80's Teen Movies :: the classic, the obscure & everything in between: 1988

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Crash Course [1988]

"They're way over the limit.. and speeding into trouble!"

Alfred E. Hamilton High is a school with not a great deal of merit to its name. Principal Paulson (Ray Walston), a sporting nut with a high regard for his school's physical education program, is carrying the burden of his career in his hands: citywide test scores. And the root cause of the academic failures at Hamilton is down to one particular class of underachievers, or so Paulson believes. Driver's ed, taught by the weary and recently divorced Larry Pearle. With the threat of the sports program being scrapped because of Hamilton High's drooping test averages, Principal Paulson lays down the law, giving Pearle six weeks to shape up or ship out. Unfortunately, his new class of zany and mismatched misfits are going to ensure this semester is the bumpiest ride of their lives!

With nothing in common but the inability to handle the wheel of a motor vehicle, many of Pearle's students are undergoing driver's ed for the second and third time. Consisting of Kichi (B.D. Wong), a brash Japanese kid with a wiseguy attitude and tendency to rap his way in and out of situations; prissy new girl Vanessa Crawford (Alyssa Milano) whose interests span all the way from hair to makeup; audacious "crash 'em, bash 'em and smash 'em" girl chaser Riko Konner (Brian Bloom); mousy and boyish future truck driver Alice Santini (Tina Yothers); dimwitted jockstrap J.J. Maslanksi (Nathan Dyer); often taunted geek of the gang Chad Bennett (Rob Stone) and pretentious foreign mobster's daughter Maria Abeja (Olivia d'Abo). The slackers get more than they bargained for when Principal Paulson employs the most merciless woman in the business, Edna Savage (Jackée Harry) as assistant teacher, leaving Pearle in fear of losing his job and the kids fearing for their lives!

Catastrophes are occurring not only on the road but in the classroom. With Paulson away at a conference, acting principal (with a warped plan to rule the school himself) Abner Fraser (Harvey Korman) takes it upon himself to target Paulson's prize athlete, J.J. It comes as great satisfaction to Fraser to inform J.J. of his failed English Lit exam, and watches as the promising football star has his future hang in the balance. Meanwhile, Pearle finds himself at odds with Savage and her methods of teaching, and Vanessa is having a hard time coping with her over-protective mother (Edie McClurg).

Over at the local pizza joint, Kichi is doing his best Jennifer Beals impression in his fourth shot at winning Maria's heart. Alice and Vanessa gossip about Fraser's sleazy actions concerning J.J.'s exam results (and about how "cute, but dumb" he is), with Alice disheartened that J.J. only regards her as one of the guys due to her boyish looks. Vanessa proposes a makeover, which is met with some skepticism by Maria who mistakenly assumes Alice has been given a two black eyes. A little downbeat, Alice tells of her father's expectations for her future and explains how he considers her more of a son than a feminine girl. Her worries disappear when an overwhelmed J.J. asks to study English Lit with her that evening. As for Chad, he faces humiliation when Riko spies him preparing to ask Vanessa on a date. Thanks to a little overheard information pertaining to a forged signature on a driver's ed permission slip, Riko jumps the gun and successfully blackmails Vanessa into going out with him instead of a dismayed Chad.

The stormy relationship between Pearle and Savage has subsided, making way for unforeseen romance and a lot of teasing from the class. Alice and J.J.'s friendship also progresses to new levels and the mandatory English Lit exam re-take seems just about passable with J.J. even voluntarily quoting Shakespeare. Vanessa's date with Riko prompts interrogation from her apprehensive single mother, who is still unaware that her daughter is enrolled in driver's ed. To spice up their date, Riko steals his father's tow truck and takes a protesting Vanessa on a wild ride. When the cops later turn up on the doorstep, Riko is unprepared for his father's uncompromising reaction and is forced to leave home.

Presuming Vanessa goes for the rebellious type, Chad seeks advice on how to be cool and undergoes a drastic image change. A flattered but amused Vanessa, unaware of the misadventure in store, accepts his offer of a date. Troublemaker Riko - who had spent his night of homelessness sleeping in a school classroom - is the cause of more shenanigans when he provokes Chad into swiping a car from driver's ed for he and Vanessa's weekend trip to the lake. The idyllic plan backfires when the car is hit by a drunk driver and the couple call on Riko - and his father's tow truck - for help. With Kichi, J.J., Alice and Maria along for the ride, they set out to rescue Chad and Vanessa, working against the clock in Riko's father's garage to fix what's left of the car. There are more loose ends to be tied when Vanessa must explain her injuries to her mother and come clean about driver's ed; Riko's father learns of the second disappearance of the tow truck; J.J.'s exam results are unveiled; Pearle and Savage unearth the mystery of the AWOL vehicle, and the driver's ed final dawns. Can the kids pass and end the movie in a most shameful celebration rap? You bet!

