More American Graffiti (1979)   Starring: Candy Clark, Bo Hopkins, Ron Howard, Paul Le Mat, Mackenzie Phillips, Charles Martin Smith and Cindy Williams Distributor: Fabulous Films Ltd / Fremantle Media Enterprises RRP: £14.99 FHED3807 Certificate: 12 Release Date: 09 January 2017

Set a few years after American Graffiti, More American Graffiti takes place over the course of four New Year’s Eves, from 1964 to 1967, tracing the continuing hopes, dreams and romances of these high school friends. Gone are the sock hops, cruise nights and make-out spots. Now it’s all about campus parties, love-ins and peace rallies – as these friends find themselves in the midst of the amazing era that was the mid-'60s...

For those that loved American Graffiti (1973) the chance to catch up with our friends once again seems almost too good to be true. The thing is, the first film had a sweet and clever narrative. These friends, who grew up together, were all reaching adulthood and their teenage, carefree years, were coming to an end. They'd all go off and live their very separate lives. So, to revisit these characters and learn what they're now up to feels a little pointless.

The reason the first movie worked is that we were witnessing the end of a time of innocence - something that we've all lived through - where childhood friendships are about to come to an end as we all strive out on our own into the big wide world.

We do get to witness how Terry "The Toad" Fields' went "missing in action" - something that was imparted to the audience at the end of the first film. And we witness Steve and Laurie unhappy marriage, John Milner's drag racing and Debbie "Deb" Dunham some how managing to go on the road with a travelling band. But it just feels like a collection of disjointed, rather bland stories. In fact, the only segments that were truly enjoyable were Terry's and John's.

Wolfman Jack lends his voice from time to time as background radio; Carol makes a brief appearance, as does Harrison Ford (who is uncredited) as a motorbike cop.

It's not that the movie is particularly bad, it's just that the first movie quite neatly wrapped up the tales of these young people and to further explore their lives, a little further down the line, seems a bit pointless.

There are no extras.

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Darren Rea