More American Graffiti (1979)
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Hosts Mat Bradley-Tschirgi and William Thrasher discuss More American Graffiti. Posters for the first American Graffiti asked "Where were you in '62?" In this ambitious sequel, we look at four different vignettes taking place on New Year's Eve in 1964, 1965, 1966, and 1967 in Modesto and San Francisco California and Vietnam! Terry (Charles Martin Smith) is fed up fighting knee deep in the muddy field of Vietnam. John (Paul Le Mat) is trying to win drag races and the heart of a foreign exchange student (Anna Bjorn). Steve (Ron Howard) and Laurie (Cindy Williams) are on the brink of a divorce. Debbie (Candy Clark) is cruising around San Francisco trying to land her boyfriend a gig in the hit band Electric Haze.

Each vignette is filmed in a different aspect ratio and, like the original, is loaded with classic songs commenting on the action at hand. Some stories work (Debbie's hippy band adventures, John's drag racing), and others don't (Terry's Vietnam hijinks, Steve's Mr. Mom escapades with his kiddos). It's an idea that works better in theory than in practice, but there are enough strong moments here to lure back in those who enjoyed the original.

Mat read the novella Meg Origins by Steve Alten. It felt like a Michael Crichton novel with more sex jokes, for better or for worse.

Thrasher enjoyed the short stories in Dreamsongs Volume 2 by George R. R. Martin. It collects pieces from earlier in his career before the mammoth success of his Game of Thrones novels. 

Ratings for More American Graffiti:

Mat: Sequel Yes

Thrasher: Sequel Yes

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