The Beatles made a movie, so did The Dave Clark Five so it's not surprising that Hollywood came calling for Herman's Hermits. MGM actually put them in three films - this was their first vehicle. They gave them Sam Katzman as producer which isn't exactly the read carpet and he hired B picture specialist Arthur Lubin to direct - but both men knew what they were doing. It's fast and colourful with plenty of songs.
It's endearing silly - the government want to appeal to the youth vote so are considering naming a rocket after Hermans Hermits but have them followed. I think they should have gone all out and had the Hermits as astronauts - but they do have a fantasy sequence.
I wish the story had some real stakes. There's lots of teenage girls chasing them a la A Hard Day's Night and a fun subplot where Sue Ann Langon plays a starlet determined to begin a rumour that she's dating Peter Noone. She is a little old - the part would've played better with someone younger.
Noone is the only one of the Hermits who gets a chance to do much on screen - he's personable enough. The others just kind of hang around.
Shelley Fabares is achingly pretty as the love interest but isn't given anything to do except stand around. If she'd had a stronger character - I don't know been the spy or played the starlet or something.
There are plenty of Herman's Hermits songs and it's inoffensive.
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