Purple Rain Review

MPAA Rating: R
Released: 1984

Purple Rain can easily be considered a vanity project for one of the 80's biggest musical superstars: Prince. Billed as a semi-autobiography, Purple Rain tells the story of an angry yet brilliant young musician that is trying to hold his life and band together. When a competitor, Morris Day, threatens to replace his job, Prince must quickly find some musical inspiration and a way to connect with the audience before it's too late.

The Kid (Prince) is one of three bands that play regularly at a hot Minneapolis club, but his job is anything but secure. Morris Day and his band The Time is the top "dog" at this club, and Day wants The Kid out. When a beautiful young woman, Apollonia (Apollonia Kotero), enters the club one evening searching for a job, the lives of everyone nearby changes.

The Kid is immediately attracted to Apollonia, and the two strike up a quick romantic relationship. But Apollonia soon comes to learn that the elusive and often aloof Kid is a deeply troubled man with a dark anger. This anger, fueled by a hard life and an abusive father, eventually causes the two to part ways despite their attraction to each other.

Meanwhile Morris Day has devised a plot to get rid of his competitor once and for all. He has convinced the nightclub's owner to let Apollonia perform at the club since the young female musician could capture a new demographic and enthuse the crowds. There's just one problem: with her band's addition, there are now four bands playing in the club – but there's only room for three. Someone has to go, and all bets point towards The Kid as being the musical casualty.

The Kid has one more performance in which he can conquer the ghosts of his past and put on a show that will thoroughly connect with the club's audience.

Purple Rain is an example of all glamour and no substance (arguably one of the 80's trademarks) – the little bit of "plot" there is in the film is dragged down by Prince's unconvincing and sometimes wince-inducing acting. In fact there were very few professional actors involved with Purple Rain. Most were either first-timers (Apollonia Kotero) or professional musicians (Morris Day). Surprisingly, although Morris Day was a musician by trade and not an actor, his performance was the most solid and by far stole the movie.

That isn't to say that Purple Rain is without merit, because while it fails as a serious film it is flashy and often fun to watch. Due to the nature of the movie, there are several concert performances, and many of them were actually filmed live. Prince, while a poor actor, knew how to craft some great pop/rock songs and put on a concert. It also goes without saying that Morris Day and the Time put on a heck of a show too.

Anyone seeking an intense drama should pass Purple Rain right on by, but those in the mood for some pleasing eye and ear candy will find the music and glitz to be top notch. The film may not represent the 80's best films by any stretch of the imagination, but Purple Rain does serve as a virtually perfect snapshot of the music and style of the decade.

Movie rating: 6 stars

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