Ebert three and a half stars; Siskel and Ebert both reportedly included it in1984 top ten, no ranks supplied. Praise for combining condensed emotional drama with music and romantic chemistry.
Prince reportedly dreamed the critics hated it, opposite of their actual response.
Opening eleven or twelve minutes, Let’s Go Crazy into Jungle Love, electrifying. Stage and stylized audience choreography make club a character; balcony synchronized dancers a favorite.
Take Me with You motorcycle and false Lake Minnetonka initiation memorable. Bad dialogue part of charm; purification request not explicit undressing instruction, cold-water danger reported.
Beautiful Ones romantic-rivalry scene called Prince greatest performance in the film and one of the great performances ever. Slow push into Apollonia reaction and intense commitment praised.
Wendy and Prince synchronized stage connection praised; Wendy iconic and an unusually good actor in this cast.
When Doves Cry montage leads through father material into Computer Blue; song reportedly supplied overnight. Clarence Williams performance improves, with darker characterization discussed.
Darling Nicky provokes Apollonia and Billy; Computer Blue transition follows album sequence and balances music with action.
Discovering fathers written music and working out Purple Rain loved; Morris family insult especially cruel.
Purple Rain dedication and song meet enormous buildup. Ending there possible, but encores and audience connection defended.
Final three-song ending selected, despite argument it could end at Purple Rain. Band relationship matters more than romantic resolution.
Other final choice is Apollonia/Morris date into Beautiful Ones, a personal favorite section of any eighties movie.
The Time awarded best toe-to-toe for a non-star with major star, following Let’s Go Crazy with Jungle Love, called97percent as good and fun; audience could prefer Morris.
Wendy and Lisa; performances; Modernaires; mirror gimmick; cable rewatchability; Jill scene; puffy shirt; Sex Shooter; music rivalries; Chappelle’s Prince; Minnesota music; The Time
Wendy/Lisa acting, mockery, style and stage chemistry loved. Eponymous first album fantastic, a favorite B+ album; personal favorite part of Prince experience.
Convincing performances despite singing over recordings; Modernaire song liked and absence from album regretted, invented-word meaning debated.
Morris/Jerome mirror among best gimmicks without firm number-one rank; timeless comedy and gender presentation discussed.
Easy cable drop-in viewing; hilariously weak subpoena dialogue, stage gestures, puffy shirt linked to Seinfeld, Sex Shooter, Chappelle impersonation and Minnesota scene.
Minnesota music diversity and showing each Sex Shooter singer delivering her line admired; Apollonia dubbing and lack of singing experience reported.
Title reportedly chosen when director heard Purple Rain anthem at First Avenue concert.
Time underrated and charismatic, later revival recognized. The quoted review describes stagecraft; contrast with Prince partly disputed.
