Tapeheads

This satire from left field starts out in high comic gear, as ex-security guards Ivan (John Cusack) and Josh (Tim Robbins) go all-out to crash the music video business (with the eventual desire to produce real "art"), making fried chicken commercials, video wills, and low-budget music vids until landing a job filming a live stage concert of Menudo (which gives them the chance to push their teenage idols, the Swanky Modes--played by Sam Moore and Junior Walker--into the limelight). Unfortunately, the film begins to drag under the weight of a ridiculous subplot involving a plan to expose a Presidential candidate who likes to be spanked. The widescreen DVD transfer is decent, and the Dolby Digital 5.1 sound highlights the Swanky Modes (the second disc here is a CD of same performing "Ordinary Man"), but the commentary track, featuring director Bill Fishman, executive producer Michael Nesmith and production designer Catherine Hardwicke is somewhat rambling and unfocused. Still, a strong, optional purchase. (R. Pitman)