Say what you want about the Osmonds, this is a very strong, loving, honorable family. I enjoyed this program very much. There is not a lot of families that could withstand the public scrutiny they had to go through. Even with some of the problems they had, they all stuck together. They should be very proud of themselves.
14 Reviews
Since I like the Osmonds this movie was a decent tribute to the family
Kevindenise227 June 2006
Since I like the Osmonds this movie was a decent tribute to the family of Bubble Gum. Although critics see it as a typical piece of sanitized drama, I liked the honest approach of the jealousies, quarrels, insecurities, and control issues that plagued the boys, as well as the Brother Sister duo. There was a very poignant scene when Wayne sits with Merrill on the floor and laments, "We were making history. If we had stayed with it. If we had just kept going, I know it. That the worst part... could have, but didn't." The movie gives a peek into the inner turmoil of the family. Merrill's frustration over the bubble gum sound, Donny's early rise, and feeling his brother's resentment. Marie's image insecurities, and Daddy Osmonds over controlling hold on the boy's careers. It could have been done with a little more realism, but at least it avoids the over dramatized scenarios and scandals about famous people. I would have liked a little more music, and a little less hype about the the Mormon Missions. That part was obscure for the audience at large. But you don't mind any of that if you like the Osmonds.
Portrait Of An American Success Story
bob wolf5 March 2001
Sprinkled with a fine soundtrack and some very good acting, 'Inside The Osmonds' is a bio-pic that documents the meteoric rise and subsequent fiscal downfall of the Osmond family.
The story's main focus is on the family as they attempt to maintain their popularity while staying committed to each other throughout the turbulent seventies and early eighties.
Each family member is given time to develop, but the film focuses mainly on Donny and Marie. Especially, Donny (Patrick Levis) as he must endure his forced transition from praised musician to a veritable laughing stock on his daily variety show.
Many things are touched upon throughout the film, including the family's devotion to religion and Marie's weight problem which is merely glanced but not truly elaborated upon. One element that was allowed to flourish was the family's manipulation at the hands of television and recording executives.
The family remains consistently close until final scene when they lose all of their savings. Unlike other movies where this might have been a huge tragedy, in this film, the impact is sort of anti-climactic. They haven't really lost anything, they still have each other and to them, at least, that is truly all that matters.
Look for fine performances by Bruce McGill, as the over-protective but loving father George, and Veronica Cartwright, as the comforting Olive. The film will leave a sweet taste in your mouth, especially the final frame where the real Osmonds take center stage, where they belong, singing 'He aint' heavy, He's my brother'. Look for this one!
The story's main focus is on the family as they attempt to maintain their popularity while staying committed to each other throughout the turbulent seventies and early eighties.
Each family member is given time to develop, but the film focuses mainly on Donny and Marie. Especially, Donny (Patrick Levis) as he must endure his forced transition from praised musician to a veritable laughing stock on his daily variety show.
Many things are touched upon throughout the film, including the family's devotion to religion and Marie's weight problem which is merely glanced but not truly elaborated upon. One element that was allowed to flourish was the family's manipulation at the hands of television and recording executives.
The family remains consistently close until final scene when they lose all of their savings. Unlike other movies where this might have been a huge tragedy, in this film, the impact is sort of anti-climactic. They haven't really lost anything, they still have each other and to them, at least, that is truly all that matters.
Look for fine performances by Bruce McGill, as the over-protective but loving father George, and Veronica Cartwright, as the comforting Olive. The film will leave a sweet taste in your mouth, especially the final frame where the real Osmonds take center stage, where they belong, singing 'He aint' heavy, He's my brother'. Look for this one!
I'm embarrassed to admit I watched it...
GillianS5 February 2001
...but honestly, it does have high entertainment value. If not for the sickeningly sweet, poorly written story and truly disgusting acting, then only for the sheer hilarity of the 70's fashion and ridiculous dialogue. It was amazing to me how everything in the Osmond family seemed to magically work itself out, including the impossibly high amount of harbored resentment between the siblings which seemed to vanish into thin air at the end of the movie. Still I laughed very hard at the bellbottoms with playing cards on them and the sequined lobster costumes, so all was not lost on the Osmonds...
