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What's So Bad About Feeling Good?

1968, Movie, NR, 94 mins

What's So Bad About Feeling Good?: Review

Psittacosis becomes salubrious as a foreign toucan slips through customs in New York and infects the native population of muggers, malcontents, and conceited strivers with a virus that causes happiness and good will. Peppard, a disaffected dropout artist, is the first to be contaminated by the euphoria bug. He and his live-in girl friend, Moore, harbor the bird, which they name "Amigo." Recognizing the source of the delightful disease, the two conspire to spread it. Soon, happiness alters the face of the city, resulting in an economic crisis: sales of cigarettes, alcoholic beverages, and tranquilizers have plummeted. Hoping to save his city from financial disaster, bland mayor McMartin--with the assistance of Presidential envoy DeLuise--distributes face masks to the populace. Peppard and pals find a way to infect the masks with the virus. Counterstrike follows counterstrike as Amigo is captured and an antidote is found. Soon the city is itself again: rude, vicious, self-centered people shove, shout at, maim, rob, and kill one another. Peppard gives up his evangelic quest to rid the Big Apple of its worms, realizing that he wants only Moore who, already angelic, was unchanged by the infection. A pleasant, well-made comedy with fine lead performances and support. leave a comment