VERDICT: ★★★ ½

An NBC Sunday night movie boasting a cast that includes just about every eighties sitcom star you can imagine (much like the superior Dance 'til Dawn), Crash Course is an inoffensive preteen friendly cheesefest that runs rife with your typical made-for-television symptoms. The pinnacle of innocence as far as teenage mischief goes, brimming with hollow subplots, dodgy pink leotards (maybe Oz Scott was paid drop some sort of promotional hints for Alyssa's Teen Steam workout video?) and even dodgier uncredited Bangles covers that make you want to walk less like an Egyptian and more like a viewer on a mission to your mute button. Disregarding its imperfections, Crash Course is a humorously wacky and overtly clean cut License to Drive-come-Summer School popcorn flick and a real who's who of eighties faces. Edie McClurg is the overbearing mother from hell and a very funny one at that, B.D. Wong's abominable rap narration throughout is an astounding reminder of a bygone era, and Alyssa Milano's dedication to the grand "rap finale" scene is a sight to behold. Oh. And Jackée Harry is insanely badass.

See it for kicks - as a reminder of when side ponytails ruled, TV was fun, and to learn every lyric of "We Be Drivin'". So the class is over and we're still alive, we be cruisin' down the highway but not more than fifty-five..

IMAGES/VIDEOS: [movie clip]

SOUNDTRACK:

1. Manic Monday - Uncredited
2. Ain't too Proud to Beg - Uncredited
3. Walk Like an Egyptian - Uncredited
4. We Be Drivin' - B.D. Wong

State Park [1988]

"Giving nature a bad name"

Three best girlfriends Marsha (Isabelle Mejias), Eve (Kim Myers) and Linnie (Jennifer Inch), set off in their convertible to Weewankah State Park in search of fun, adventure and romance before college starts up in the fall. On a rest-stop during their journey to L.A. are musicians Johnny (Peter Virgile) and Louis (Louis Tucci), two heavy-metallers who sport more studs than all the dog collars in a pet store and more make-up than the three girls put together. The sight of the boys does little to impress Marsha who is of the opinion that any and all "disgusting, lowlife" heavy metallers should be banned from the park.

Meanwhile, crooked developer Mr Rancewell is securing his plans to demolish the park and turn the site into a pesticide factory - something easier said than done thanks to the notorious Weewankah Willy, a mysterious unknown in a bear suit who does all that he can to ransack Rancewell's project.

As the girls settle in (with difficulty), Eve, whose parents have recently been declared bankrupt, signs up for the camp Wilderness Challenge in the hope of walking away with the five thousand dollar prize money to put towards a scholarship. She is disheartened to learn that the orienteering class is full - a class she needed to take if she has any chance of winning the grand prize. Consequently, she and the girls ask for help from Trailor, a kid who works in the park's tuck shop and lives on the land adjacent to Weewankah. He suggests Eve asks his brother Truckie (James Wilder), something of an orienteering expert, but Truckie refuses on the grounds that he has more important things to deal with - like Mr Rancewell. However, Eve is able to swiftly change his mind when she threatens to reveal the secret that is keeping Rancewell from his precious pesticide plant: Truckie is Weewankah Willy. With no parents around, Trailor and Truckie rely on their jobs at the park to get by and allowing Rancewell to develop the land would mean the brothers losing their only means of livelihood.

Over at the beach, Marsha is determined to prove to Linnie, who is engaged to her childhood sweetheart, not to "buy the first dress you try on" and that marriage is no fun at their age. Linnie, although reluctant, soon warms to her best friend's advice when numerous sun kissed beach bods catch her eye. The girl's hunt for guys begins badly when they happen upon the park's local numskulls, Corky and Mando, who reject the girl's blatant advances only because they're too dumb to notice them. In Marsha's pursuit she turns her attention to the hunky Johnny - the sight of the man of her dreams swimming in the lake has her mouth open in awe! While Linnie - having ignored Trailors efforts at winning her affection - is off feeding her supposed hair cutting fetish (one of the more distinctly absurd plot lines), Marsha and Johnny grow closer, as do Eve and Truckie after Eve's flirtatious blackmail sends romantic sparks flying.

Trailor's promotional party for the Wilderness Challenge has Marsha insisting to her friends that they're "just gonna die" when they meet this incredible guy she had spent the day with. To her horror, it is Marsha who almost dies at the sight of her potential summer romance, dressed from head to toe in chains and black leather - the same, unrecognisable, heavy metal Johnny that the girls had seen on their first day at Weewankah. Marsha's dismissive reaction leaves Johnny completely out in the cold and, furiously, he leaves the party. There are troubles elsewhere when Truckie receives a court order in the mail, forcing him and his brother to quit and allow the takeover. The pesticide factory isn't the only thing that Truckie objects to, confiding in Eve the extent of Rancewell's disregard for nature, wildlife, but most importantly, the law. As Truckie tells of Rancewell's shady past - having narrowly escaped prosecution for dumping toxic chemicals in a dried up creek - the pair set out to do all they can in halting the development, uncovering the corrupt plans, and saving the park. They succeed in flooding out the construction site during the night, leaving Rancewell fuming and vowing to have the culprit - the still mysterious Weewankah Willy - caught and turned into "one very dead bear rug".

