Marcus: Oh, gonna tell me to shut up now? Uh-huh, uh-huh. See, a brother can't open his mouth without the white man slap him down.
Milo: Just do it, Marcus.
[Milo steps aside to reveal Rex holding a gun]
Marcus: Damn.

Movie Connections:

References Wayne's World 2 (1993)

Soundtrack:

London

Not given enough credit

This is a great movie that simply doesn't get alot of credit. An amatuer band known as the Lone Rangers (Fraser, Buscemi, Sandler) sneak into a recording studio to have their demo tape played on the air. When refused, things get out of hand and they hold the place hostage.

This movie has an original plot line with good humour and good acting. Keep in mind that this movie comes very early on in the careers of all three title characters. Personally I find the calibre of acting that Fraser and Sandler have in this movie better than some that came afterwards.

When you start watching this movie, you'll want to finish it. Perfect example, my room mate who came in the room looking for something ended up staying for the whole movie.

Give this baby a chance. If you don't like it, you've lost the price of a rental.