Film Review - 5-25-77 (2023)

“Fix it in post” is a common utterance used by filmmakers and may be an apt one for filmmaker Patrick Read Johnson’s 5-25-77 – a film which spanned a total production time of eighteen years. Johnson first proposed the film in 1999 and then began seeking funds for the film in 2001. He shot the film between 2004 and 2006 and then additional shots and special effects were added until the film’s official premiere in 2017.

5-25-77 follows aspiring filmmaker Pat. After seeing 2001: A Space Odyssey, a life long desire is sparked in Pat to make movies. Filming in his back yard and around his family home, Pat makes his own sequels to films such as Jaws and Planet of the Apes and dreams of the day that he will make it big in Hollywood. However, like any other teenager, Pat also has to contend with all the pains of growing up, trying to fit in and navigating first love.

The title, 5-25-77, refers to the release date of Star Wars, a film which Pat has been absolutely enthralled by ever since he saw an unfinished work print of the film on a tour at the Industrial Light & Magic studio. A series of mishaps occurs on the day of release preventing Pat from seeing the film of his dreams. Will Pat ever get to see Star Wars?

Earlier this year, a similar film was released which also documented the story of a young, aspiring filmmaker. That film was of course Steven Spielberg’s The Fabelmans. If The Fabelmans was a well trained dog that can do tricks, then 5-25-77 is its puppy offspring. 5-25-77 bounds along full of enthusiasm and youthful hopefulness. It is easily distracted, moving from one cool thing that has caught its attention to the next and at times it is hard to keep up with its boundless energy.

However, much like with a puppy, you cannot help but be swept up in its zest. 5-25-77 may not be as self contained and neatly edited but it is incredibly charming and well meaning. This is a film that will immediately strike a chord with aspiring filmmakers, cinephiles and Star Wars’ fans alike. The magic of the movies and the lure of the cinema is definitely communicated here and the audience roots for Pat even when he makes the wrong choices.

5-25-77 does not make for a seamless watch and its long journey to release may be to blame for that. It feels slightly unfair to label it as messy but truthfully the film is a bit chaotic, and this may well put off some audiences. But beyond its occasional schlockiness, there is a core message that it is not necessarily about being the next big thing but rather taking the leap. Let’s all touch the monolith together!