Customer Reviews

Who Shot Pat?

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3 star:		(1)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

Three stars is a bit generous for this film as far as any finer qualities go. It's low-budget, with second- and third-tier acting, writing and, well, pretty much everything. But it's well intentioned, sweet, and does have Bullock in a very early, pre-fame role. The first time I saw it I hated it, and wrote a harsh review of it here, but coming at it again (more or less accidentally) with very low expectations allowed its better points, such as they are, to come forward.

This is basically a coming-of-age nostalgia piece, predominantly comedic in tone. A group of guys at a late 1950s Brooklyn technical high school fight, talk about fighting, get into trouble, have some not-quite-Mr.-Chips moments, a talent show, and fight. There is some angst connected with the fighting, and a bit of race friction, though the only gang activity is among whites. There's also the mystery of who shot Pat, which is resolved before the last reel, and isn't central. The humor isn't brilliant, but it's less insulting to the mind than a good deal of movie humor.

The female roles are secondary. The main character has a rather implausible romance with Sandra Bullock's character, a Sarah Lawrence College student from the rich side of the tracks, who is oddly willing. Bullock has enough screen time, and brief romantic moments, to make this worth seeking out for big fans or the curious, but don't expect a major role, great acting, or a very full range of her trademark expressions.

The music is a weird mix of 50s songs and sparely used cheesy, cheap 70s-sounding film scoring, with a 70s-ish romantic duet. Odd, since the film came out in 1989. There's some swearing (including the f-word) and sexual humor. Bullock has a gratuitous, brief, and not very revealing nude scene that will add to the attraction for some.

The version I have is part of a double feature from Disc Plaza/Cascadia. The DVD transfer is OK for the price, which is to say a little soft, somewhat pixelly when the camera moves, good color, full screen. The Disk Plaza/Cascadia version was also available by itself. It's 105 minutes, not the 90 minutes reported for the CineVu release or the 102 listed for the Platinum Disc release. It cuts off the last few seconds of the song that runs over the credits. More reviews at the links. The US title varies: Who Shot Pat?, Who Shot Patakango?