What wig factory did they raid?
Patrick-966 February 2001
The minute I read that the Osmond family approved of the final script, I knew I was going to hate this production. The actors we saddled with a rambling script that was totally unconvincing. Their costumes, especially the wigs, were laughable.
Actress Veronica Cartwright, who played Olive Osmond (the mother) wore a pair of contact lenses that made her look like a half-baked Vampira. Her dramatic scenes were anything but.
Terrible movie. BOMB.
Actress Veronica Cartwright, who played Olive Osmond (the mother) wore a pair of contact lenses that made her look like a half-baked Vampira. Her dramatic scenes were anything but.
Terrible movie. BOMB.
Wonderful movie!
toddmisthebest31 October 2001
I just loved this movie! Not just because I am an Osmond fan, but because it's simply a nice movie to see. It's good to see a movie where, yes fame and fortune can go to ones head and spin it around a bit, but it's comforting to see that in the end, to the Osmonds, it always was, is, and will be "family, faith, career in that order." Wonderful acting by all! If you're like me, you may need a couple of hankies for the end of the movie. Don't fear. They will be tears of joy! :-)
This was Great! Loved the Osmonds
punkin_flats26 July 2008
I missed part of the start of Donnie and Maries career because I was overseas in the military in the mid Seventies. But this movie catches you up easily on parts you may have missed. I was always curious about how they lost their money in building the recording studio back in their home state. This movie cleared it up and more. I have read Donnie's autobiography and also Maries. Donnie did not give monetary statistics on how they came close to losing everything. Just that the family threw all their money into one hat and came up losing. This was really heartbreaking to me. The books were very eye opening and such good reading. It shows you how a close, large, and religious family achieved so much with sort of limited resources and a lot of pluck and talent. They would not be where they were today without the father being a guiding hand. Donnie told in his book how the family kept their morals while traveling around the world and in sometimes questionable surroundings (Las Vegas for example). Before anyone knocks this family or this movie they should read the books and examine their own life. The family reached the peak of entertainment success and preserved their families traditions at the same time. I say Bravo to the Osmonds and I wish there were more families that could entertain us all like this!
I'm a little bit country...
billymac7212 February 2001
Ok, I agree that this script had a Leave It To Beaver complex when it came to working out character's problems in a timely, neat manner. But hey, for those who remember the 1970s with fondness (yes, there are a few of us!), this was a pretty fun look back. Sure, the Osmonds were a pretty saccharine bunch, but they did have a few decent, rocking tunes early on (who knew the boys really longed to be the next Led-Zeppelin?). The movie does a great job in recreating their stage act, and the outfits are a total gas (the wigs and sideburns fare poorly closeup, but are sufficient in long shots). Some aspects of this story, such as their religious convictions and sibling rivalry, only got surface deep, but this was not intended to be the next Citizen Kane. Lighten up! I can't imagine any fan of the Osmonds (and there were millions!) being disappointed in this movie. By the way, did anyone notice that the fellow playing the father is D-Day from Animal House?!
worth seeing.
Jerseyporter30 December 2006
Warning: Spoilers
I am just a little too young to remember the Osmonds when there were at the height of their fame - it was more a case of being vaguely aware of their existence at the time, although I knew a couple of their more famous songs. This bio-pic was a wonderful way to fill in the gaps (albeit, I suspect with a little bit of creative licence) and reawakened in me an interest in their music. I defy anyone not to be moved (I freely admit to the tears starting to flow) at the end of the film when the actors playing the Osmonds gesture to the back of the stage and there is a seamless transition to footage of the real-life Osmonds performing in 2001. To have the whole family present on the stage truly sums up what a tremendous family unit they have been over the years.
inside the osmonds
fountain703 November 2006
I have Inside The Osmonds., and i thoroughly enjoyed it. It's great they are still performing, and have not once lost the talent they started with.
I have been to see them a couple of times now, (time permitting)and have also seen Donny several times. I'm a big fan, and probably always will be. Keep it up lads.
Watching the film, showed the fans some insight to their lives, which was an eye opener, as sometimes you only see the stardom side. I have met Donny and Merrill, and have found them very sincere, and always receive their fans with a genuine nature.
I have been to see them a couple of times now, (time permitting)and have also seen Donny several times. I'm a big fan, and probably always will be. Keep it up lads.
Watching the film, showed the fans some insight to their lives, which was an eye opener, as sometimes you only see the stardom side. I have met Donny and Merrill, and have found them very sincere, and always receive their fans with a genuine nature.
A Chopped-Up Miniseries
Schlockmeister30 March 2001
This made-for-TV movie has the look of a mini-series that was perhaps 2-3 nights long originally but at the last minute was only given one night by the networks. So the editors worked furiously chopping it all down to one night. It really shows. This movie will only work for you if you are an Osmond fan and know much about the biographical details of their lives. If you don't know much about the family, prepare to be lost frequently. The brothers look so similar in this movie that it is too easy to get them mixed up. The age progression that suddenly takes place with no word of explanation does not help either, as soon as you have figured out who everyone is, the people playing them are switched on you. This is the story of some Mormon boys who merely wanted to be "the next Led Zeppelin" ( I'm serious! ) and their fathers attempts to keep them true to their Mormon faith and ideals, all the while he is squandering their hard earned money away. That this film was produced by Jimmy Osmond is rather surprising as the Osmonds have always tended to keep hush-hush about anything less than a perfect family image. I thought that father George must have died, which would explain this movie's critical tone in regards to him, but no, at the end, he is trotted out on stage with the family. See this as a second feature with an earlier Osmond produced film called "Side By Side: The True Story Of The Osmond Family", and you will have a 4 hour epic story of the Osmond family...if you want that.
I fell in love with this movie!
soul_sista17231 December 2005
I just saw this movie on MuchMore Music about a day ago and they have aired it about 3 times in 2 days and I've seen each one thats how much I love it. I never thought I could like music from back then because normally I'm telling my grandparents to put away the old stuff. I think the actors did a great job portraying each character. Now finding out that they filmed some of it in my home town is even more overwhelming and I wish I would have know about it then to have considered a part of an extra. If someone thinks this movie is horrible you've got to learn about your music history because these guys were icons. Also learn about your movie critic skills as well. By the way if you think I'm some 30 year old writing this guess again I'm 15. I know a good movie when I see one.
An unusually good television biopic
hwlrmnky5 February 2001
This television movie was very well-made, particularly with regard to dialogue, casting, and American social history. I used to watch the Donny and Marie show with equal parts revulsion and admiration; while the movie manages to be both realistic and respectful of the Osmonds at the same time, it nevertheless explores the range of emotions the performing Osmonds invoked in the various audience demographics in a frank manner. The movie also contains excellent dramatic work on the part of the actors, while supplying a moving look at the compromises made and natural, personal conflict encountered by a mid-20th century American show-business family. One does not have to enjoy the music with which the Osmonds achieved commercial success to like this movie.
The Osmonds are okay
kay-11227 December 2010
I have followed the Osmonds through the seventies with interest and have see this film a number of times. Yes the wigs are abysmal and the acting and costumes along with the dialog are not the best but there is a message in this film. If it wasn't for their faith the turmoils that the Osmonds faced during their growing years would have taken the family apart. The script is over sweet at times but the scene between Wayne and Merrill was moving and emotional which conveyed just how mixed up their decisions at times were. I agreed with Wayne in the movies, the Osmonds had it all and could have gone on for years doing the rock music they so wanted to but the Donny and Marie show destroyed any hopes of that happening. I hated the Donny and Marie show, it was so crass and so not funny it was gut wrenching and yes the brothers were behind the scenes but they didn't want to be there. Jimmy Osmond was quite brave in agreeing to the final draft as it did sock one or two punches. I think the hostilities and jealousy was only touched on briefly. Congrats to all. It may have been rough around the edges but they came through and are still performing today which is a triumph in itself.
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