YMMV / Xanadu (1980)

The Film

• Awesome Music:
  • The soundtrack composed by the Electric Light Orchestra and Olivia Newton-John is filled with gems, with even many of the film's detractors regarding the music to be the one redeeming quality of the film (as a matter of fact, in complete contrast to the film, which was a critical failure and a box office bomb, the soundtrack album would become a massive worldwide critical and commercial success, to the point that it would be certified double platinum by the RIAA). The main theme song, "Xanadu", is especially a feel-good bop backed by groovy and upbeat music and cheerful lyrics. It is so good, in fact, ELO still performs it in concerts to this very day.
  • In contrast to the other disco-filled songs in the album, "Whenever You're Away From Me" is a beautiful, swinging, and heartwarming big-band duet between Gene Kelly and Olivia Newton-John that would fit well in the 1940s and 1950s. Props to it being one of Gene Kelly's final performances.
• Broken Base: The film's reception can be divided into three camps. Those who find it to be a campy but genuinely enjoyable and endearing musical fantasy, those who consider the film to be ironically enjoyable because of the Special Effects Failure and cheesy script, and those who find the film to be a schlocky mess with no redeemable qualities outside of its soundtrack.
• Cult Classic: This had the bad fortune to be made while disco was dying, and flopped as a result. These days it's a cult film with women who watched it on cable as young girls and gay men who liked the massive amount of camp, music, and the hopeful message in the movie.
• Harsher in Hindsight: The Pan-Pacific Auditorium, the building that provided the exterior shots of Xanadu, had been abandoned in 1972, and despite efforts to find another use for it, never reopened. It was destroyed in a massive fire in 1989.
• Just Here for Godzilla:
  • Many Don Bluth fans enjoy the film just for the animated sequence he did.
  • Others show up only to see Gene Kelly dancing, in his last performance in a major film. And Gene Kelly roller skating.
• LGBT Fanbase: Among the cult audience the film found in later years were gay people who liked the massive amount of camp, music, and the hopeful message in the movie. The stage musical then turned this up to 11.
  Calliope: This is like children's theater for forty year old gay people.
• Narm Charm: The film is filled with some of the campiest and cheesiest effects and writing to ever grace an '80s film, but for many who watch it and regard it as a Cult Classic, that is exactly what makes the film so delightful and endearing. It helps that it is backed by some genuinely fun and passionate performances, a hopeful and optimistic tone, and Awesome Music by ELO, all of which only add to the film's charm.
• Older Than They Think: This was not the first time Gene Kelly has been seen in a film on roller skates. He was also on roller skates in 1955's It's Always Fair Weather.
• Periphery Demographic: The film found a cult audience with women who watched it on cable as young girls, and gay people who liked the massive amount of camp, music, and the hopeful message in the movie.
• So Bad, It's Good: Olivia Newton-John is a muse who comes to visit a struggling artist (played by Michael Beck, whose career - by his own admittance - died a horrible death upon the film's release), and the two of them decide to make something timeless... a roller disco rink! Add the random-ass animated sequence and some really awesome music, and you have one of the funniest movies ever made. There's a reason it's become a cult classic. And Gene Kelly showing that despite being 68 when it was filmed he is still one of the best dancers in Hollywood.
• Special Effect Failure: Thanks to the release date being moved up, not as much time was available to smooth out the special effects, and it shows. Perhaps the most noticeable example is that Sonny enters the muses' world via a◊ Conspicuously Light Patch.
• Took the Bad Film Seriously: Gene Kelly gives an excellent performance, and is a delight to watch as usual.
• Unintentional Period Piece: A veritable time capsule of late 70s - early 80s fads, fashion, and music styles.

The Stage Musical

• So Bad, It Was Better: The stage version. Non-fans of the movie embraced it, while fans felt that all it did was explain the (unintentional) joke.

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