Youngsters from different British classes interact at school, with one precocious but sensitive lad falling in love with a female classmate, much to the consternation of his best friend, who is still awkward around girls. Screenwriter Alan Parker really did his homework here; he is very cognizant of the way little girls act together when a boy is in the room, or how one particular lass will act once her friends have left and she's alone with that boy. Producer David Puttnam made several fine decisions as well, most especially in reuniting Mark Lester and Jack Wild, the two boys from 1968's "Oliver!", as the chums from different parts of town. The lush, romantic soundtrack, featuring songs by the Bee Gees and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, is another plus, though the numerous montages highlighting the music do grow wearisome (and point up the screenplay's basic problem, that it's thin). Newcomer Tracy Hyde is lovely and natural as Melody, and the silly, self-infatuated adults (portrayed almost satirically) are amusing, but the plot is really incidental; Puttnam, Parker and director Waris Hussein are mostly delighted by just observing the children, often in an almost documentary-like manner. ** from ****
Review of Melody
