The series is godawful, overrated, dull, and incredibly unfunny. Only in a TV landscape dominated by Green Acres and Gilligan's Island could it be considered innovative.

Their music though, includes some real classics, and hold up nearly as well as early Beatles. This film was their attempt to destroy to the manufactured image the network built for them.

It is anarchic, subversive, caustic, mind blowing, and savage in relentlessly attacking commercialism, suburban conformity, Hollywood, and half a dozen other targets. It holds up far better than fluff from that time like Yellow Submarine.

Even the Who's Tommy can't compare for angry tone and searing narrative, desconstructing the usual film cliches. Well worth seeing, for anyone who doesn't demand films always follow the usual predictable pattern.

You would really need to remember the Monkees and have a clear understanding as to where and how they fitted into the second half of the 1960s in order to fully appreciate this movie.

There is no plot as such. Basically, it's a crazy, mixed up pastiche of various, unrelated sequences. But, it IS interesting AND entertaining in its own peculiar way once you get onto its wavelength. In short, it was a classic, cleverly conceived and well crafted example of late '60s experimental cinema. It contains some good songs, some ultra-groovy cinematography and plenty of other worthwhile ideas in terms of film technique.

I give it 8 out of 10 for several reasons. First, it took a lot of courage to make such an unorthodox movie in the commercial mainstream where both its stars and its producers were firmly ensconced at the time (whether they liked it or not). It seems that almost everyone who was associated with the project (with the exception of Columbia who paid for it) knew that it was probably not going to be a big money maker. Their reasons for wanting to do it were as unorthodox as the film itself. Secondly, it was, for the most part, a creative success. And, finally, as already mentioned, it is, unquestionably, a classic of the genre and, as such, it is now historically important.

Unfortunately, "Head" came too late in the Monkees career. But, there again, they wouldn't have been allowed to make it earlier on because it was essentially a very pointed and cynical satire of their own image.

Clearly, the members of the group knew, only too well, that the whole Monkeemania thing had pretty well run its course when they started work on this movie. In a way, it was to be their swan song and they were determined to let it all hang out. They were tired of being treated like mere pawns in the high powered corporate game in which they had been manipulated and exploited over the preceding few years. In short, they "wanted out" and they were going to say a few things before they left.

History, however, has vindicated the band. Let the critics be damned. The Monkees, left behind some of the best, most polished and successful pop records of the decade. Yes, they had plenty of help. But at the end of the day, THEY stood in front of the studio mikes, THEY fronted the movie and TV cameras and THEY did the concerts. They were fun and just a little bit crazy. But, unlike some of their contemporaries, they were never threatening. You could safely introduce a Monkey to your elderly aunt.

"Head" probably borrows a bit too heavily from the Beatles "Hard Day's Night" but it's still worth another look for those who were around at the time or for younger retro fans who can appreciate its significance.

Enjoy!

I was born in the mid-1960s, so much of the decade is a blur to me. Sure, I remember some of the big events of the late 60s, but most of it just a very distant blur. This lack of connection to the decade is probably some of the reason I hated this film so much, as I have no doubt that older reviewers will love this LSD-like stroll down memory lane. Unfortunately, the prospect of watching a free-flowing stream of consciousness film that provides almost no laughs does NOT excite me. Perhaps if I'd been under the influence of hallucinogens during film I would have enjoyed it.

As far as trying to explain the plot, there really is no point as the four-some wander from disconnected scene to disconnected scene. This style of film COULD have worked--after all, the "Monty Python" TV series was wonderful and consisted of many disparate scenes strung together very tangentially. But, the Python show was funny--having many brilliant and insightful skits. Here, the Monkees just wander about and do nothing--as if the audience would be so thrilled by seeing them that they really didn't need to act, sing memorable songs or make us laugh. I really think they assumed the drugs the intended audience was on to do the trick! Well, apparently they were wrong, as the film was a complete financial disaster. Oddly, while I thoroughly hated this film and felt in watching it I wasted a part of my life, the film is seen as shear brilliance by many. The Leonard Maltin Guide gave it three stars and many on IMDb gave it scores of 10. No doubt these are mostly 60s hippies who adore this self-indulgent pile of...well, you fill in the blank.

By the way, as a public service, I'm going to summarize all the interesting portions of HEAD. Here goes....well, the guys get sucked up into a giant vacuum cleaner and,...um....Victor Mature stomps about like the 50 foot woman trying to stomp on the foursome. And,...that's really it. There. Now that I've given you the BEST bits from the film you can skip the rest and do yourself a favor.

YECCCH!!