I found out when I arrived at the theatre that it was a trade screening for exhibitors and that the film's star and executive producer Topher Grace (of That 70s Show fame) was in the house to meet and greet and introduce the film. Although I was not invited to participate in the meet and greet, I was present to see Grace introduce the screening. (No photos are available since my phone's battery died seconds before he was introduced.)
Grace, adorned in a Kansas City Royals cap, thanked everyone for being there and asked the crowd a few questions including, "Do you like John Hughes movies?" and "Do you like movies with a little sex in them?" He even dropped a few f-bombs into his pitch to endear himself to the crowd. As he walked toward the studio reps post-introduction, he shrugged his shoulders with a "this is not my kind of thing" look on his face. From there, the movie started and the actor was not seen by me again.
As for the movies, he was right in asking if we liked John Hughes movies. In the opening credits, a yearbook montage informs the viewer that the characters all attended Shermer High - the high school attended by Hughes characters in several of his movies (although this Shermer was located in So Cal and not the Chicago suburbs). Unfortunately, Take Me Home Tonight was more like an R-rated extended episode of That 70s Show than Sixteen Candles and The Breakfast Club. Whereas I am of a fan of that sitcom and a Topher Grace fan in general (he is great in a small role in Traffic), this is not a bad thing, but not what I was needed.
The story revolves around a pivotal day in the life of Matt Franklin, a recent MIT grad who doesn't know what he wants to do with his life. While he figures it out, he is working at the Suncoast Video at the local mall. While at work, he runs into his high school crush, Tori Frederking (played by Teresa Palmer). Lies and miscommunication between these two lead to all kinds of mayhem and confusion standard in romantic comedies.
References to the excesses of the late 80s - cocaine use, the rise of wall street banking, etc. - are hit and miss. The soundtrack plays like a K-Tel compilation put together by Casey Kasem - more America's Top 40 than MTV's 120 Minutes.
Dan Fogler (Fanboys, Good Luck Chuck) plays the overweight nerdy friend who goes off the deep end several times as he cuts loose after losing his job. Anna Farris (Scary Movie, The House Bunny) is wasted in the role of Wendy Franklin, Matt's twin sister. And, in a nice return to the big screen, 80s B-movie action star Michael Biehn plays the Hughesian father who seems disconnected, but knows exactly what to say and do for his kids.
This is the second film in as many years to return to the 80s to remember the Reagan years fondly. As with last year's Hot Tub Time Machine, the film is enjoyable, but not wholly successful. Although I enjoyed the movie, my biggest problem was three of the main characters are in their early 30s and portraying characters ten years their junior. Had this been told as a 10 year reunion story, it may not have been a distraction; however, this has already been done to perfection in Grosse Pointe Blank.
If I had to rate it, I would say 2.5 out of 5.
I didn't know there was room on the planet for a second Dan Fogelberg.
ReplyDeleteThat's really funny. I need to correct. I'm not even sure if the first Dan Fogelberg is still alive yet alone starting a second career as an actor in 80s tribute movies..
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