Alice's Restaurant
Alice's Restaurant

Movie spotlight

Alice's Restaurant

1969
Movie
111 min
English

After getting kicked out of college, Arlo decides to visit his friend Alice for Thanksgiving dinner. After dinner is over, Arlo volunteers to take the trash to the dump but finds it closed for the holiday, so he dumps the trash in the bottom of a ravine. This act of littering gets him arrested and sends him on a bizarre journey.

Insights

IMDb6.6/10
Rotten Tomatoes67%
Google Users79%
Director: Arthur PennGenres: Comedy, Drama, Music

Plot Summary

Based on Arlo Guthrie's song of the same name, the film follows Arlo as he spends Thanksgiving with his girlfriend and her family, leading to a series of misadventures that culminate in an unconventional draft board examination. The narrative weaves together musical performances with Arlo's surreal and often humorous encounters with authority figures and quirky characters.

Critical Reception

Alice's Restaurant received generally positive reviews, with critics praising its unique blend of comedy, music, and social commentary. Audiences appreciated its counter-culture vibe and Arlo Guthrie's authentic performance, though some found its episodic nature and unconventional storytelling to be a bit rambling.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its authentic portrayal of the counter-culture and Arlo Guthrie's engaging performance.

  • Appreciated for its unique blend of music, comedy, and anti-establishment sentiment.

  • Noted for its unconventional narrative structure and episodic feel.

Google audience: Audiences generally enjoyed the film's laid-back, musical vibe and its satirical take on authority. Many found Arlo Guthrie's performance charming and relatable, though some felt the plot could be more cohesive.

Fun Fact

The film is considered a seminal work of the counter-culture movement of the 1960s and is still screened at film festivals and college campuses today.

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TMDB Reviews

1 reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

Having been unable to convince the draft that some hereditary health condition should exempt him from army service, Argo Guthrie decides to hitch his way to an old church being re-purposed by “Ray” (James Broderick) and “Alice” (Patricia Qu...