mrschu47912's Movie Review of The Runaways (2010)

Just simply too outdated for 2010
mrschu47912 - wrote on 10/26/10

If The Runaways had come out maybe 15 or 20 years ago, then maybe I would understand it more. Sadly it didn’t, and as a result the film feels too outdated. Now, I’m not saying that a film that covers the subject of the rise and fall of a rock n roll band is an outdated film, but if it indulges itself too much into the culture and generation of that time, then I would have to consider it outdated.

As absurd as this might sound, the other film that I’ve seen this year that I can compare The Runaways, would have to be The Social Network (as long as I compare to what other people say about the social network, not necessary my thoughts). As you may know, many people – not me – consider the social network to be a generational film. They say it’s a film that speaks of the times we live in now, or a film about our current culture. That means that it could not be made 20 years from now. At least not in the exact way in was created today. It would have to be altered into a form that explored our generation from a different perspective. That is how the runaways should have been created.

There is no problem with the fact that it recreates the images of the 70’s. Actually I love when movies do that. But, the movie takes itself too far by making the film way too much of an inside story to people who grew up during this era. This makes it almost impossible for people like me, who did not grow up in the 70’s, to make any sort of connection to the characters.

Even in these circumstances, the lead actresses still manage to give pretty decent performances, especially Kristen Stewart in a role that she seems made for. She must have really prepared for the role, because you really would have believed she was from the movie’s era. Still, this is also a problem because, like the rest of the film, we feel distanced from the character. I wouldn’t blame Kristen Stewart though. That problem leads back to the film as a whole. She simply played the character the way the movie called for. In other words, her performance was good but it fit in with the movie too well. Make sense?

Perhaps if you were around when the Runaways first appeared, then you will be able to connect with the film. I just wonder the film could have been if it spoke to every generation.