Marsha, already regretting her actions, looks for a way to win Johnny over again. Playfully, she teases him about his style, to which he comes back with an attack on her "walking billboard" fashion sense. Eve and Linnie set out to mend Marsha's broken heart by giving her a heavy metal makeover, which leads to all sorts of wildly humorous surprises, including an unexpected appearance by Ted Nugent!

Will Eve and Truckie foil Rancewell's devious plans? Will Linnie get married? Will Marsha keep her extreme new image? And who will win the Wilderness Challenge?

VERDICT: ★★★ ½

Directed by exploitation king Rafal Zielinski, State Park - or, under the more memorable (for all the wrong reasons) Canadian title of Heavy Metal Summer - is a little known, rarely mentioned, but tidily crafted comedy that sneaks up on you when you least expect it. Crawling with more subplots than bugs at a campsite, State Park somehow packs each one in convincingly and cleverly without having to tie loose ends with rampant fleeting nudity or over-emphasised adolescent humour. First glances unavoidably give the impression that this is yet another summer camp romp in a long line of watered-down Meatballs clones, and, mixed with the dwindling popularity of the low budget college comedy in the latter part of the eighties, the film brought in an astonishingly low domestic gross of just $421. They probably blew that on hairspray alone.

State Park, among its many pleasantly surprising attributes, takes the uncommon path of aiming towards not hormonally raging males, but the female audience. As opposed to our heroines throwing both caution and their knickers to the wind in a sexual frenzy, they are presented as level-headed women on a quest for romance, with interests that stretch beyond the contents of the nearest available swimming trunks (with the exception of Linnie's peculiar desires).

The underdogs battling evil authority is indeed a familiar tune, but State Park plays it well. And you gotta admit, who doesn't love the instant gratification of the good guys coming out on top? For more Rafal Zielinski hijinks, check out similar Canadian farce Breaking All The Rules.

IMAGES/VIDEOS: [movie clip]

SOUNDTRACK:

01. Love Is Like A Chainsaw - Ted Nugent & Rachel Sweet
02. I Say Yeah - Scream Cycle
03. Easy to Love - Rachel Sweet
04. A Night Like Any Other - Darryl Phinnesse & Anita Sherman
05. Dancin' The Night Away - Reno Wilde
06. Rockin Robin - Bobby Day
07. Out Of My Mind - Colin Gerrard
08. Queen of the Scene - TT Quick
09. Come Beat The Band - TT Quick
10. Asleep at the Wheel - TT Quick
11. Little Miss Dangerous - Ted Nugent
12. I'll Do Anything (For Your Love) - Nancy Hall
13. She's in Love - Colin Gerrard
14. Savin' My Love - Trapper
15. Her Heartbeat - Steve McClintock

Aloha Summer [1988]

"There's a time in everyone's life that changes them forever. For six friends, it's this summer."

The year is 1959, the place; Hawaii. Summer vacation has just begun and a handful of very different families are headed to the island to spend the next few weeks in the sunshine. What none of them yet realize is just how big a part they will each play in one another's lives, and that by the time their stay draws to a close they will always remember the summer of '59.

The film largely follows shy teenager Mike Tognetti (Chris Makepeace), whose family have just arrived at the "Paradise Inn" - a hotel that doesn't quite live up to its name. To kill his blues, Mike heads for the beach and in his hunt for sea and sand, meets Chuck Granville (Don Michael Paul), a self-confident ladies man who quickly finds use for Mike's camera and all of the surrounding bikini-clad beach babes. Smooth-talking Chuck persuades the girls to join them for a get-together later that night, which is when they meet a group of local teens who at first do not greet the Americans with much welcome. "There's no room for you here - go back to the mainland, haole!". Nevertheless, Mike and Chuck become friends with two of the group; surfers Jerry and Kilarney, who are eager to pass their wave-riding skills onto their new found pals. Surfing is what introduces the guys to Scott and Kenzo - the final two members of their summer gang.

Trouble begins when Chuck falls for the beautiful Lani (Tia Carrere), a local girl whose brother is the over-protective sort. So much so, in fact, that obsessing over the welfare of his younger sister later results in unforseen tragedy. While Chuck and his slick moves have Lani under his spell, bumbling Mike is pining for the attention of the most unattainable of girls - Amanda; she's pretty, she's blonde, and she's Chuck's sister. Picking up effective pick-up lines are the least of the guy's troubles however when one of the gang staggers through the dark with his face covered in bruises having just had it out with a vicious group of sailors. With the beach as their battleground, the teenagers fight to reclaim respect and, well, just to get even with the racist "swabbies".

