Directed by: Alex Gibney / Alison Ellwood
Starring, Ken Kesey, Jerry Garcia, The Grateful Dead, Neal Cassidy, Allen Ginsburg, Jack Kerouac
Distributed by: Magnolia Pictures
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Running time: 90 minutes
Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars
In 1964, Ken Kesey, author of “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” set off on a legendary, LSD filled cross-country road trip on an old psychedelic painted school bus. On the trip they filmed it to make a movie, which never saw the light of day. This film is made up of the original 16mm color footage shot by Ken and the group called ‘the Merry Pranksters’, mixed with interviews. It is really interesting to embarks on this fun drug-infused trip and joining this group travel across country.
The film is documentary about Kesey and the Merry Pranksters during their 1964 cross-country bus trip in a bus to the World’s Fair. Of course they all realize that the trip is more about the journey itself then to the 1964 World’s Fair. Along the way Ken and his group meet up with many different people including the newcomer musicians, The Grateful Dead, author of “On the Road”, Jack Kerouac and LSD defender Timothy Leary.
The music in the film is amazing, especially if you are a fan of the 60’s it will be right up your alley. I really enjoyed the footage of the World’s Fair as well. The film is also well paced, which is key since a group going on a bus trip might get boring after a while. This is film delivers a fun trip.