This is a hugely entertaining film - maybe a tad long at 2 hours 15 minutes but great fun, nonetheless. It's got great music and Bette Midler performances and James Caan is great too - it's a real showbiz movie, for anyone who's at all theatrical.
The changing face of the USA shown from the early 40s to Viet Nam is also done well, and there's a beautiful version of John Lennon's IN MY LIFE too.
I somehow didn't want this till now even though it's a 1991 film. A bit like THE ROSE in being a fictional biopic - the female singer character is a sort of amalgam of various singers of the period. Loved the quick fire Jewish banter too.
Just HUGE fun and massively entertaining - a good old-fashioned movie and none the worse for that.
4.5 stars rounded up.