preppy-3 I was one of the (very few) persons who actually caught this up a theatre back in 1980. The plot has a rich girl (Trini Alvarado) running away from a hospital with lesbian punk Nicky (Robin Johnson). They hang out in a curiously unmenacing Times Square (back in 1980 Times Square was VERY dangerous and unsafe). They become fast friends and become famous outlaws (or something). Top billed Tim Curry pops up as a DJ now and then.I was 18 when this came out so I was part of the target audience. I saw it with a friend of mine the same age. It was TERRIBLE! The plot was stupid and irresponsible (it makes running away from home look like a great thing), had a soundtrack that was the equivalent of someone hitting you on the head with a hammer, lousy acting (especially by Johnson) and was basically dull when not dumb. It was pretty obvious that this was a studio's attempt to sanitize punk rock and they threw in a lesbian angle to get the guys to come in (most of that material wasn't shot or was cut out completely). It bombed badly at the box office and was quickly forgotten. I heard this has a cult following among lesbians and it has been shown at gay and lesbian film festivals but really--it's pretty terrible. There are much better punk rock and lesbian films out there. A 1 all the way.

madbandit20002000 Time can be a cruel mistress, but it can also be a kind one when it comes to films that don't hit the vibe of moviegoers as a whole. "Times Square", a gritty, quirky, unconventional coming-of-age tale, which I saw twice on the NYC affiliate of one of the Big Three networks (guess which one and someone lost a bet), is one of those movies.We introduced to Nicky Marotta (then newcomer and NYC native Robin Johnson), a 16-year-old homeless orphan whose guttural voice and foul vocabulary makes her a neo-Damon Runyon character and she has a volatile attitude to boot. That attitude and an act of vandalism land her in a hospital's psych ward. Her roommate is Pamela Pearl (flower-child like and fellow native Trini Alvarado of "Rich Kids", "Little Children" and "The Good Girl"), a smart but timid and sad soul whose politically ambitious father (the late stage actor Peter Coffield) plans to revitalize the then-seedy Times Square section of NYC. She's there because of her public meltdown when her father carelessly exploits her at a public hearing. Finding a kindred soul, Nicky sways Pamela to run away, and the two, after jacking an ambulance, make a home out of an abandoned pier at the Lower East Side and decide their own destinies. Aw, youth… While making money at a Times Square nightclub (Pamela's a dancer who doesn't go topless [!]; Nicky's a kick-ass rocker), they befriend late night radio DJ Johnny Laguardia (Cheshire Cat-grinning Tim Curry of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show"), a fan/reader of Pamela's poems she sends to him. LaGuardia takes an interest in Pamela's alleged kidnapping and turns the girls into fringe celebs, a rock duo known as The Sleez Sisters that also run street scams and throw TV sets from roofs. The girls revel in their anarchy and freedom, but Pamela's father, Nicky's social worker (Anna Maria Horsford of "Amen" and "The Wayans Bros") and Nicky's instability drive the two apart, putting them in deeper malaise.Like Sam Peckinpah's cavalry adventure, "Major Dundee", "Times Square" is an interesting failure, due to the row between its' producer, record mogul Roger Stigwood ("Saturday Night Fever"), who wanted the film to cash in on the emerging punk/new wave music at the time and its' director/co-writer Allan Moyle ("Pump Up The Volume", "Empire Records") who, with script assist from Leanne Unger and Jacob Brackman, wanted to tell (pre-Reaganism) a coming-of-age lesbian romance, inspired by the portions of a journal, penned by a young, mentally ill woman, Moyle discovered in a second-hand sofa while living in Times Square. Stigwood won the fight, canning Moyle (who wrote many unproduced scripts for a decade!) and had his people edit the film, but "Times Square" was panned, critically and financially, due to its' awkward narrative (karma for Roger perhaps?). There have been rumors of edited romance scenes that were filmed, but it's doubtful, due to the ages of the leads at the time of production and SAG child labor laws.However, due to being on TV, home video (the DVD's sadly out of print) and lesbian film festivals, "Times Square" stands as a cult classic, courtesy of its idiosyncrasy and cast. Though it's a sad shame she didn't have a stronger career, Ms. Johnson's a force of nature, embodying the spirit of the film's once-decadent locale; sleazy, rude, dangerous and subversively romantic. Ms. Alvarado, who survives now as a character actor, seems to be a tagalong, but holds her own as a shy flower, finally outside out of the geranium and loving it (her first gig as a dancer is awkward but fun); the two girls compliment each other with their opposite personalities, protecting each other and themselves in a "Red Light" district. It's oddly unrealistic (they would have pimped out at the time), but it oddly works.Curry's quite the reliable prankster who doesn't know when to say "when" while Coffield and Horsford are reliable killjoys. Look out for a young Elizabeth Pena ("La Bamba", "Resurrection Blvd"). The soundtrack, filled with tracks by XTC, Patti Smith, The Ramones, Talking Heads, Lou Reed and others is a treat for punk/new wave fans, yet a happy disco beat co-sung by Robin Gibb ("The Bee Gees") is a sore thumb.For a hugely "forgotten" thirtysomething film, the impact it has made is fascinating, predating MTV (their music video heydays) and D.I.Y. culture; influencing the filmmaking likes of Peter Jackson (directed the similar "Heavenly Creatures") and the looks of comic book characters (Ms. Johnson's raccoon mask and garbage bag-tunic prophecies Hit Girl from the "Kick-Ass" comic book and film) and outlasting the infamous area, now a soulless tourist trap. Like Travis Bickle in "Taxi Driver", there are a lot of girls like Pamela and Nicky, regardless if their environment is changed."Times Square" isn't perfect, but its fringe charm and yearning to be itself makes it worthy to watch. Good luck looking for it.

