Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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115 of 118 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A personal favorite, September 28, 2001
This isn't a great film but its still one of my personal favorites. Basically, this storyline is familiar from anyone who saw any teen films in the mid-80s. Likeable but nerdy boy falls for the school beauty and, with the help of a much cooler James Dean type, pursues her against tremendous odds (well, against her football player boyfriend anyway) and in the end, discovers that beauty is only skin deep. However, this film manages to take that basic concept and actually liven it up with a sharp script, breezy direction that keeps the story moving, and finally some really winning performances, especially from Doug McKeon (the likeable geek in question who is hardly portrayed as an angel here), Catherine Mary Stewart as the type of girl we all actually loved in high school but didn't know how to talk to until college, and especially a talented actor named Chris Nash who takes on the stereotypical James Dean/rebel-without-a-cause role and actually reveals to us a vulnerable, genuinely likeable human being. Nash's genius is that even though he's playing Dean's character, he doesn't allow himself to fall into a slavish imitation of Dean as so many other young actors have a tendency to do. Instead, he creates his own, unique rebel. Whatever happened to Nash after this film? Of course, the film's real claim to popularity seems to be that McKeon's dream girl is played by Kelly Preston, back in her days when she was the hot blonde in every teen movie and had yet to marry John Travolta. Though underrated as an actress, the true key to Preston's success in those films was her willingness to do more nudity than other young actresses and this film contains what is probably her best and most celebrated nude scene. Of course, it helps that its also one of the rare explicit movie scenes that actually makes sense in terms of the plot, doesn't feel like exploitation, and actually has an unexpected payoff. This is a film about sex and at times, its fairly explicit but its also very humorous and honest. Watching this film, the characters truly come alive and you actually feel like you are just watching a bunch of teenage friends living the best years of their lives.
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23 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Romantic comedy - 1950s style, April 13, 2002
This is truly one of the most entertaining Romantic Comedies I have ever seen. Set in the 1950s, the film exudes this happy-go-lucky innocence that is absolutely charming. The cast is great, featuring Doug McKeon as a "Fonzie" type guy who wears a leather jacket, and Chris Nash as a nerdy (let's make that VERY nerdy) teenager who is trying his best to lose his virginity. The friendship that develops between this unlikely pair is a treat to see. It makes the movie a feel-good kind of experience that you will savor for days after the credits roll. The female side includes the lovely Catherine Marie Stewart, playing a wholesome 1950s girl. Kelly Preston plays a shallow & superficial babe who acts as a foil to Stewart's personage. As tender as this all sounds, I would not recommend this film for family viewing. Preston does a nude scene and I must concede.......she has one of the most incredible bodies I've ever seen. The 1950s Rock & Roll songs in the movie are a wonderful complement to the story on-screen. In truth, I've never cared too much for 50's Rock. However, in this movie I found the songs very refreshing. They did a lot to re-inforce the 1950s feel. In fact, the songs comprise the whole soundtrack - there is no incidental music @ all in the entire film. If you're looking for an RC movie that covers different territory than the present day movies, you may well like this one. Back to the 50s we go - HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN!
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great flick! Needs to show up on dvd!, August 16, 2004
Not only is this a very funny fifties nostalgia movie, but a young Kelly Preston in the role of Marilyn, the high school hottie, is -- wow! Too hot to handle! She "teams up" (ahem) with the main geeky character here in my all-time favorite make-out scene. This movie came out back when I was still a single guy and watching it then was like throwin' bacon on the hot grease -- sizzlin'! Not to mention the hilarious antics of Jonathon, the main character, as he clumsily tries to do the kinds of things that every teenage guy wants to do with the best-lookin' chick in the school. Then there's the great fifties tunes sprinkled throughout. It's a great sentimental trip to the past that lacks the recognition of the better-known "American Graffiti" and "Grease" movies, but more than makes up for it when Marilyn's parents go away on a trip...
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