I wanted very much to love this film, but I couldn't get past simply liking it. Having been a 50's teenager, I was witness to the events that took place at the very beginning of the Rock and Roll phenomenon. At points, however, the film becomes more than a bit pretentious in it's projection of the people and times. But more important,the key problem I have is with it's far too casual portrayal of the man who virtually started it all; namely disc jockey, Allen Freed. To me, Tim MacIntire was the wrong actor to portray Freed. I don't fault his acting, only his loose characterization of a very complex individual. Still in all, I enjoyed the film and would recommend it, especially to those not so fortunate to have been there at the beginning. In time however, a better more detailed film should be made about Allen Freed, the man who almost single-handly brought about this most important musical revolution and who, in the end, was destroyed for his efforts.
Review of American Hot Wax
