Customer Reviews

Great Balls of Fire!

5 star:		(46)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

As Myra Gale Lewis herself said, this story is "true as far as it goes," but does not tell the whole story. It covers the main events of Jerry Lee Lewis' life from his meeting of Myra and geting a contract with Sun Records to the birth of his son Steve Allen Lewis during the midst of his blacklisting. It leaves out a lot of the more unsavory and darker details of the lives and characters of hese two young lovers.

That having been said, it's a fun romp that follows the typical Hollywood rock & roll musical bio-pic formula: young man has a new sound, while performing someone says "we can't play that music here, these people will kill us!" He does anyway and it becomes a big hit, then scandal strikes and his career takes a tumble. There are the typical scenes of performing, watching the music charts, montages of Jerry Lee's career, screaming fans, and so forth. Several legendary incidents are receated, such as burning the piano when he has to perform before Chuck Bery and Elvis showing up at the Sun studios as he leaves for the army. This is all done at a breakneck pace, with humor and fun. Music from the period is used liberally throughout the film, adding to the mood and the humor.

Through all this is the impression the Jerry Lee is desparate for attention. He lives for the spotlight and being noticed. He is truly happy when people are going crazy over him, and gets very upset if he is not accepted as he is.

The question of the morality of a 23-year-old, twice married but only once divorced man marrying his 13-year-old 2nd cousin is not truly answered. Though it does cause the big scandal, the characters are played as so naive and in love, one can sympathize with them even as certain people may recoil.

There is a running sub-plot of Jerry Lee's relationship with his preacher cousin Jimmie Lee Swaggart. Jimmie's career as a preacher keeps him in conflict with Jerry Lee's life of rock & roll and brings out some very amusing exchanges. These really help define Jerry Lee's character. Some great lines include: "Don't thank God, just thank old Jerry Lee Lewis!"; "I am of the opinion thas such a God-given talent should be used for the glory of the talented."; "If I'm going to Hell, I'm goin' to Hell playin' the piano!" Jerry Lee may fear god, but he fears being ordinary and forgotten even more.

Dennis Quaid is a total hoot as an immature doofus with a "God given talent." Winnona Ryder makes a very convincing 13-year-old discovering love for the first time and torn between having fun and growing up (later on certain people debated whose idea it was to have Jerry Lee played as less mature than Myra). John Doe, a singer-sonwriter himself, gives a great performance worthy of a funky underground cult film as Jerry Lee's cousin/band mate/father-in-law. Trey Wilson and Stephen Tobolowsky play off well angainst each other as the Phillips brothers of Sun Records. Watch for cameos by Mojo Nixon, Steve Allen, Jimmie Vaughn, Joe Bob Briggs, Michael St. Gerard (as the most accurate young Elvis ever!), and Dave Alvin (uncredited as a guitarist in the band at the closing number).

Inaccuracies abound here. There is an extra member in Jerry Lee's band. The song "I'm on Fire" is performed on his first trip to England, when it wasn't recorded until 1962.

Don't expect much, just thrill to the music here, and you won't be disappointed.

Goodness, gracious.. Great Balls of Fire is one of the best movies I have ever seen. Based on the life of Jerry Lee Lewis, responsible for such classic oldies as (obviously) "Great Balls of Fire," and "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On," it truly keeps your eyes glued to the screen. Dennis Quaid stars as 'The Killer' himself and portrays the ups and downs of Lewis' rocky road to success quite superbly. Staying with relatives, Jerry Lee meets and quickly moves in on his thirteen year old cousin, Myra (played by Winona Ryder, who gives Quaid a run for his money with her own stunning performance), immediately after his first song plays on the radio. People automatically love the song, and so begins the story of unbelievable success, love, and scandals -- every plot twist and turn that you would expect from a soap opera -- but these events actually DID happen! Keeping that in mind throughout the movie only makes it that much better. At times quite serious and dramatic, Great Balls of Fire keeps it just light enough to be absolutely hilarious at just the right times. In addition to the quite intriguing plot, this movie is also an in-depth look into the lifestyle of the fifties and sixties, and how what we don't give as much as a second thought to these days is what made heads spin back then. A definite must-see for fans AND non-fans of Jerry Lee Lewis, as it is a very informative and extremely entertaining movie.

As far as recreating the rock and roll related events of Jerry Lee's life, this movie is tops. Dennis Quade gives 110% as the hard rocking musician. Under the instruction of the man himself, Dennis quade learns how to play all the great songs on the piano. As your watching the movie...you are actually watching Dennis play that piano. Jerry Lee was a fireball in his early days and this movie shows how crazy he really got to be. Entertaining, insightful and as rocking as you could ask for; this movie shows there IS a whole lot more to Jerry Lee Lewis than Great Balls of Fire. Seeing him rock out with Dennis Quade at the end of the movie was an added bonus...the Killer still has it!

