Pump Up The Volume Reviews

Christian Slater at his best

This film is witty and shows Christian Slater at his best. It also has an awesome soundtrack.

Pump Up The Quality

If the likes of Fast Times At Ridgemont High, PCU or Heathers float your boat, then look no further for your next slice of 1990's teen nostalgia.

Forgetting for a moment that the teens of 10 years ago were WAY more interesting than their 2000 counterparts, Punp Up The Volume highlights the problems facing a disaffected generation, using the electric Christian Slater's pirate radio show as its delivery device.

While not flawless; solid performances, some memorable scenes and a superb soundtrack make this a must see movie for anyone wanting a bit of a filp side to the John Hughes coin.

a Christian Slater classic

One of my favourite Slater movies. A great teen film.

talking hard

It had been quite a while since I saw this film and I enjoyed watching it again. In many ways it's very typical of American high school rebellion flicks but I do like the concept of one disillusioned kid accidentally reaching the local youth through a pirate radio set up. A lot of the lengthy monologues where Christian Slater was in effect talking to himself were done pretty well, too.

[Highly rated reviewer]

all pumped up

Fresh funny and entertaining. Christian slater at his finest with a good supporting cast.

[Highly rated reviewer]

its all good

'Pump up the volume' is a brilliant film from the early 90's. Christian Slater is at his best, the music soundtrack adds to the flavour of the movie and the drama/romance/angst and serious drama all fit together wonderfully.

I first saw this film a number of years ago but its a movie I go back to now and again because its refreshing to see how powerful the film is.

The story is that a mild mannered student has a secret life as a night time shock-jock. He sees corruption in the school, in the community and around him and is vocal about it. While initially some students do not know how to take this, suddenly he becomes the most talked about guy on campus even though no one knows who he is. The film identifies the isolation of many young people who are surrounded by so many others yet feel cut adrift.

I like it because it is quite different from the candyfloss 90's movies of the same era yet still presses the right buttons in showing the drama of youth life and the joy that comes from being yourself while still trying hard to make your way in life.

This is the black sheep sister film to 'Pretty in Pink' in my eyes with the same kind of 'outsider' theme but a different way of expressing it.

classic pirate radio

MMMMM!! This movie takes me back to the good old days when i used to be a dj on a pirate radio show, DTI, RADIO AUTHORITY up yours!!! anyway i was saying - its so funny to keep the dti on there toes racing around tracing your signal but its realy difficalt if you use a microwave link - but yeah back to the movie - if you like pirate radio and support it then this one is for you rent it top marks 5*

Failed to really engage me

So Slater plays a teenage pirate DJ who gives a voice to the disaffected youth in his town. He character is eloquent enough communicating through the medium of the airwaves but not confident enough to engage on a face-to-face level. However, the film fails to portray these two extremes of his character realistically. And the message he is giving out to the teenagers? What is it exactly? Just obnoxious teenage humour. Just not really convincing, and as someone who was a teenager in the 80's I found it just slightly cringingly embarrasing.

watchable 80's film

Out of all the 80's films, this one probably isn't the greatest - but watchable. Christian Slater plays his part well, as the secret radio dj - but not really enough story for me.