Saturday Night Fever holds a special place in cinematic history not because it is a great film, or even a good film, but because it was a defining culture piece. It represented a snapshot of a type of counter-culture that was beyond popular for its era, and no other film managed to be nearly as significant an influence during that time. Groove is a snapshot of a different kind of counter-culture. 'Rave,' while nowhere near as popular as disco, is still just as important (if not drastically more so) to the people who belong to its group. What “SNF” is to disco, I have to believe Groove is to rave.

The problem here, though, is that Groove makes no real attempt to include anyone outside of its niche. There is a character that hasn't been to a rave that is introduced to it, but the plot is more focused on a romantic endeavor that he has during the party than it is on his reaction to the rave itself. On top of that, there is an intertwined selection of mini-plots that serve as tiny distractions, rather than adding to the film as a whole. These things keep the non-raver alienated, while (I would assume) keeping the raver only mildly entertained. These plot-lines and conversations in any other themed film would hold equal amounts of (non)interest for both parties. It is only that the movie is themed what it is that it has its fan base.

I have told the person that excitedly sat me down to watch Groove, that I was not giving the film a favorable review, much to the dismay of that person. They said that I didn't realize the significance of the movie, and how important it is to the members, or former members, of its social niche. My negativity, they argued, was unfair. If I am not in favor of the picture, it must be because I am not the right person to be reviewing it. This may be a fair argument, because in essence, Groove accomplishes its attempt, and succeeds in being important to its fan following. I have made an honest effort in my review to allow for its fandom, and not to criticize it. I am allowed, however, to comment on its cinematic value, or lack thereof, and to say that it holds no significance to me personally. I am not a raver, never was a raver, nor will I ever be a raver. If you share this particular characteristic with me, you have no reason to see this picture.