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Poster for 200 Motels

200 Motels

1971 · 1h 38m · R Comedy, Fantasy, Music
Directed by Tony Palmer , Frank Zappa

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Overview

"Touring makes you crazy," Frank Zappa says, explaining that the idea for this film came to him while the Mothers of Invention were touring. The story, interspersed with performances by the Mothers and the Royal Symphony Orchestra, is a tale of life on the road. The band members' main concerns are the search for groupies and the desire to get paid.

Director and cast

Critics on Rotten Tomatoes

Top critics, in their words

All reviews
67%
Tomatometer
Rotten

200 Motels has no particular focal point, being principally an anthology of poor jokes and spectacular audio-visual effects, a few of which might expand the mind, but all of which, taken together, are like an overdose of Novocain.

Vincent Canby, New York Times
Fresh

The incidents are often outrageously irreverent. The comedy is fast and furious, both sophisticated and sophomoric.

Variety Staff, Variety
Rotten

A real dinosaur.

Trevor Johnston, Time Out
Fresh

Zappa's most ambitious compositions (performed by the London Philharmonic) share screen time with nostalgic freak humor.

Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
Fresh

It assaults the mind with everything on hand.

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

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