A divide forms between the teen's parents when the families all meet up at a formal dinner. The Granvilles and Tognetti's - both American - find it impossible to socialize with their non-white counterparts, the air thick with preconceptions. The tension is lifted when the teenagers, already close friends (to their parent's unease), band together for the evening. Romantic sparks fly between Amanda and Mike and Chuck and Lani, with both couples sharing a kiss.

Further sun-and-surf interludes precede a humour-filled adventure in Kilarney's convertible, resulting in the guys being arrested for driving while under the influence. The jokes stop here for each youngster, whose parents are especially unimpressed when forced to pay bail. It is Kenzo who receives the brunt of the punishment when his fierce and overbearing father insists on teaching his son a lesson.

Events take a dramatic turn when Lani's brother, bitter over his sister's involvement with Chuck, foolishly attempts to rectify the situation. His plans to scare Chuck away for good with the help of a handgun culminate in a scuffle in which Lani's brother is accidentally and tragically killed. A heart-broken Lani is then forced to end her summer romance and insists never to see Chuck again.

With a dark cloud hanging over the island, reports of an impending storm circulate, and the gang feel it their duty to ride waves together one final time. With danger staring them in the face, they head out on their boards, underestimating the severity of the storm and what is about to become a fight for survival. However, like many a summer movie, the teens and their vacations end on a high note, and one they will never forget.

VERDICT: ★★★ ½

If Aloha Summer must be compared to anything, it could be regarded as North Shore and Stand By Me spliced into one. It is a nostalgic and earnest coming-of-age dramedy about true friendship, with the sand, sun and surf-filled Waikiki as its backdrop. The film does a masterful job of recreating the late fifties, and is filled with delightful hits of the period like "Dream Lover" and "One Summer Night". Aloha Summer has a certain innocence and uniqueness that separates it from the tonnes of generic sex comedies and beach movies of the eighties, and while it is undeniably lighthearted and easy to watch, it also convincingly depicts the prejudices and racism that would have been all-to common at the time. In spite of the racial overtones, Aloha Summer looks back fondly on the cultural aspects of 1959 Hawaii; the year the island became the 50th state. Although the film does suffer from a few contrived moments (and was directed by the man behind Halloween III: Season of the Witch!), it is a welcome change from so-called classics like Porky's, and so its faults are easily forgivable.

One thing that is evident is that story behind Aloha Summer was written by somebody with the best memories of growing up when times were simpler. But no matter what era you grew up in, and wherever you took your summer vacation, Aloha Summer is a warmhearted portrayal of friendship, that we can all, in one way or another, relate to.

IMAGES/VIDEOS: [movie clip]

SOUNDTRACK:

1. Beyond The Sea - Bobby Darin
2. You're So Fine - The Falcons
3. Lei Momi, Lei Momi Lani - Blaine Kia, Warren Fabro
4. Little Darlin' - The Salty Six
5. Koni Koni - The Royal Tahitians
6. Bustin' Surfboards - The Bongo Teens
7. Tequila - Stewart Levin & Snuffy Walden
8. Yakety Yak - The Coasters
9. Purple People Eater - Sheb Wooley
10. Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu - Domenico Modugno
11. Splish Splash - Bobby Darin
12. Burning Bridges - Jack Scott
13. Momma Stole The Chicken - Billy Bland
14. I Only Have Eyes For You - The Flamingos
15. Walk Don't Run - The Ventures
16. Stairway To The Stars - Del Courtney Orchestra
17. Elmer's Tune - Del Courtney Orchestra
18. You're Driving Me Crazy - Del Courtney Orchestra
19. I Can't Get Started - Del Courtney Orchestra
20. Mapuana - Sonny Kamahele
21. Deep Purple - Del Courtney Orchestra
22. Rockin' Robin - Bobby Day
23. Ku Ipo Ona Ona - Pau Amelda
24. In The Still of the Nite - The Five Satins
25. Since I Don't Have You - written by Joseph Rock
26. We Belong Together - Robert & Johnny
27. One Summer Night - The Danleers
28. White Ginger Blossoms - Haunani Kahalewai
29. A Thousand Miles Away - The Heartbeats
30. Dream Lover - Bobby Darin

Permanent Record [1988]

"Everyone thought David had it all.. until the day David ended it all"

Yes, Keanu Reeves is in this movie. No, it doesn't suck.

Permanent Record is the story of David Sinclair (Alan Boyce), a popular high school kid who seemingly has just about everything going for him. Perfect grades, a sterling reputation with teachers and a fine relationship with his parents and little brother. His outstanding musical talent doesn't go unnoticed either, having just been handed a scholarship to a highly regarded music college. In an ideal world, David couldn't be happier..

Chris (Reeves) has a thing for music, too, and spends his spare time jamming in the band that he and best friend David created.

