TAKING WOODSTOCK

The newest contribution to the pile of Woodstock memorabilia, which is already massive, doesn’t have much to do with the music.

“Taking Woodstock” defies what’s expected out of a Woodstock film. Even its own previews depict it as a goofy stoner flick, another “Knocked Up,” only with Hendrix and, if possible, more drugs.

But with “Brokeback Mountain” director Ang Lee behind the camera and off-color comedian Demetri Martin in front, the results are anything but predictable.

The film is based on the literary account of Elliot Teichberg (Martin), the man who tried to save his family’s motel by inviting Woodstock to his town. The retelling is a (mostly) historically accurate behind-the-scenes look at those who hosted the biggest rock concert ever.

Rather then a smoky cloud of laughs and footage of Jimi playing the National Anthem, “Taking Woodstock” is a movie about characters – there’s never even a clear shot of the Woodstock stage. The film carries the stories of a league of quirky, sometimes horribly demented roles, all with their own internal conflicts, and how the concert that invaded their town changed their lives.

“Taking Woodstock” is funny, but Demetri Martin-style funny. Most of the jokes are subtle; do not expect many laugh-out-loud moments. Additionally, the movie is amazingly quiet. You get the impression that the music was secondary to the event and that constant classic rock acts in the background would have distracted from the character stories that were unfolding.

Not to mention (spoiler alert) you get to see Demetri Martin dance around on acid – you can’t beat that.

VERDICT: “Taking Woodstock” probably won’t be the new favorite party movie to sit around and get wasted to, but it is a movie to connect with. It’s a thoughtful look at the powerful good humanity possesses and how this concert unleashed that.