I wasn't really interested in even seeing this movie, but I am so glad I did! I believe it is Dennis Quaid's best performance of his career, and Winona Ryder was also excellent. Believe me, this is worth seeing, even if you aren't all that interested in Jerry Lee Lewis.

I am a 15 year old who likes older time periods. I love the '50s and all of its wonderful musicians. So when I found out there was a movie about Jerry Lee Lewis I just had to see it.
I ordered the DVD and watched it and immediately fell in love. The story line is amazing. There are funny parts and there are romantic parts that made my heart melt. Jerry Lee's relationship with Myra was really sweet. The music was great. Shortly after I purchased the DVD, I also bought the movie's soundtrack.
Wonderful movie. Highly Reccomended. Dennis Quaid did a great job as Jerry Lee Lewis.

This is a fun movie and the music is fantastic. I'm not griping really because I can see why they did this: Jerry Lee Lewis's stage persona is bombastic, over-the-top and larger-than-life. That's fine. I get it. HIs on-stage persona is really just show-biz. I once met him and he's really not like that. He's really a very nice, thoughtful southern gentleman. That's the truth. Yes, to people in his band he's a demanding perfectionist (so is McCartney, big deal). But to meet him and approach him he treats everyone with respect and kindness and is nothing like his onstage character.

That said, if you like him and his music you should definitely check this out bearing in mind it's a cartoon.

I'm just glad the killer is still alive and working the ivories.

You've heard all the songs before. They are sung by the "Killer" himself. They are however newly recorded singles as described in the title of the item on Amazon. The music has the same great beat but sounds so much better. Your old favorites sung in a whole new way!!! Awesome for any Jerry Lee fan.

I thought Dennis Quaid did a great job in this movie - but I don't think I had much company, because the movie didn't do well nor do I think the sound-track did great. Being an old Jerry Lee fan, I really liked it. Note the difference in the updated version of 'Great Balls Of Fire' and the origional, both of which are included in this album. You might also listen to his duet with Dennis Quaid which shows Dennis as a very good singer indeed.

I was enjoying a quiet dinner tonight when this movie came on TV! I thought I'd watch a few minutes and get back to my typing, but NO! Jerry Lee grabbed me and wouldn't let go...just as he did back in the day.

Like one of the reviewer's grandmothers, I used to dance around the house to Jerry Lee's rock 'n roll, especially the unforgettable, lively "Great Balls of Fire." He was a riot then and he's a riot now!

I love, love, love this movie...because it's lively, fun and makes me feel good! I did feel sad for Jerry Lee and his teen bride. Even though she was young, they loved each other and my heart broke to see them misunderstood and his music banned because of his marrying her at such a young age (thirteen). The English treated them disgracefully, and I don't blame him for not apologizing...at great cost to his career.

To view the way Jerry Lee and Myra defied everyone and stuck together through thick and thin was tender, moving and rather sweet. Bittersweet moments! And even though this rock 'n roll legend was a rebel and a bit cocky, you couldn't help but love the guy...

Dennis Quaid was riotous in the role of Jerry Lee, and Winona Ryder was perfect as the very cute, adorable teen. They were both lovable (and naive in many ways). I thought I'd die laughing when she took her doll house with her as she moved from her father's home to live with her new husband. (And wait till you see Alec Baldwin carrying on as a stereotypical Baptist preacher; even though his role was rather laughable, he did a great job of acting...lol)

Kudos to this cast and the producers for a few hours of almost nonstop laughter, dished up with the bittersweet romance.

I won't forget this film for a long time. Even though certain parts were left out of "The Killer's" life, this movie managed to give the main details and give us a good concept of his life and lots of great rock 'n roll.

It's heartening to know he's still performing and as popular as in his heyday. Rock on, Jerry Lee!

Reviewed by Betty Dravis, July 2, 2010
Author of "Dream Reachers" (with Chase Von) and other books

Great Balls of Fire is one of my favorite movies of all time. The actors and the soundtrack are fantastic. I grew up in the fifties with Elvis and all the others, have a great collection of Elvis music, but I didn't realize Jerry Lee Lewis because of circumstances, and perhaps, because he didn't quite have the charisma of Elvis, was really quite talented and outrageous--which I love--rebel against a pseudo-traditional view and do your own music and live your life as you want. One of my favorite parts is when Dennis/Jerry Lee tells his cousin, preacher Jimmy Swaggert, Alec Baldwin playing Swaggert, if he's goin' to hell, he's goin' there playin' piano, his god-given talent. I rarely watch films more than once, but I own this one and whenever I need an uplift, I watch it again. It's esp. good the filmmaker/producer/director used Jerry Lee Lewis' own voice and music. Quaid, a brilliant actor, gives this role just the right combination of tongue-in-cheek humor and depiction of the wild man.