Runtime: 98 minutes
Directed by: Robert J. Rosenthal
Starring: Scott Baio, Willie Aames, Robert Mandan, Felice Schachter, Scatman Crothers
From: Embassy
There are two things I have to address before discussing this motion picture:
It falls into the category of 80's teen sex comedies that are seen by many in these modern times as rather problematic. This is not as funny or raunchy as something like Porky's or Revenge of the Nerds. In fact, it is only the ending-which is in essence a spoof of Carrie except that clothes are ripped off... oh, and Willie Aames in essence threatening revenge porn, which yikes in 2020-that is rather objectionable. Otherwise, this is a silly thing where telekinesis is used to move items around, bullies are embarrassed, and it helps the crappy high school baseball team actually win a game. Note that I have seen-many moons ago-both this and its DTV sequel Zapped Again!
This starring Scott Baio and Aames is funny, not just for them being bosom buddies in the 80's. After that Willie went in and out of acting, along with creating a Christian superhero known as Bibleman, which was a direct to video series. Baio supports conservative politics, something that isn't automatically offensive to me. Him posting such things on Twitter as “Sandy Hook conspiracy memes” and unwavering support of Trump has caused people to dunk on him on more than a few occasions.
Anyhow, this is a movie that is more weird than funny, although it has some decent laughs. It is a universe where a high school has a science lab that is fully controlled by a student (Baio) and as the principal is not allowed in, he can grow a special strain of marijuana alongside orchids and Aames can crack open a beer during school hours in the lab. No surprise then that an accident happens, giving our hero Barney his powers. Also, Baio's gal is an awkward lady who is supposed to be not as appealing because she wears big glasses... irregardless of her being an attractive brunette. So, this movie has a Laney Boggs type character. I did not remember too much about this; it was slight yet was still watchable for me. There are plenty of high school hijinx, culminating at the prom.
This spoofed more properties than I remembered. There was Star Trek, The Exorcist, and Taxi Driver. The most memorable bit (aside from the nudity) is Scatman Crothers, as the school's baseball coach. It's always a treat seeing him, and what a scene he has. The weed has to be burned in the school's furnace; the Scatman enters and gets high as s*** from the smoke. He imagines hanging out then riding a bike in a field w/ Albert Einstein. Suddenly he is chased in a chariot by his wife, who shoots a bazooka filled with salami sausages at him! There actually is context to this, believe it or not. What a product of its time it is, before the War on Drugs started; in fact, I wonder if the filmmakers were high while they made this. The bad 80's music, Eddie Deezen's one scene cameo... definitely from the decade of excess.
No comments:
Post a Comment