Customer Reviews

Joy of Sex [VHS]

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The only connection here to the esteemed book is that our main (and desperate) character Alan (Cameron Dye) keeps a well thumbed copy with him in class. He pines for Leslie (Michelle Meyrink) who's considered off-limits because her father (Christopher Lloyd) is the overprotective lethal wrestling coach. Leslie is looking to "score" also - she misunderstands her doctor and thinks she only has a few months to live. Subplots revolving around Alan and Leslie's attempts to "lose it" include a confused exchange student from Mecca and an undercover policewoman (Colleen Camp) who's looking to bust a student named "Mushroom" Malone. Formula teen comedy offers some laughs and originality - not to mention a "fart lighting" contest.

Wow, I don't know where to start. I love this movie and it's the little things that make it shine. It's one of those movies where you watch the background characters and action.

Examples: the "wacky glue" phantom who glues dildos in the trophy case, teacups on the chest of a Venus d'milo replica, and a urinal to the door of the principal's office. (Which the foreign exchange student later uses!)

The "Blue Flamers" that meet at the drive-in and then after long descriptions of the gaseous foods they ate, proceed to light their - er "wind".

When Leslie, the female lead, is babysitting with her 12 year old sister and the sister finds a vibrator and asks what it is for. Leslie tells her it is for "curling your hair." and in the background we see her sister try to curl her hair.

At the winter dance, after hints of how bad the food from the club is -- we see a tray of meatballs being carried by one of the sub-characters. When the meatballs fall off the tray they BOUNCE like little rubber balls across the floor.

Christopher Lloyd and Collen Camp are fun to watch. I wish Jeanne Mori could have made it big, she's a hoot as the dead-pan Sunshine.

The little one-liners and sight gags continue through the entire movie. I really wish this was available on DVD. Watch it once if you get the chance, relax and have a bit of fun.

I have seen this movie and if you want a good side splitting laugh get this movie. It will take you back to the hi jinks of your high school days. It is well worth the money to get it.

This film deserves better. Granted, it has suffered on several levels, from being tied to a title of a book that it had nothing to do with, to John Belushi's death prior to filming. All of this is unfortunate, as a lot of people go into this film expecting something that it was never meant to be. Plus the poor editing certainly doesn't help.

All that aside, what we're left with is a pretty decent 80's teen comedy along the lines of Better Off Dead, Weird Science and The Last American Virgin. Though not as classic as the above titles, it shares a lot of the same elements, and has plenty to offer to fans of the genre: some great lines, some genuinely funny scenes, a flashback to that 80's American high school experience that's embarrassingly perceptive enough to still ring true, and the great underrated Michelle Meyrink.

It is seriously overdue for DVD release.