"More American Graffiti" is certainly an ambitious film. Sadly it doesn't live up to the original though it does have some fine moments. I think the problem is in the story structure. We see a day (New Year's Eve) in the life of the familiar characters (sans Richard Dreyfuss who had blossomed into an Oscar winning star) in the years 63, 64, 65, 66. The story jumps back and forth all over the place. The first two stories, one with dragster John Milner at the race track and falling in love, and the Toad on tour in Vietnam desperately trying to get himself sent home are well done and the best stories. The problem is that we know at the end of the first film that both these characters are going to die. So you find yourself distracted as you wait to see if this is the moment. (Thankfully those moments are never shown though there is a haunting final moment with Milner where you know what is going to happen on the other side of the hill). But the last two stories involving hippie Candy Clark and her friends, and then the troubles marraige of Ron Howard and Cindy Williams (where they fight the WHOLE movie) are singular failures.
Still the movie has its virtues including another great rock soundtrack and some nice cameos (especially Harrison Ford). So give it a look but don't expect for "More" to be more then the original.
Still the movie has its virtues including another great rock soundtrack and some nice cameos (especially Harrison Ford). So give it a look but don't expect for "More" to be more then the original.