"Head" is a movie starring The Monkees at a time in their career when their popularity was starting to wane. It defies classification and doesn't really have a plot. It contains a series of loosely connected episodes and musical numbers. It is an entertaining film even if it is somewhat derivative of the films of the Beatles such as "A Hard Day's Night" and "Help!"
But, the Monkees were never famous for their originality or daring. Many saw them as a rip-off of and a nostalgic yearning for the Beatles in their "Hard Day's Night" days before they became all serious and stopped touring. The Monkees were better known for their zany, free-spirited antics best captured in their famous television series "The Monkees". "Head" was written and produced by director Rafelson and actor Jack Nicholson who, if you look closely, has a brief cameo in this movie. The writers do a good job of capturing the essence of the band and putting them in situations that highlight their charm and talent. They expertly interweave the musical moments with those of the anti-plot action.
"Head" is a movie that takes the zeitgeist of the late 60's as its main theme. It makes comments on war, consumerism, commercialization, and free love. It is anti-establishment and youth-oriented. Many of its sequences have a psychedelic nature to them, utilizing surrealistic colours and special effects.
I really enjoyed the music in this film. Some of the numbers are so catchy that I hit the rewind button on my remote control to hear them again. It is a film that could not have been made at any other time in history and is an eccentric, entertaining counter-culture spectacle.
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