David Cassidy in the News
MOVIE REVIEW : 'The Spirit of '76' Becomes Mired in Fads and Inanity
March 11, 1991
By Kevin Thomas
LA Times
Movies do not get more inane than "The Spirit of '76" (at the Beverly Center Cineplex), in which three time travelers (David Cassidy, Olivia d'Abo and Geoff Hoyle) from 2176 wind up in 1976, landing in a jerry-built spaceship. Their mission is to secure a copy of the U.S. Constitution, which will otherwise be lost to future generations.
However, writer-director Lucas Reiner (Rob's brother) and co-writer Roman Coppola (Francis' son) are not in the least interested in making anything at all of their premise except to take a superficial gloss of '70s fads--e.g., disco, mood rings, est, etc.
This is one of those grim affairs in which a multitude of familiar faces turn up in cameos that are too witless to add to the film and only detract from those who consented to appear.
Cassidy deserves credit for unyielding professionalism, as do several others.
You have to wonder how this film (rated PG-13 for language, sexual innuendo, drugs) ever got made, let alone released.
'The Spirit of '76'
David Cassidy: Adam-11
Olivia d'Abo: Chanel-6
Geoff Hoyle: Heinz-57
Leif Garrett: Eddie Trojan
A Columbia release of a Castle Rock and Black Diamond presentation of a Commercial Pictures production. Writer-director Lucas Reiner. Story by Roman Coppola, Reiner. Producers Susie Landau, Simon Edery. Executive producers Roman Coppola, Fred Fuchs. Cinematographer Stephen Lighthill. Editor Glen Scantlebury. Costumes Sofia Coppola. Music David Nichtern. Production design Daniel Talpers. Art director Isabella Kirkland. Sound Zeca Araujo. Running time: 1 hour, 22 minutes.
MPAA-rated PG-13 (language, sexual innuendo, drugs).