A popular haunt for the local kids are the sea-side clifftops - a convenient parking spot, where they can drink beer, hang out and do as they please. One night, during the celebration party (complete with chips, dips.. and vegetables) thrown together by Chris and David, those cliffs - the same cliffs where girlfriends and boyfriends go to play music and make out - are to be the scene of something way more sinister, unforeseeable and tragic than any of the teens could imagine. The heartbreak that is in their midst is only minutes away from shattering an entire community - most of all Chris - who is unfortunate enough to be at the fateful scene as it unfolds.

Suddenly David, the hardworking, straight-A student, is nowhere to be found. Not at the party. Not with a girl. Not with his guitar, or his band mates. But dead. That's right. Dead. And the last place anyone had seen him alive was on the edge of the Oregon cliffs. Chris, being that someone, tries to come to terms with what instant reaction tells him was a terrible, freak accident. While the news breaks to his parents and the rest of his school, their first thoughts are also telling them the same: it was an accident. It could have happened to anyone. Still, nobody can quite accept that this kid - a kid with such a promising future, had so unfairly lost his life.

While shockwaves are still circulating, Chris finds it difficult to concentrate. His mind is elsewhere - how can school work possibly matter when you've lost your best friend? As his drama class prepare for their performance of HMS Pinafore, the responsibility of writing the music for the production - a responsibility which had previously lie in David's hands - is re-assigned. On instruction from the school principal, the drama teacher, although reluctant, agrees to hand the job over to a still-traumatized Chris. Knowing that his strong point within his band was never songwriting, Chris questions his own ability, as well as the rationale behind the Principal's instructions. Little does he know that his inner songwriter will soon come to light and not only pave the way for an amazing school production, but also come to terms with the loss of his best friend.

In the days to come, Chris receives what appears to be an insignificant package in the mail. Inside, he finds sheet after sheet of unfinished music, accompanied by a note. "I wanted everything to be perfect. It wasn't", it reads. An enormous stone drops right there and then. Heaving as he races to the bathroom, with the horrible truth swirling in his head, Chris begins to scrutinize both the note and the reasoning behind David's suicide. Should he tell everyone? Or should he keep it to himself? How could he possibly break the news to David's parents?

Eventually, the genuine circumstances surrounding David's death are made apparent. Almost as if he had died all over again, nobody can quite believe or understand it. Principal Verdell, who had promised to hold a memorial service at the school, is told to re-think his plans of "promoting suicide". Angered that Verdell has gone back on his word, Chris is expelled for smashing a window in his office. To make the situation worse, his father takes away his only means of escape - his guitar. No guitar, no songwriting. No songwriting, no HMS Pinafore. Life seems to be on a downward spiral for Chris, but can he climb back up before it all ends in tears?

VERDICT: ★★★★

Amazing performances, a tearjerking plot, a fantastic soundtrack. Permanent Record wholeheartedly deserves the cult status that clings to it. Why it is so overlooked is one of the many mysteries of the film world. One thing Permanent Record can be commended for is the non-1988 quality about it. It isn't brimming with dodgy fashions and music and dancing, neither does it commit the typical teen movie crime of depicting parents and adults as idiots. It's a movie with a big heart and big brains. The only real downer is the manner in which it rockets from sincere and depressing almost all the way through, to damn cheesy in the last scenes. But who cares? This is no action-packed, slapstick craziness, but a slow-paced, heartfelt display of human emotion among genuine characters and an unvarnished storyline. After School Specials eat your heart out!

IMAGES/VIDEOS: [movie clip]

SOUNDTRACK:

Yet another out of print little gem!

1. Trash City - Joe Strummer
2. Baby The Trans - Joe Strummer
3. Nefertiti Rock - Joe Strummer
4. Nothin' Bout Nothin' - Joe Strummer
5. Theme From Permanent Record [Instrumental Score]
6. 'Cause I Said So - The Godfathers
7. Waiting On Love - Bodeans
8. Wishing On Another Lucky Star - J.D. Souther
9. All Day And All Of The Night - The Stranglers
10. Something Happened - Lou Reed

The Night Before [1988]

"You lost your father's car. Sold your prom date. And a guy called 'Tito' wants you dead"

Waking up dishevelled in a back alley in LA, Winston Connelly (Keanu Reeves) is having a hard time recollecting how he ended up in such a state. Suited in a grubby white tux, having lost his wallet, his car, his prom date and his bearings, wanders into a dodgy backstreet diner hoping to get his thoughts back and work out what the hell happened the night before.

Slowly but surely, the previous night's events begin to unfold in a series of flashbacks, the first a reminder of a rather unwanted family discussion during dinner the previous day. As he sips his coffee, he digs out a 'security parking' ticket from the pocket of his tux, wandering out to find his dad's car parked close by. Scouring his pockets for the keys, they're nowhere to be found, and just as a guy approaches offering help to get into the vehicle, he is hit by another flashback.

