Jeff Stein
The Kids Are Alright

Music and cinema are two profoundly different expressive mediums, each containing numerous differences, facets, angles, and points of view aimed at evoking emotions in the listener/viewer. Two different methods, yet equally effective.

And what would happen if you tried to mix music and cinema? A perfect mix or indigestible? Jeff Stein attempts to give us an answer with this "The Kids Are Alright", a documentary (or rather, rockumentary) dedicated, as the title suggests, to the legendary group composed of Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey, John Entwistle, and Keith Moon: The Who. Snippets of concerts, interviews, and television skits, with the aim of not only acquainting us with these four artists' works but also allowing us to enter the perspective and context in which they lived, the turbulent '60s and '70s, and moreover providing us with a psychological and human framework of those who, after all, are just people, although fueled by extraordinary creativity and genius.

We are shown legendary performances, such as "Pinball Wizard" at Woodstock, or the explosive rendition (in every sense) of "My Generation" performed during "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour," with the customary destruction of instruments at the end of the performance and even the explosion of the drum kit (which left Pete Townshend deaf for about twenty minutes); but, besides that, there are also interviews conducted with the group and more, participations in television shows, snippets of everyday life featuring even cameos by notable figures (Ringo Starr above all) and much more, demonstrating how the "Who phenomenon" extended not only in the musical realm but also socially: idols of the mods, symbols of a generation seeking space and freedom from oppression, acclaimed as saviors of the nation.

Yet the four Englishmen were also men, complex and on the brink of frustration, seeking balance and control in their chaotic lives. The Who were this and more; every frame, every second of this film reveals pure adoration and devotion for the British band (not surprisingly, Jeff Stein was an ardent fan of the group), but without giving us the impression of excessive celebration or self-indulgence: every moment thus communicates how fundamental The Who were to many people, not just as a pure rock band, but providing motivation and ideals.

However, the film also stands out for less happy reasons: it presents the last studio performance of Keith Moon ("Who Are You") before his death, which occurred just a few weeks before the film's release. Therefore, the film also gains a celebratory meaning, a deserved tribute to one of the greatest musicians in history, portrayed here in all his talent, moodiness, and ironic madness.

A film absolutely worth watching, both for longtime fans of the group and for those who wish to deepen their knowledge of one of the most important and significant bands in rock.