Customer Reviews

Mischief [VHS]

5 star:		(40)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

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.

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!

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...

This a wonderful, yet rather unknown film. Mischief is set in 1956 in the small Ohio town of Nelsonville. Everything about the film has a great sense of nostalgia about it: the small town, the 1950s cars, the clothing, and the OUTSTANDING soundtrack.

Some quick plot summary: Jonathan (Doug McKeon's character) is an average high school kid, who meets his new rebel neighbor, Gene(Chris Nash), who promises to help him get the girl of his dreams(Kelly Preston). Along the way, Gene falls in love with a girl who already has a boyfriend, resulting in several confrontations.

Mischief combines romance (sex), action, and humor, to be throughly entertaining. (While this film does possess '50s charm, do not be misguided; it is NOT a family-oriented film, as the R-rating indicates.)

I was a stand-in for this film and it was one of the highlights of my life! The experience was great - the film is funny and so glad to see it is finally being released. Doug McKeon was the nicest - Cathy Stewart was the sweetest. The music is great 50's tunes. You cant miss Mischief

I especially like this movie because it was set in my hometown of Baltimore, Ohio. The downtown street scenes were done in Nelsonville, Ohio. The high school scenes were shot at the old (now torn down to make way for the new)Liberty Union-Thurston Elementary School and parts of the high school. If you've ever been to southeastern Ohio you must own this movie; the scenery is beautiful and the story line is classic.

This is a teen movie with the endless teen theme of boy seeking to get the goodies from the girl. It is better than the average for this genre due to several factors. Mostly, it is because is well done.

The subject matter lends itself to course treatment but that is not what is presented here. Instead, the situations are depicted with as much dignity as possible from hormone driven teenagers and is is presented with comedy.

The time of the film is the 50s. Society was more innocent back then but boys still had the same thing on their minds that they always have and always will. In this case, the school geek has a bad case for the school beauty queen. He is aided in his quest by the cool loner from out of town who has his own heart set on "the nice girl". Meanwhile, the unpopular girl has a bad case herself for the geek.

The geek achieves his goal and learns that the decorative aspects of women sometimes cover up the less desirable traits. The loner finds that the nice girl really is a nice girl and that love is something special. The unpopular girl undergoes a hormone miracle and becomes a prize catch. Everyone winds up happy except the town bully/rich boy. It is simplistic in its portrayal but no less appealing for that.

Kelly Preston plays the beauty queen and she really is the stuff of dreams until the wrapper comes off. Doug McKeon plays the geek who becomes a prize himself. Catherine Mary Stewart is the nice girl that I wish had lived next door to me and Jami Gertz is the metamorphosed hormone miracle. The cast is rounded out by Chris Nash. Each does a good job in the role. Teen angst comes to the fore and a worthwhile story actually results.

It was fun and bittersweet in the memories it conjured.

I must confess a soft spot for what should have been just another throw-away 80s teenage comedy--"Mischief" rises above the usual raunchy, unauthentic junk that pervaded the decade of my own high school experience. With a sweet center that belies its sometimes very adult (but refreshingly honest) presentation, the film walks a fine line between maudlin and moving and in the end is just plain satisfying. Doug McKeon ("On Golden Pond") is Jonathan, a smart but socially awkward teenager growing up in bucolic Nelsonville, Ohio (a real place, though rather more drab and gray than presented here). His ongoing quest for a lusty encounter with the class sexpot (the lovely, lovely Kelly Preston) gets a boost when a thoughtful "bad boy," Gene (Chris Nash), moves into the neighborhood, and the two outcasts become good friends. Gene agrees to teach Jonathan some better moves and when Gene falls in love with the girl-next-door (Catherine Mary Stuart), it's Jonathan's turn to help make a relationship happen. There's not much in the story that isn't predictable--and today's jaded teenagers will likely find the plot corny and simplistic--but the execution in "Mischief" is so charming that viewers get treated to a rarity: a teen comedy with a heart. Great performances, a wonderful 1950s-style production, and a stellar soundtrack (that appears to have never been released in any form . . . pity) certainly help, but it's probably the fact that the teenagers here actually seem like teenagers, with that strange mixture of innocence, neediness, and horniness, rather than cynical, know-it-all adults, that makes the film work. Believe me, in 1985, that feat alone was remarkable. That it fizzled at the box office may have had more to do with poor marketing than poor filmmaking.

Heart and Soul... that was supposed to be the name of this movie.. it was filmed in my hometown. Some of my workmates were extras in it. The movie tells the story about adolesence in full blown glory... and it is timeless regardless of the time period,... although here it is 1955. The old town square looked pretty good here. For those of you who are 40-60 and up, this will bring back lots of memories no doubt.

For those who were not there, this film really does capture the 50s teen experience. The cars, the dress, the town, the attitudes are all perfectly rendered.

The soundtrack is as great a collection of 50s tunes as was ever assembled.

Okay, so the story is not perfect, some of the performances are weak, but Kelly Preston is amazing. WOW!