Listen to Me Review

Listen to Me
A college debating team learn about friendship, love, dreams, family and the world.

by Tom Tunney |
Published on
Release Date:

01 Jan 1989

Running Time:

107 minutes

Certificate:

15

Original Title:

Listen to Me

Ladies and Gentleman, this is an astonishingly bad celebration of American youth.

The context is the Kenmont College Debating Society and the subjects are its four leading lights: country boy Kirk Cameron, son of a senator Tim Quill, brainy girl with a secret past Jami Gertz and big-hearted girl with a gimpy leg ("I'll walk again normally some day!") Amanda Peterson. Debating such issues as capital punishment and abortion under the skillful eye of their dedicated coach Roy Scheider, the not-so-fab four get fired up for a big TV contest, smile a lot, take themselves too seriously and generally attempt to be young sensitive souls on the brink of Great Things.

Perhaps the most stupefying feature of this slice of prime schlock is the sheer volume of conceit on display from a bunch of characters who look like they're in serious training for future jobs as baby-kissing politicians or breakfast TV presenters. The American Dream as American dentistry, Listen To Me succeeds only in making Top Gun look like an exercise in humility.

Even a cameo from Moon Unit Zappa doesn't redeem this oily spiel-fest, which is a waste of two hours that could be spent watching paint dry.
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