It's before the prom. He's off to pick up his date, hoping to impress her in his dad's convertible. Being the vice president of the astronomy club, Winston isn't too popular, but miraculously, his date is the most beautiful and popular girl in the entire school - cheerleader Tara Mitchell (Lori Loughlin). As it turns out, Winston's lucky date was all thanks to a losing bet between Tara and best friend Lisa. The memory stops there as Winston realises his car has just been stolen!

A few words with the parking attendant leaves Winston even more confused, discovering a guy named Tito is after him. Tito? Who the hell is Tito!? Time for another callback from the memory department, this time of the car journey to prom.. Or the journey that should have lead them to prom, at least! A major navigation fail, leaving Tara and him in a seedy downtown location, littered with hookers, thieves and a whole bunch of scary looking thugs - including some lunatic who successfully swipes Winston's wallet after lunging through the car window! To make things worse, the tank is nearly out of gas. No cash. No gas. No chance.

Stopping off at a bar, Winston gets a little carried away with himself, and despite a warning from a bar-regular, has a shot of the barman's dodgy tequila. It's then bye bye high school dork and hello hustler Connelly, as he accidentally sells 'hooker' Tara for one and a half grand! A drunken ballroom style dance is an end to the laughs, and from here on in, things start to get dirty!

Still having trouble recalling the entire nights events, Winston sets out to find his date. After various run-ins with toy store robbers, prostitutes and gangsters, he manages to teach a few bad guys a lesson.. But will he rescue Tara?

VERDICT: ★★★★

The Night Before is one of those fun, totally unbelievable movies, full of wildly ridiculous humour that'll make you laugh like Keanu Reeves on tequila. These kinds of movies from back in his early days often hold my attention a lot more so than his newer stuff, mainly because his teenage characters are more believable and more him! One of the awesome aspects of the character of Winston Connelly is the fact he is a complete dufus, and all you can think the entire time is TED THEODORE LOGAN. Of Lori Loughlin's movies, The Night Before is sillier, funnier and as lighthearted as you can get. Another nice point is the lack of crudeness, which you'd probably expect from a movie involving hookers & downtown LA!

Some brilliant tunes, scenes, and the typical feel-good ending. I mean, whats a teen movie without the *megasqueeee* ending? In all seriousness though.. How difficult can it be to get to prom?!

IMAGES/VIDEOS: [movie trailer]

SOUNDTRACK:

1. Danny Boy - Mark Davis
2. Way Over There - The P-Funk All-stars
3. Baby Boy - The P-Funk All-stars
4. Last Night - The Mar-Keys
5. Who'd Have Ever Thought We'd Be Friends - The P-Funk All-Stars
6. J.B. - Mark Davis
7. Salsa Groove - Mark Davis
8. Betty's Working Late Tonight - Mark Davis
9. I Smell Trouble - Ike & Tina Turner

The In Crowd AKA Dance Party [1988]

"They're young. They've got the energy. They've gotta dance!"

It's the '60s. Philadelphia teen Del (Donovan Leitch) is a kid with a dream. Spending hours in front of the television dancing along to after school phenomenon the Perry Parker show, he is determined to get a spot on the hottest show in town, if only to impress the beautiful Vicky (Jennifer Runyon), Perry Parker regular.

Trying to convince him otherwise are his high school buddies, in particular, friend Gail (Wendy Gazelle), who is none too impressed with her best friend's obsession. Nevertheless, Del is transfixed by the show and, in a move that'll change his future, takes a trip over to the studio. Dolled up in his best suit and looking sharp, he tries his best to blend in with the shows regular faces queued up outside. Realising the chances of his name magically appearing on the doorman's list is very slim indeed, he makes a run for the door when all heads are turned.

As luck has it, he is then mistaken for a dance regular and is taken backstage by a crew member. Mingling with the other youngsters, he can't quite believe he's made it. In walks Perry Parker (Joe Pantoliano) to give his obligatory before-show lecture to the kids, puzzled at the sight of new kid Del. With star dancer Vicky late again due to detention, Perry isn't too happy. It then turns out that Dugan (Scott Plank), Vicky's boyfriend and usual dance partner, has been banged up for acts of juvenile delinquency, forcing Perry to choose a new partner for her. Knowing that Dugan would flip at the idea of some other guy dancing with his girl, the regulars chicken out, refusing to take his place. Naive Del, however, decides to speak up and volunteer for the job.

Curtain call time, on go the lights, music and cameras, a cue for the usual dancers to humiliate the new kid Del. Bouncing back from their attempts at showing him up in front of everyone, the audience are impressed by his moves, and the camera switches to him. Back at home, Gail is gobsmacked that her best friend is shaking his stuff on the hippest show in Philly, jealous that he's sharing the spotlight with the gorgeous Vicky. After the show, Perry Parker - wanting to find an excuse to get rid of bad boy Dugan - talks Vicky into going on a date with Del at the weekend.

