User Reviews

Martin Mull and Tuesday Weld prove to be a terrific comedic match as a married couple in fad-crazy Northern California who decide to separate yet can't seem to get into the swinging lifestyles of their too-groovy friends. Colorful supporting performances, lots of fast, brash talk, bitchy humor and funny set-pieces, yet "Serial" works only intermittently. It's structured like a naughty TV-sitcom, with wacky episodes, some of which hit and several which don't (the daughter's involvement with a religious cult was maybe good for one or two scenes, not an entire reel). Still, it's a pleasure watching Mull and Weld work so easily together, and theirs is a believable union which holds the morass together. A fitfully fun time. **1/2 from ****

A nifty helping of the hip, groovy, state-of-the-art New Age fads, trends and lifestyles that germinated in the late '60s and early '70s are poked heap big fun at in this Marin-located comedy from 1980 when they were really coming of age.

Health food, New Age philosophy, yoga, Tantric sex, ridiculously understanding shrinks and ditzy ministers, orgies, religious cults, hip sexual affairs are all given their moments in the sun - and the resulting liver and whey shake is a hoot...at least to me.

The nudity quotient, while nice could have been, well, nicer. But what a bevy of cool babes here, most of whom have some sort of nudes scene, albeit brief! The cast includes such faves as Tuesday Weld, Pam Bellwood, Sally Kellerman andlesser known but equally babacious talents as Patch Mackenzie and Ann Weldon.

Martin Mull and Bill Macy try to figure it all while Tommy Smothers and Christopher Lee, in a couple examples of brilliantly offbeat casing add to this quiche.

I really liked this offbeat little time capsule gem.

Satire on late 70s views of sex, relationships and marriage focusing on a bunch of couples in California. Good cast and some good acting (Martin Mull is hilarious and Christopher Lee is surprisingly good at comedy) but not a good movie. The script is only so-so...there are scattered laughs but most of the jokes are unfunny and fall with a thud. Also if you don't have a good knowledge of the late 70s or lived through it (like me), most of the jokes won't make sense. Also there's evidence of a LOT of pre-release cutting--the film is only 86 minutes, many scenes end abruptly, certain things are mentioned that we're not aware of and (for some reason) a gay motorcycle gang is thrown in...and then nothing is done with them! Plays like an R-rated sitcom. Also contains some mild homophobia. Almost worth seeing for the cast...ALMOST!

This is an underrated classic that doesn't get near the credit it deserves. We recommend it to friends and they add it to all-time favorite lists every time. Hilarious spoofs on California lifestyles of the seventies that are still funny today. This movie should be made on DVD for all the many fans waiting for it!! Who can I call?? Martin Mull gives his perfect, sarcastic every-man, Sally Kellerman is hilarious especially in her wedding vows (You-ness, me-ness, we-ness, us-ness) to which Mull whispers to Tuesday Weld, "Sickness." Bill Macy is the greatest mid-life crisis ever put on film and Tommy Smothers as Spike, the Preacher is one of the funniest characters he has ever done.

The funny thing about this film is that it is a fitting tribute to the end of the '60's mentality, the return of the U.S. to supremacy, end of hyper-inflation, and the consequences of sexual promiscuity leading to the consequence of AIDS.

Jimmy Carter's reign as incompetent President was coming to a crashing end and Ronald Reagan would soon lead the nation to a great new patriotism.

"Serial" has a bunch of good laughs at the expense of the kooks in Marin County (of which I live 45 minutes away). Yes, these people are much like the parody in the film. I couldn't help but laugh at the situations and "Marin County" perspective on solutions.

"Serial" IS the Seventies!!! With the exception of Disco (and I'm not complaining) this movie captures all the angst, sexual pseudo-liberation, and self-help movements we experienced in the 1970s.

Martin Mull and Tuesday Weld made a perfect Harvey and Kate Holroyd, a "typical" Marin County couple. They make their way through a sea of 1970s kitsch, complete with sexual experimentation and cults. Their teenage daughter Joanie also tries everything, eventually joining "The Sunnies," a religious cult.

The movie abounds with scenes of the 1970s. For example, in Kate's women's conscious-raising group, the wives invite the African-American maid to join them. When they ask her about the sex in her marriage, her husband's prowess doesn't disappoint them. When they ask her about Black men's sexuality in general, she answers "I wouldn't know. I've never been to bed with anyone but Wong." Reverend Spike (Tommy Smothers) makes religion hip at all occasions.

