Customer Reviews

Gimme an F [VHS]

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you like cheesy eighties camp movies this is for you. This is one of those movies that I would watch over and over on HBO because I thought it was risque. It turns out I was just young. But after watching the first 20 minutes of this movie, you quickly figure out what the "F" is for. It's not the best movie, but it's not the worst.

Ahhh, I too remember watching this on late night HBO along with H.O.T.S., Revenge of the Nerds, and a few others that we all thought were cool, risque teen 80's flicks back in the day. I would love to own this on DVD!! Brings back memories of late summer nights and middle school sleepovers.

"Flashdance" meets "Meatballs III" or maybe it should just be called "Meatballs IV". This is my friend Wesley's all-time favorite movie, largely because he still has a thing about J.V. cheerleaders. As someone once said: "This is fine-more than fine-but as you get older you need to branch out. Whether you want to or not, society demands it".

"Gimme An F" has cinema's greatest J.V. cheerleader Mary Ann (played by Beth Miller), who looks like a sweet-faced Alicia Silverstone from before her "Clueless" days. Wesley hates Miller's other film, the horrific "Teen Wolf Too" made three years later, where she plays a fickle southern belle much like Martha Smith's character in "Animal House". Personally I admire Miller's range as the two characters could not be more different and she is convincing as both.

Anyway, Mary Ann is a naïve novice cheerleader from Moline (a member of "The Lucky Ducks" squad) who comes to Camp Beaverview for cheerleading instruction. She's befriended by Jenna (Karen Lee Kelly), the leader of the tough girl squad-appropriately named "The Demons". Jenna becomes protective of Mary Ann after her main rival takes an instant dislike to the timid girl.

Later Mary Ann gets a crush on Tommy Hamilton, the head instructor. Tommy is spending his summer wrestling with the dilemma of having to grow up and move on, which is a problem as his only skills are teaching cheerleading and performing elaborate dance routines in the shower, for the enjoyment of viewers who get off on that sort of thing. Phoebe (Daphne Ashbrook) is Tommy's long-suffering girlfriend, she has a well-adjusted attitude and an experienced perspective. She even tolerates Tommy's flirtation with Mary Ann-trusting that Tommy will not actually take advantage of young Mary Ann.

While these four characters are solid and their relationships have a nice charm, the supporting cast is almost as weak as the material they have to work with. Which is a shame because had they brought some actual comic relief to the production it would have been a decent film. Jennifer Cooke plays Pam, a social climbing and terminally peppy instructor who is carrying on with camp's money-hungry owner Bucky. And there is another couple with a thing for the characters from "Mad Max". Since nothing is very funny you are left with only a cute semi-romance and some great dance routines.

An attempt is made to create some suspense by slowly leading up a final competition but unless this is your first movie experience the outcome is never in doubt. And there is a back-story about some Japanese businessmen Bucky wants to get money from, but it goes nowhere dramatically or comically.

Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child.

Were do I start?! I saw this on cable recently, I am 35 years old. This for the time is a PG-13 movie for now possibly even PG!!! There is No nudity that I saw as a guy to speak of however a Wet T-shirt at the end by Jennifer Cooke. I looked at the rating on cable and it said TVMA- on my cable provider that means past R- rated!! I can understand why guys both my age, younger and older did Not like this!!! It is a very silly film and I usually feel the same way about these types of movies! However how often do you see this kind of 80's goofy-spandex stuff anymore!! Girls cheerleaders Aerobics with big hair and this goofy instructor it's like a poor-man's Roger Corman movie!! I like Jennifer Cooke from one of my favorite films Friday the 13th part 6 (Jason lives) and Darcy Demoss (Can't buy me love is an extra in it), love her too! So it's a guilty pleasure. If these too Actress's were not in this goofy yet still kind of sexy for nostalgia sake, I would think this sucked!! Big Time! For guys only get this cheap and if you like the two actress's I mentioned, If you don't know them, skip this.

I remembered this video when I first saw Bring it On, and I relized where they got the idea for their movie. It's always better to see these low budget pilot movies just to see what can be made from it in the future.

I use to watch this movie so many times when I was a kid...I loved this movie because it was not only a cheezy 80's movie but it was also a funny movie,but I do like the fact that the underdogs get there act together at the end..(if you know what I mean)

Thanks

I watched this movie and would recommend it to anyone who wants to see a lot of beautiful women in great looking outfits.