Falling in with the dance show kids, Del - an alien to their world - begins to spend more time with Vicky, the pair becoming the programme's featured couple. Breaking into Del's house during a violent thunderstorm, a disgruntled Dugan challenges his rival to an explosive dance-off, only intensifying the hate between the two dancers.

Gail is still busy attempting to convince Del to stay away from the 'in crowd' and the bad influence they have on him, but he refuses to listen, causing a major fall-out between them. As it turns out, Vicky isn't the sharpest tool in the shed, and differs from Del's crowd as much as he differs from hers. Eventually, Vicky breaks it to Del that she and Dugan are running away together, asking him to help them escape. Realising she is unhappy tied to the Perry Parker Show, Del agrees to give them a hand and finally, him and Dugan are on good terms with one another.

Having let the fame go to his head and taken his true friends for granted, Del is feeling the pain of stardom. But will he and Gail finally lay their differences to rest?

VERDICT: ★★★ ½

The In Crowd has that kitschtastic factor to it, looking back on the '60s in as much colour and with as much fondness possible. There are some fantastic dance sequences, accompanied by great '60s tunes. Joe Pantoliano does a convincing job playing Perry Parker - a character based on that of actual Philadelphia disc-jockey Jerry Blavat. A section of Blavat's website describes a bit about what The In Crowd almost definitely took it's inspiration from:

"His first exposure to "fame" came as a dancer on the original Bandstand television program, hosted by Bob Horn. In 1953, less than a year after the show's inception, a 13 year old Jerry Blavat perfected his first scam-- impersonating a 14 year old to get on the program. He became a favorite with the viewers and rose to the head of the coveted "Committee", the group of teens responsible for aiding Horn in the direction of the show. When Bob Horn was fired over very questionable circumstances a few years later, the rest of the teens welcomed new host Dick Clark. Belying his youth, Blavat displayed an early sense of the loyalty that would become his most prized character trait and left the program rather than tacitly approving Horn's ousting."

Overall, a fun look back on the rock and roll generation, with Donovan Leitch nailing the character of Del and demonstrating a whole host of impressive dance moves. Jennifer Runyon does a wonderful job as the just-a-bit-simple teen Vicky, the movie being my favourite of all of her roles. One of the more memorable 'forgotten' movies of the '80s, and gets better the more you watch it!

IMAGES/VIDEOS: [trailer]

Coming soon!

SOUNDTRACK:

None available.

18 Again! [1988]

"Be careful what you wish for... it just might come true!"

What would you become if your soul was taken over by that of your 81 year old grandfather? David Watson is about to find out!

David (Charlie Schlatter) is an 18 year old fraternity pledge who isn't too popular with the rest of his frat house. Constantly pushed around by track champ Russ Deacon and a few other frat brothers, school is more than a drag.

Where girls are concerned, David has an eye for fellow history student Robin (Jennifer Runyon), who also happens to be the girlfriend of big-time jerk Russ. As you can imagine, Robin is pretty much off-limits to David, and, lacking in confidence, he would rather continue writing the frat brothers' term papers and watching Robin from a distance than getting on the wrong side of the entire frat house.

Enter Jack Watson (George Burns). High-flying businessman and hit with the ladies, about to turn 81. What could a guy with everything possibly wish for over the candles of his Birthday cake? None other than to rekindle the days of his youth, and reverse his age!

Inviting grandson David out for a bite to eat after the party, Jack passes on a bit of his wisdom in the love department, and the two indulge in a cigar session. But the car journey home turns into a disaster when the smooth talking grandfather swerves off the road, smashing through a shop window, leaving both him and David unconscious.

Awakening in the hospital, Jack curses, wishing he could undo the tragic accident. But it isn't until he gets a glimpse of his reflection that he realises the whole incident has actually turned into a meaningful and life-changing experience.. He wakes up in David's body! With the car accident triggering a soul-transference between grandfather and grandson, David is unconscious within the body of his grandfather, whilst the wisecracking Jack is sent off back to school, having to live David's life for him!

It isn't long before Jack realises that the once-respectable Watson name isn't exactly living up to standards, experiencing first-hand the unbrotherly love between David and the frat brothers. Determined to alter David's reputation for good, and show Russ he means business, Jack ends up making quite a name for his grandson. But can he win the heart of the beautiful Robin in the process?

VERDICT: ★★★ ½

Of the wave of body-swap movies that came out around the time of Big, 18 Again is one of the better of the bunch. It is filled with comedy and laugh-out-loud lines. Charlie Schlatter does a fantastic job as an 81 year old trapped in the body of a teenager, and makes a really likable character. You find yourself rooting for him practically from the beginning of the movie.

