There are too many perspectives to write this review from: psychological, feminist, and/or artistic/nostalgic. I will give a brief description of the first two perspectives, but to keep it positive, I will write the full review from an artistic/nostalgic perspective.
If from a psychological perspective: there are some serious dysfunctional/abnormal behaviors, and mental disorders showcased. Because of my psychology background, I hereby order the family into some intensive family, marriage, and individual counseling. Psychoanalyst Erik Erikson would say that the Kid did not properly go through the stages of development. The Kid is a man-child that throws tantrums through song and pelvic thrusts.
Despite what seems like a negative review, I have decided to write the review based on artistry and nostalgia. My review is more about the soundtrack and how it time-capsuled Prince and my nostalgia. The movie was nostalgic because I remember the songs and what was going on in my life as a kid. The movie was a time capsule for my joy and dysfunction as a child. The movie is definitely a musical/drama, and highly emotive. The Kid seemed to have a musical tantrum throughout the movie. I will describe musical tantrums in chronological order, by song. The first of many outbursts is when Prince sees his new girlfriend dining with musical nemesis, Morris. Prince sings the song Beautiful Ones. The lyrics are:
What’s it gonna be?
Oh baby, baby, baby
Is it him or is it me?”
Prince screams out the lyrics with passion at Apollonia. He is begging for her attention by keeping eye contact with her during the entire song.
One of the main features of our Valentine’s event is a sexy movie. Purple Rain partially delivers that. The next intense scene takes place to the song titled God. I’m going to go out on a limb and say I don’t think God would have appreciated this. The song starts off with a woman moaning, then goes into an instrumental. I would say that this sex scene called for a song like Do Me Baby, not God! The first and only sex scene takes place in the Kid’s bedroom. Prince swings Apollonia’s leg across her, and flips her into a position not facing him (some call it doggy style). He then lifts her body up and starts kissing her neck, while rubbing down the front of her body. This scene is rather graphic. I watched it three times before I was able to close my mouth. Prince stroked Apollonia through her panties and underneath them. HOT DAMN! (I didn’t remember that as a kid). This scene is erotic, sensual, and orgasm inspiring. The acting in this movie is so bad that you know this scene was real. I felt like I was watching a porno.
The last performance in Purple Rain is Baby I’m a Star. My response… you sure and the fuck are, but not because of this movie. It’s because you are one of the greatest, sexiest, most talented dancers, songwriters, performers, and musicians of all time. The song Baby I’m a Star wraps up the drama after the Kid’s father shoots himself. This song is performed while we get a glimpse of how the Kid is moving forward with his life. Prince finally sings Lisa and Wendy’s song (which is a hit), he gets Apollonia back (even though he needs domestic violence classes), and he starts using his father’s old compositions (which are noteworthy).
Don’t watch this movie for the acting; watch it to see Prince perform his famous dance across the stage, while licking his fingers, screaming, and rubbing his crotch. If that’s not enough reason, watch it for the live performances of a great album!