Alice Goodbody (1974)

"Alice Goodbody" (1974) is a sexploitation comedy directed by Tom Sawyer (also known as Tom Scheuer), focusing on the misadventures of a naive waitress named Alice, played by Sharon Kelly (Colleen Brennan), as she attempts to navigate her way to Hollywood stardom through a series of sexual encounters with various eccentric characters in the film industry. The film's plot centers around Alice, who works at a Hollywood diner but dreams of becoming a movie star. Her journey begins when she meets Myron Mittleman, a second assistant production manager, who offers her a role in a rock musical adaptation of "Julius Caesar." Each step up the ladder involves Alice engaging in sexual favors, leading to a mix of slapstick comedy and satirical takes on Hollywood's infamous casting couch culture. However, Alice's attempts at stardom are constantly thwarted by comic mishaps on set, including physical injuries during filming scenes. The humor is characterized by its lowbrow nature, featuring a blend of sexual innuendos, sight gags, and parody of the film industry's excesses. Sharon Kelly's performance as Alice is often highlighted for its charm and energy, bringing a light-heartedness to the film that somewhat offsets the sleazy undertones. The movie also features a range of quirky characters, each with their own peculiar sexual quirks, which serve as both a source of comedy and commentary on the predatory nature of Hollywood at the time. The film has received mixed reviews. It's often described as not laugh-out-loud funny but enjoyable for its silliness and the fact that it's more ridiculous than genuinely raunchy. Some reviews appreciate the satire and the performance by Kelly, noting her ability to make Alice likable despite the film's premise. On IMDb, it holds a rating of 4.3/10, indicating a generally poor to average reception, with user reviews pointing out the film's entertainment value lies in its exploitation aspects rather than its comedic or narrative merits. DVD Talk and similar reviews appreciate it for fans of 70s drive-in cinema, valuing its historical context within sexploitation films. The film's production values are typical of low-budget comedies of its era, with the DVD release by Code Red offering a decent transfer for its time. The music and some inside Hollywood jabs are also noted positives, with the "Julius Caesar" musical number being a particular highlight for its spoof on contemporary rock operas like "Jesus Christ Superstar." "Alice Goodbody" is not a film for everyone, particularly due to its explicit content and dated humor. However, it serves as a cultural artifact of 1970s sex comedies, offering a window into the exploitation film genre's treatment of Hollywood's darker side with a comedic lens. For those interested in the era's sexploitation films or fans of the actresses involved, it might hold some appeal, but for the general viewer, it's more of a nostalgic or curiosity-driven watch.