18 Again is an excellently feel-good teen flick, and a topnotch effort from New World Pictures. Of course, the movie doesn't promise to be cliche-free, but the laughs and smiles it brings makes up for it. George Burns and his hilarious narration throughout the hour and a half is guaranteed to make you wish for a grandfather as cool as Jack Watson.

You'll be left smiling ear-to-ear.

IMAGES/VIDEOS [movie clip]

SOUNDTRACK:

1. I Wish I Was 18 Again - George Burns
2. You Drive Me Ape (You Big Gorilla) - The Dickies
3. She's A Hunchback - The Dickies
4. By The Light Of The Silvery Moon - Written by Gus Edwards & Edward Madden

Dance 'Til Dawn [1988]

"The kids had plans for a wild, all-night prom. But no one expected a party like this!"

The movie starts out with us being introduced to geeky Dan Lefcourt (Chris Young). Trying to act as casually as he can, he walks into a flower shop and asks for a corsage for his prom date. Completely unsure of what colour corsage to buy for his "pretty cute" date, he rushes away from the store with the first one he is handed and ends up bumping into fellow Hoover High students; Patrice (Christina Applegate) and boyfriend Roger (Matthew Perry).

The scene then jumps to another store, where Patrice has met three girls from Hoover High, including the most popular girl in school, Shelley Sheridan (Alyssa Milano). We then see Shelley approaching her long-term boyfriend, Kevin McCrea and declaring that she - rather than going to prom with him - will be going to a frat party. Despite now not having a date, Kevin is off to a clothes store to buy a tux, deliberating over who could possibly replace Shelley. His two guy mates then spot Angela "Dull" Strull and her best friend Margaret, and one of the guys convince Kevin that Angela is "real easy" and "not that bad looking once you get her out of those geeky clothes". In the end Kevin falls for it and heads over the the video store to find Angela and ask her to the prom.

Angela and friend Margaret can't believe the coolest kid in school is giving them the time of day, let alone asking one of them to the biggest event of the year. Angela agrees to go with him, leaving Margaret to spend prom night alone watching movies. Its now a race against time to get Angela ready and, finding her mom's old prom dress in the cupboard, slips it on, does her make up and waits for Kevin to arrive. However, being a future student to bible college, Angela's parents (more specifically her dad) are reluctant to allow her leave. She slips out the back door into Kevin's sports car, but her parents are soon after her, following their every move.

Meanwhile, geeky and dateless Dan Lefcourt has slipped off to an all night movie theatre. It seems that Shelley Sheridan had the same idea, too, but is too embarrassed to explain why exactly she isn't at the prom. She warns Dan to keep quiet about her spending the night alone, but soon more Hoover High students enter the theatre and Shelley makes a run for it. Dan and her decide to go and get a bite to eat, but don't have much luck trying to lie low for the evening.

By now Angela and Kevin McCrea are at an Italian restaurant - with Angela's parents on the sidelines, spying on them. There are a few more disasters before Angela and Kevin head off to school, with the parents still following close behind.

Dan & Shelley hang out in the middle of nowhere, watching the stars and trying to keep themselves to themselves. But after Dan's dad turns with his forgotten corsage, it becomes apparent that he didn't go to the prom at all, and his dad sets out to find him. Kevin & Angela have arrived by now and everyone is stunned at how beautiful "Dull Strull" really is, being voted queen with Kevin king. Patrice is enraged at the fact she wasn't handed the crown and forces Roger to leave with her in the same limo they arrived in. Dumped in the middle of nowhere, it turns out that Roger has no cash to pay the driver!

The kids all make their way to Patrice's party, not knowing that the house is actually empty and Patrice and Roger stranded miles from home. Prior to the party, Margaret rushes to Angela to tell her some unpleasant news about the slimy Kevin McCrea. Angela snubs her best friend, telling her not to try and ruin the best night of her life, continuing on to the party.

Arriving at home early in the morning after a hellish night, Roger and Patrice are greeted by a smashed window and trashed house - the perfect end to a perfect evening. In the meantime, Dan & Shelley wake up after falling asleep in the car on "Mount Neverest, where everyone goes to make out!". Angela ends up going to find Margaret and apologising, and all the kids have the "traditional breakfast at Huds", where they all learn a thing or two about each other and reminisce over each of their very different night's experiences.

VERDICT: ★★★★ ½

Dance 'Til Dawn has to be one of the most undeservedly overlooked teen movies of the '80s. Probably because it was a made for TV movie - but it had all the qualities of a theatrical release. It has EVERYTHING rolled into one movie - the geek getting the girl, the unpopular girl becoming prom queen, a crazy house party, over-protective parents, popular uber-bitches, the prettyboy getting his comeuppance, Grace from Ferris Bueller (and her husband is even called Ed, like Mr Rooney. Bit of a coincidence, eh?) and of course the amazing prom scenes.

You will fall madly in love with Dance 'Til Dawn, and that's a promise.

IMAGES/VIDEOS: [movie clip]

SOUNDTRACK:

None available.