Kate and Harvey both learn the hard way that sex is not the euphoria as overhyped in the 1970s. They separate for a while, and Harvey has an affair with an 18-year old cashier from the supermarket. They have so much sex that Harvey gets worn out. Kate has a very unsatisfying affair. She also tries to start something with a young South American man who turns out to be gay and living with her hairdresser, who nearly uses his scissors on her in jealousy. Kate also tries est, a popular cult of the time. I got a special laugh from the est references, as I worked with a few estholes (that's what they call themselves) who tried to recruit me. Kate and Harvey manage to retrieve Joanie from the Sunnies and they get back together, giving the film its obligatory happy ending.

I also highly recommend the book, "The Serial" by Cyra McFadden.. It may not still be in print these days, but if you can get a hold of it, you won't stop laughing. I had the opportunity to read the book before I saw the movie and I got a lot more of the subtleties. There were a few elements, like the Skulls and Rev. Spike, that the film added. I believe the book was originally written in installments (hence the name "Serial") in Marin County.

If you ever get the chance to see the movie or read the book, do it! A great comedy gem!

"Serial" is a bright, upbeat comedy that does an excellent job of satirizing some of the tropes of sunny southern California of the period, focusing on one fad-crazed bunch in particular. The only "normal" one in the group is the flustered Harvey Holroyd (a likeable Martin Mull, in his first starring role), who has to navigate his way among all these trendy "types" (played by - among others - Sally Kellerman, Peter Bonerz, Nita Talbot, Pamela Bellwood, Barbara Rhoades, and the ever-adorable Tuesday Weld, who plays Harvey's wife Kate).

Based on a novel by Cyra McFadden, and scripted by TV veterans Rich Eustis & Michael Elias, "Serial" offers on-target jabs at its subjects without ever being particularly mean-spirited. It's hard to resist, especially with such a talented cast playing these characters. Also putting in appearances are Bill Macy, Tom Smothers, Stacey Nelkin, Clark Brandon, Robin Sherwood, Mark L. Taylor, Rosanna DeSoto, Peter Horton, and Scott Paulin. My personal favorite cast member was the great Sir Christopher Lee; although his role is relatively minor, it's also one of the unlikeliest of his career, and it's nice to see him cast against type (and equally interesting to see him playing an American).

The surefooted direction is by Bill Persky, the wonderful cinematography by Rexford L. Metz. A definite highlight is the priceless orgy scene, although the finale is lively and a real hoot as well.

This has been overlooked for a long time, so people looking for Hollywood diamonds in the rough are advised to check it out.

Seven out of 10.

Cyra McFadden's novel was deliciously tongue-in-cheek look at the environment of her city, San Francisco. Not as over-the-top as Armistead Maupin's books, but still very humorous and accurate. This is neither humorous nor accurate. It's just mean-spirited and ham-fisted. Bad script / bad cinematography / bad performances / bad direction. It's like a LOVE American STYLE sketch that just won't end. And the entire tone of the film is just hate-spewing at anything that isn't white bread and Father Knows Best. It's also got some really homophobic language and attitudes that were already cultural dinosaur when this movie was made, and now are just appalling.

I was always curious about this film. I had always figured that it would be a throwaway heavy-handed hit-and-miss increasingly dated piece about the 70s. Having spent the past 20 years in the SF Bay area, and "encountered" much of the new age mentality that still thrives there, I knew I'd have to at least give it a shot.

Well, Serial turned out to be a treat -- a brilliant, unexpected satire. It had me smiling or laughing from beginning to end, a few "pansy" comments notwithstanding. Sure, the pre-AIDS sexual situations are exaggerated and from another time. But nearly every target -- self-actualization, meditation, medication, cult groups, fad therapy, relationships, etc. -- is hit. Martin Mull plays the central character in the midst of all the mumbo jumbo with perfect subtlety.

Maybe some of the low votes come from people who think that people couldn't possibly talk and act the way these characters do. Well, they did and still do.

Never hearing of this one I can only imagine it came and left the theaters in a hurry back in it's day. I gave it a chance and well...I liked it.

