Customer Reviews

Lucas [VHS]

5 star:		(35)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I can relate very well to this film. I saw it my senior year of high school in 1991, but I didn't notice how true it rang for me until today. Like Lucas, I was unpopular but outgoing. Many students looked down on me because I was in special education and was considered 'stupid'. I also had a crush on a cheerleader and did everything to get her attention. And also like Lucas, my heart was crushed when she decided to date a football player. I was even told by one of the teachers to stick with my own kind (he didn't say those EXACT words, but it sounded that way) when he talked to her about me. The good news was the pain I felt healed in time.

That is why I like Lucas. It is a movie I can relate to, and is full of honesty. Unlike a few other 80s teen films, it doesn't stereotype it's characters. Lucas is not a stereotypical geek because he is interesting, Cappy is not your stereotypical jock because he has a good heart and looks out for Lucas, and Maggie is not your stereotypical high school cheerleader because she doesn't act snotty. Looking back on this film now would be a trip through innocence because many of the main stars have had their share of trouble in recent years. Still, if you want to watch a great film that takes an honest look at teen angst, 'Lucas' hits the right buttons.

The death of Corey Haim prompted me to come and order this DVD. It was one of his best performances; thinking of it made me sad that he never found his footing as an actor during his adult years.

I realize that this is supposed to be my review and not Roger Ebert's, but I can't help but quote a couple of things he said. About Haim's performance in "Lucas": "He creates one of the most three-dimensional, complicated, interesting characters of any age in any recent movie. If he can continue to act this well, he will never become a half-forgotten child star, but will continue to grow into an important actor. He is that good."

Ebert listed it as one of the top 10 films of 1986. I agree with that assessment. It's a quiet, well-written, beautifully acted movie.

RIP, Mr. Haim.

Well, maybe I guess it is an 80's teen movie, but unlike other 80's teen movies this film is intelligent and has a heart.

The other movies from this genre are plot driven. Honestly, how many different titles has the story of "Can't Buy me Love" had? This movie however has taken a different perspective to look at teenage years and took the approach to drive the story from the characters, not plot.

The movie is brave by not taking the easy way out (except for one scene which I won't ruin) and I respect that. It also makes the movie less predictable and more entertaining to watch for us the audience.

I think this movie is the best movie of the teen movie genre. I loved Ferris Beuller, Sixteen Candles, and the other John Hughes greats. Those films were also loads more humerous too, but Lucas aims to do more than achieve laughs and I applaude its efforts.

"Lucas" is a rare gem, a movie which is filled with the usual stereotypes (geek, jock, nerd, etc) except that this movie digs below the surface to show us what is beneath the stereotype !
And it also plays against character in that the jock (Charlie Sheen) is actually friends with the geek (Corey Hains). The final scenes of Breakfast Club are awesome because that is when the barriers are broken down, but you must sit thru the entire movie to get to that part. In Lucas, the entire movie is the good part. For those of you who don't know, Kerri Green in her best performance (whatever happened to her anyway?) moves to a new town during the summer and bumps into Lucas (Corey Haines) and they become fast friends, but once school starts she begins to make other friends and eventually falls for the jock (Charlie Sheen) which begins a sort-of competition between the 2 of them to win her heart. Charlie Sheen wins ofcourse and there is an absolutely wonderful seen under a highway overpass between Corey Haines and Kerri Green where he discusses the fact that guys like him are destined to lose due to the laws of nature (this scene is heart breaking because it is so true). However, while many films would have ended there, this film continues because Lucas won't give up. I won't give it away but it involves a football game (these scenes are the only ones that go a bit too far in my opinion) and in the end Lucas does indeed win the competition and the hearts of others, but not in the way you think. The ending of this film LITERALLY gave me goosebumps, I wanted to stand and cheer for him.
This is a great movie with great performances all around. If you ever went to High School or ever fell in love with someone who did not love you back, you owe it to yourself to get this movie, you won't be dissapointed

"Lucas" is a good example of how 80's adolescent movies undermines 90's teen movies. I don't have to tell the ones who read this that the teen movies that are made today is beyond horrible. One thing I love about the eighties, is that the directors who made teenage movies really put their hearts in it, and made an effort to capture the true luminous light of youth. I was immediately taken with "Lucas", because, unlike most teen movies, intelligence and individuality were portrayed. Clever dialogue, wonderful acting, and best of all, individuality was emphasized. One thing I honestly regret about being a seventeen-year-old teenager in the millennium is having to be subjected to Hollywood teen flicks, which are so full of dreck it's amazing. My skin almost crawls when I look at "She's All That," "Ten Things I Hate About You", "Loser", "Drive Me Crazy", etc. Plus, the actors in "Lucas" do more of a convincing job than the modern teen actresses today. Watch "Lucas". You'll be rewarded. It's simple in its sweetness and charm, and is always good for a snowy night.

I never saw "Lucas" in the theaters, but it was rerun frequently in the late 80s and 90s on Fox on Saturday afternoons. I don't know that a more serious story has ever been offered to the teen audience--I can think of "What's Eating Gilbert Grape", but it doesn't have as wide a reality appeal for most.

"Lucas" is the story of a boy--promoted early to high school--who has an adult intellect with a child's understandings. His academic confidence has been his best friend, but he is willing to abandon it for the girl he has fallen in love with. It is the kind of film that should be taken more to heart; an exhibition in how the "other half" lives--both Lucas and the other suitors find they have allowed myths (of the high school kind) to keep them from understanding each other.

The music in this film is a treasure. Like "E. T.", the music conveys the emotions of the person--making a dramatic scene all that more tender (as in a fresh wound).

I don't approve of the language, and until it was relased on VHS/DVD I didn't realize it does have "that word", but it is a good conversation piece for adults (read: parents/caregivers/teachers) and children (13+).

"Lucas" is a film about growing up. We all can relate to the problems associated with adolescence and puberty, especially the part about wishing we were someone else. This film is about heroes and the unlikely places you will find them. Underdogs can win in the game of life. An excellent movie for young and old alike!

Let me tell you, Lucas is one of the best teen movies ever! In an age when people think teens have no feelings, and are sex, and party crazy, it is refreshing to see a film like this. A true gem sbout the joys and pains of growing up. Excellent performances. It is too bad Corey Haim made bad movie choices afterward, because I believe he has talent. Anyway, he wil always have this one. Charlie Sheen, and Kerri Green are also marvelous. Do yourself a favor, and check it out.

Lucas is a stunning film about the hopes and dreams of anyone who has ever been young. The dazzling desire to be with the perfect person is mixed with the dangerous bite of reality. Corey Haim goes beyond mere acting and places Lucas in his heart. He is Lucas and there is no other way which the character could have been successfully imbued with a warmth and a fervor for the good things in life. Not to watch this film is a travesty in which the individual will suffer from never knowing how heart rending and beautiful adolescent movies can be.

what a good movie, really sad that he had all these problems during his youth and then the 80's were gone and he tried a come back but everything went right to dvd. Now he is longer with us, I just wonder what they will say about this movie and some of the other movies he made
Good movies never die, so i say get this movie it rocks