Pajama Party (1964)

Pajama Party definitely ranks as one of American International's better teen-themed exploitation flics, as well as one of its goofiest. It's even, in its own modest way, innovative for the series, what with a plot involving Martians and the absence of mainstay Frankie Avalon as the male love interest. This change-of-pace seems to have inspired screenwriter Louis M. Heyward somewhat (or perhaps it was working with director Don Weis rather than William Asher); the script is still nonsense, with ridiculous slang and silly situations, but it seems to revel in all the nonsense. Viewers still will laugh at it, but they're also likely to find themselves laughing along with it as well. Annette Funicello is her usual wholesome self, although presented to better-than-usual advantage, and Tommy Kirk is greatly appealing as the Martian who falls in love with her. The cast of old pros are largely wasted, although Buster Keaton's bit with the perfume salesgirl is noteworthy. Series mainstay Susan Hart has some of her best moments, including a dance sequence that symbolically causes a toy volcano to erupt. The songs are cheesily generic, as usual, but maintain their camp/nostalgic appeal, and two of Funicello's -- the title song and "Stuffed Animal" -- are memorably staged. All in all, Pajama Party is bizarre, silly and infectious fun. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide