The 80's were great for many things when it came to films. It spawned the Indy films, it created Rambo and some of the campier horror films made their way to our screens. But what it also gave birth to was the teen comedy. I'm sure that we all remember films like Porky's and Fasttimes and the John Hughes era, but what we may forget are small films like this one that were gone from the theater faster than Anna and the King will be. But the 80's also gave birth to video and it is here that I was lucky enough to see many of these hidden comedies. Films like Secret Admirer, Wild Life and Mischief are films that may be 15 or 20 years old but they are so much fun and so much of my youth that I hope that maybe if there are any younger people that read these reviews, they will follow my advise and rent some of the aforementioned titles. As it stands, Mischief is one those films that got a good laugh and it was rented and watched repeatedly.
Mischief is the story of a guy named Johnathin who is sort of a nerd. He is not really picked on the way that the nerds are in Revenge of the Nerds but still he is clearly not the most popular guy in school. He of course has a crush on the most beautiful girl in school named Marilyn McCauley, played by then hottie and still smokin, John Travolta's wife, Kelly Preston. Before Preston became domesticated and made the occassional film here and there in the 90's, she was a teenage boys pin-up girl as she was in this and Secret Admirer and was very liberal in showing us her assets. Anyway, Johnathin then meets the new kid on the block and he is your typical 50's greaser and a bad ass. His name is Eugene and he is played extremely well by Chris Nash. He and Johnathin develop a close friendship and Eugene decides that he is going to teach Johnathin how to be cool and get the girl. It is here that the film takes off. Most of the comedy ensues from Eugene teaching John what to do and how to do it. There is one particularly funny scene where John and Eugene are shooting some hoops and Eugene tells John why he is here.
" Got kicked out of school. " " Why? " " F***ed three chicks. " Eugene says, as if he was telling John that skipped school too many times. " REALLY??!!! " Johnathin replies, literally in awe of the guy.
Eugene and Johnathin are obviously complete opposites and seeing Eugene take Johnathin under his wing is the funniest part of the film. As we watch John go through his transformation we laugh along with him. We feel embarrasment for him as he awkwardly begins to build up his confidence. Mischief isn't as side splittingly funny as Porky's or Fasttimes but it is a great addition to the 80's teenage comedy fest. If all you really know about raunchy teenage comedy is American Pie, then you should check out where it's roots are. Mischief is one of the films that it may have taken after. I realize that the aging of this film may turn some young people off this one but it really is a sweet comedy and it is one that has been forgotten about for too long.
8 out of 10 ( I would give it 7.5 but Kelly Preston immediately bumps it up. )
