Video Pick of the Week: 'Pump Up the Volume'
By CASEY McCLUSKEY
Every generation needs a voice — someone who is not afraid to say "Damn the man" and stand up for those who are afraid to stand up for themselves.
In "Pump Up the Volume," the students at Hubert Humphrey High find their voice in Happy Harry Hard-On (Christian Slater), a radio pirate who says things that most students only wish they had the guts to say. Harry throws the question out to his listeners — How far will you go?
At first, most of Harry's listeners see Harry as a young Howard Stern whose programs consist primarily of sex talk with little else. And although the majority of the programs deal with very controversial subject matter, there is always a message for the students.
Harry sees how things are screwed up for the students and encourages them to stick with it and survive. He does not want the students to shut up and conform, like many adults and administrators do, but rather, he encourages students to be themselves and no matter how hard things get, stick with it and survive.
As Harry's program becomes more and more popular, more and more students turn to Harry for guidance and help. Students send their deepest secrets and problems to the radio guru because unlike the guidance counselors at the school, Harry is not afraid to dive into certain taboos with both feet.
He uncovers the real problems that exist in the school because his dad is the school commissioner. Harry exposes all the dirty secrets of the school that administrators love to cover up, and begins to enrage those who cannot control him.
When a student in the high school commits suicide, the adults of the community look for a scapegoat. They find no better scapegoat then the student who is rocking the boat.
Many adults felt that their community of Paradise Hills, Ariz., was perfect until Harry came along and stirred up all of their problems.
The students know that these problems were there and that they always have been. Harry simply took them out from under the covers. He encouraged people to admit to these problems and try to fix them, rather than pretend they are not there and hope they will go away.
The students hear his message and begin to take things into their own hands. They refuse to remain confined to their little boxes and begin to develop voices of their own.
"Pump Up the Volume" was mostly popular for its key phrases and amazing soundtrack. The music is not the same bubble gum soundtrack one would find on most other teen movies. Like the film, the soundtrack has an edge.
This is a movie to rent when feeling a little oppressed by those who are in control — when in need of inspiration to stand up to the man and question authority. It will empower anyone to stand up talk hard.
All Scene Stories for Thursday, September 16, 1999