A batch of married people all are going through a mid life crisis. One wants understanding. All the men complain about the lack of sex and all this combined with a 15 year old daughter joining a cult. Throw all that in and you better watch carefully cause they stuff a lot in in this little film.

I think it's straw-camel-back-breaker is the cast. Their all good actors but not good enough to carry a film or make it good. Tuesday Weld and Martin Mull do just fine as a couple who aren't happy but it's the craziness of the script that makes these actors not fit. There's just too much going on in this for anyone to take it all in. To take your mind off of it they thrown in a lot of bra-less females to divert your attention. And there are some beautiful ones to boot.

What it comes down to is couples go through this in their lives. Bored and want different things. When they get the different things, they always go back to what's comfortable...or...normal.

I personally liked this one. I have some "cons" about it but all in all...I liked it. It's just a crazy look at a series of mid life crisis'. Life is full of those.

I must have seen Serial a half dozen times when it hit theatres. Ads were run wondering why not enough people were going to see it (hey, I was only one guy, I did my best). It should have been a monster money maker!

As others have said, this movie has fun with the Politically Correct. I thought it might have been a wake-up call (albeit a funny one) about the excesses of muddled thought and trend-of-the week morality, but it was sadly just a cataloging of PC in its infancy. Political Correctness has actually grown to be just as wacky (and all too prevalent) as Serial painted it. That said, don't think you've seen it all and heard it all from the PC crowd because so well made is Serial that it still keeps its edge

Serial also has some of the most shocking uses of profanity I've ever heard (and I loathe profanity), but is done in such a new way (still) that it's amazingly funny. Speaking of new, so far ahead of its time was Serial that it introduced gags that have since been done to death. Tired of "Born to Be Wild" used as a joke instead of a rebel anthem. The joke started here (for gay bikers, no less).

So when the PC crowd gets you down, grab Serial, sit down with your other of the moment (you-ness, me-ness, us-ness, we-ness) and enjoy.

They managed to assemble a really good cast for this attempted satire of the late 70's in California, and to an extent they succeeded, though the satire wasn't biting or funny enough. A wasted chance.

This is in my top ten of all time favourite films.

Harvey Holroyd can't understand what's happening around him. His wife has started to raise her consciousness, his daughter is concerned about her rights, his best friend who has a preoccupation with the Johnny Carson show is bombed out on pills and he's been a loser for 5 years!

I can sum this fantastic film up in two quotes from it: "Reality is watching a pair of self proclaimed assholes getting pair-bonded by a priest from the gong show". "Are they hell's angels?" "No they're gay. On weekdays they're regular guys with regular jobs but at weekends they dress up like hell's angels and listen to a lot of Judy Garland record". Priceless!

Martin Mull is the sane man in the insane society of Marin County CA. If you can find it, watch it. It may be 20+ years old but holds up well, like a good sitcom the jokes are about life not current events and that makes them timeless. Also the slightly off-center society of Marin lives on.

This movie perfectly reflects the transition from the carefree 1970s to the conservative 80s. Hippy-dippy trends meet yuppie realism. Cults, drugs, orgies, vegetarianism, pop psychiatry, hot tubs and disco are targets of the jokes. The result is pretty funny but may seem a little dated. A deadpan Martin Mull is great in the lead and the supporting bits by Topmmy Smothers, Christopher Lee, Sally Kellerman and Bill Macy are good too. But what's up with that lame theme song at the end? Tons of nudity...including Kellerman and Tuesday Weld! In any event, the film is definitely a flashback for many, and might be a good history lesson for younger viewers.

This is a true cult classic that should not be missed. Martin Mull is brilliant, probably his best gig ever. Tommy Smothers is pure genius as the cosmic priest. The script is hilarious, not just in its satire but is quite brilliant as pure comedy. Favourite line: Martin Mull (Holroyd) visits the alternative, counter-culture house-family of wife Tuesday Weld (!) who has gone out on her own to find her true self, moving in with this small suburban communal group. Holroyd is introduced to one of Tuesday Weld's roommates, a woman who calls herself "Woman". Holroyd: "How do you get your mail?" Watchable again and again but for the fact that these bloody VHS tapes wear out so fast. Now into my second copy. When is the DVD coming? Please before the north pole melts!

