THANK GOD IT'S FRIDAY

year: 1978 cast: Donna Summer, Jeff Goldblum, Debra Winger, Ray Vitte, Valerie Landsburg rating: ***

God knows they just don’t make 'em like this anymore. Even Rock N' Rollers might enjoy this character-driven ensemble about a night at a plush two-story Discothèque owned by Jeff Goldblum. With all the elements of a disaster film without the disaster (Disco Inferno aside) we’re introduced to each character before they wind up at the location where most of our time's spent.

Of the important players, Debra Winger and a friend are looking for their Mr. Rights – but in the era of slick seer-sucker womanizers, it might be difficult. Geeks John Friedrich and Paul Jabara desire their own perfect women, and you can rest assure these two humble cliques will eventually connect...

Mews Small is a punked-out free spirit while blue-eyed beauty Andrea Howard plays a curious suburban wife forcing her uptight husband to peek into wonderland, where she’s seduced by Goldblum who hired DJ Ray Vitte in a centralized glass booth overlooking the dance floor while starlet underdog (and recently departed) Donna Summer tries to get her record played.

Lightweight suspense is provided as ANIMAL HOUSE crooner DeWayne Jessie travels across town to pick up instruments for The Commodores, who may or may not show up. Meanwhile, one girl... Valerie Landsburg as Frannie, the buried lead... really wants (and deserves) to win the dance contest finale, and everyone’s having a good old time despite random obstacles, from bullies to bitches to broken dreams, that keeps this an ever-enjoyable romp of a bygone era.