TheLittleSongbird I watched the whole movie on YouTube and thought this is actually really entertaining. The critics complained about it being overblown. I disagree... The script is a bit patchy in places, same with the direction, but I've seen a lot worse, believe me. The soundtrack was what made this movie, it was fantastic. I prefer classical music, but this music was good because of the content and it was catchy.The performances were really good also. Tim Curry is really cool as Johnny LaGuardia, who sort of succumbs to a change of heart. One minute he is all wild, then he is comforting Pamela. The girl who played Pamela was also convincing, though not as good as her co-star Robin Johnson, who was easily the best actress in the movie. Their scenes while corny at times were on the most part touching. When Nicki suffers a breakdown, I had tears in her eyes, because she was so convincing. Why is she no longer acting?One thing that gets me mad, Why is the rating so low? It isn't actually that bad. Sure it mayn't be to everyone's taste but it is definitely the most underrated of the 1980s movies.7/10 in respect to the players. Bethany Cox (I wish I could give it higher but I've only seen it once)

sonya90028 I just saw Times Square, on DVD recently. What a blast! It's a film centered around teen rebellion, in NYC during the end of the 70s. In that era, New York's Time Square, where the film took place, was seedy and run-down. And yet it also swirled with a crackling, decadent energy.Two young teens are the main protagonists in the movie. There's Pammy Pearl, who's an insecure, affluent adolescent. Her dad, is a smarmy politician. He promises to 'sanitize' Times Square, to help further his own political ambitions. Pammy's father is oblivious, to his daughter's typical teenage emotional tribulations. So, he has her placed in a local hospital, for neurological tests.Once there, Pammy meets Nikki (brilliantly played by Robin Johnson). Nikki is a wild, orphaned teen, who has had run-ins with the law. She's considered incorrigibly rebellious, by her social worker. And she's also placed in the hospital for a neurological evaluation, by her misguided social worker. Pammy and Nikki, end-up sharing the same room at the hospital. At first, Pammy seems alarmed by Nikki, and her wacky habits (she casually eats flower petals, while Pammy looks on in bewilderment). But Pammy is secretly fascinated by Nikki, even writing poetry about Nikki in her diary. Nikki peeks at Pammy's diary one day, when Pammy's asleep. Nikki's impressed that Pammy expresses admiration for her, in her poetry.One day Nikki decides to run away from the hospital. She urges Pammy to join her. The two flee in an ambulance that they stole from the hospital parking lot, with Nikki driving recklessly through the streets of NY. Taking up residence in an abandoned warehouse, Nikki and Pammy learn to survive on their own. And they develop a friendship so intense, that it has romantic overtones.Meanwhile, Pammy's father is engaged in a frantic search for his daughter. He thinks that Pammy's been kidnapped by Nikki. Pammy keeps in contact with her father through cryptic poems, that she supplies to an all-night radio DJ in Times Square. Pammy has listened to this DJ on the radio regularly. Pammy considers his show to be a sort of catharsis, for her teenage angst. The DJ (played by the eclectic Tim Curry) thinks that Pammy is a deeply talented poet. He encourages Pammy to continue communicating with him through her poetry. He's also supportive of Pammy and Nikki's quest to be free, and live life to the fullest.Pammy and Nikki soon realize that they have to have a steady income, in order to live on their own. So, Nikki suggests that Pammy audition at a sleazy nightclub as a topless dancer, because she thinks that Pammy is 'the pretty one', in their dynamic duo. Though she's basically a shy gal, Pammy decides to go for it, and gets offered the job. All the while, Nikki is developing her skills as a rock guitarist and singer. Nikki starts to get regular gigs, playing with local punk bands. For a while, Pammy and Nikki keep a step ahead of Pammy's father, and the law, in their pursuit of a free existence. Nikki and Pammy's friendship also evolves, as Nikki reveals how vulnerable she really is, under her tough exterior. Pammy realizes that Nikki really needs her. And she remains loyal to Nikki throughout the film. Even when they have a serious rift in their relationship, due to the meddling all-night DJ.Above all, Times Square is a film about the importance of peer friendship, during adolescence. It's a stage of life fraught with ups-and downs, on the road to maturity. This film shows that teen rebellion is all a part of growing-up, no matter how misunderstood it is by parents. The performances of the two main characters, are what drive the film. Especially Robin Johnson's portrayal of Nikki. Robin infuses the character of Nikki, with a roguish, delinquent charm. And Trini Alvarez as Pammy, projects her own understated charisma.The soundtrack is also superb. It features many prominent punk bands of that era, including Patti Smith, Roxy Music, The Talking Heads, etc. The music really keeps the film juiced with an electric, anarchic energy.Times Square is truly a classic cult film. I'd consider it a must-see. Especially for those who are fond of the urban Punk music, and fashions, of the late-70s era.