The First Nudie Musical (1976)

With a title like that, you pretty much know to set your expectations at Lowbrow going in. The good news is that the title more or less represents the product: a cheesy, amiable musical with lots of nudity. (Since it's from the '70s, you do get to see some naughty bits -- male and female.) It's a one-joke concept, to be sure, and rare is the film that can sustain one joke for ninety minutes. But the demerits this movie racks up are overcome by some surprisingly toe-tapping songs and the project's genial, friendly air. (This may be the most gee-whiz innocent raunch flick ever, save for possibly Orgazmo.) If nothing else, it's the only mainstream movie in history with Dancing Dildos. Star watchers take note: Cindy Williams is in the cast, and while she doesn't take her clothes off, she does utter a few phrases that you'd never hear on "Laverne and Shirly". Ron Howard cameos, too -- fortunately, he also stays fully clad. (In fact, a quick scan of the credits reveals that a number of the principals did time on either "Happy Days" or "Laverne and Shirly"... must have been a clandestine rebellion...)

Grade: B-