Satire can be a delicate medium. It's very easy to simply go for the straight joke and bully one's way thru the material. At times, Serial does do this, and this, combined with an overall feel of being a TV movie, is what costs it two points on my rating. However, these are minor blemishes. The Marin scene was truly mad in those days. Take my word for it, I was there. And just because the characters are archetypes doesn't mean they shouldn't be recorded, for the amusement of future generations that might otherwise be tempted to go all out for personal growth and freedom.

Seen thru the eyes of the 'relatively normal' Harvey Holroyd, the scene in Marin is freewheeling and novel, the first few times around the track. After that, the consequences start lurching into sight and people's deeper selves start emerging, hurt, confused and unmoored, just as in life. You'd think that would make Serial funny for the first 45 minutes and from then on a drag. Not in the least, particularly due to the introduction of Skull, the madcap recruiter. This element permits the pace not only to avoid maudlin regrets, but to increase the pace and the zaniness, zapping targets in all directions with merry abandon.

A winner all the way and highly recommended for anyone who wants to see Hollywood put the wringer to itself.

Those who like this film might also like 'The Player' and 'Network', which are more serious takes on trenchant satire of the New Age generations.

For those that didn't live through the 1970's, this is a great film to get a handle on that particularly stupid period of American history.

Cast is great. Film is funny as hell, especially for those that remember the decade.

Martin Mull is the great straight man for the rest of the cast. Tuesday Weld is wonderful as the massively dingy wife, and Christopher Lee is wonderful as Mull's overbearing boss.

Based on a the novel that was a send-up of Orange County, CA, this is a great film, if you can find it. I used to have it on video, and have no idea if they ever released on DVD. I doubt it, honestly.

And remember- Nunca!

This movie needs to be on DVD! It's a classic! Great sound track and it's a funny look at the Bay Area in the late 70's. The cast includes Tuesday Weld,Sally Kellerman,Bill Macy,Peter Bonerz and many other familiar faces. Martin Mull is awesome!

I've long been curious about this movie since it was released back in 1980 when I was a 12-year-old looking at the cartoonish-newspaper ad of the poster. Now that I've seen it online-I think it's hilarious! A look at the social lifestyle of the late '70s, it makes merciless fun of it through capable comic actors like Martin Mull, Peter Bonerz, Bill Macy, and Tom Smothers as a hippie reverend. And then there's horror icon Christopher Lee in a surprisingly satirical role that you just got to watch to believe! Also throw in Sally Kellerman and Tuesday Weld and, well, I'll just now say I highly recommend Serial!

"Serial" is an often uproariously funny satire lampooning the the fad-conscious lives of a group of citizens living in laid-back Marin County California in the late-70s, a small community just across the bay from San Francisco. Martin Mull plays Harvey Holroyd, an average family man growing increasingly exasperated at the craziness that seems to be surrounding him. The crazes gradually envelop his wife and daughter and his best friend. As he contends with drugs, health foods, sex orgies, new-age shrinks, religious cults and a boss who belongs to a "gay on weekends" motorcycle gang (horror vet Christopher Lee in a very amusing turn), the laughs pile up in fine fashion.

There are plenty of sharp, witty one-liners in the script by Rich Eustis & Michael Elias and TV veteran Bill Persky keeps the gags flowing nicely. Martin Mull is first-rate in his role and is surrounded by a fine supporting cast.

A thoroughly pleasant and extremely funny satire, very much a reflection of its time. Well worth searching out!

This movie is a unique and endearing effort featuring one of my favorite guys: Martin Mull. His character's frustrated efforts to find love and happiness are portrayed with the humorous insights of a genuine comedy pro in this well-written script. This film never bores and is well worth the occasional re-viewing.

One of my favorite Christopher Lee roles, and that's saying a lot, considering the breadth and number of roles he's played in his career.

I won't give away how Christopher Lee fits in to the core of the movie, but we first meet him about 30 minutes in, when he appears as a ruthless corporate headhunter to whom Martin Mull appeals for career advice and assistance.

The wonderful cast includes Tuesday Weld, Sally Kellerman, Bill Macy, Nita Talbot, and Peter Bonerz, but it's Christopher Lee who steals the show and embodies the essence of the movie. My favorite scene has a cult-follower telling Lee, "We love you," to which Lee replies, "Well, that's very easy to SAY, but are you willing to prove it?" Worth the price of admission alone.

At present, the film is still not available on DVD; you can find it on VHS and occasionally on cable, and it's worth it.