Tareas en casa

It never ceases to amaze me that in these films such good looking players are always cast as kids who can't seem to get anywhere with women. Positively ludicrous but I think films like Homework aren't to stimulate the mind. They operate somewhat south of the border.

Michael Morgan who I learned was Yvonne DeCarlo's son has sex on his mind all the time. He's even seeing the school guidance counselor Carrie Snodgrass who certainly has done better work.

He's trying very hard to score with next door neighbor Erin Donovan. But she only wants to make the swim team and she's constantly in the pool. But her mom Joan Collins gets her mojo going every time she sees Morgan. Guess what happens?

There's also a subplot with the same issue as Morgan's friend Lanny Horn tries to lose his virginity and it's French teacher Lee Purcell gives private lessons.

Morgan and Horn look they would have women lining up for them. Just once I'd like to see one of these films made with somebody who really hasn't gotten to first base yet. That will never happen.

Sadly I learned Michael Morgan was a homcide victim in 1999 and the case was never solved. A tragedy also is that this is the poor man's career role.

My review was written in August 1982 after a Times Square screening.

"Homework" is a very poorly-made sex comedy about a high school boy's problems in losing his virginity. Filmed circa 1979 with the alternate title "Growing Pains", picture predates Jensen Farley's hit pickup "Private Lessons", but offers exploitation possibilities as a followup release.

Evidencing plentiful post-production doctoring (mainly in the form of added nude scenes), "Homework" is truly a mixed bag, alternating dead-serious (bordering on pathos at times) depictions of the problems young teen Tommy (Michael Morgan) with poor-taste gags and softcore sex. Episodic screenplay also covers his pals' antics: Ralph (Lanny Horn) with a crush on the cute substitute French teacher (Lee Purcell); g.f. Sheila (Erin Donovan) obsessed with swim team practice and Lisa (Shell Kepler) hoping to use their vocal group The Flies as a stepping stone.

Plot payoff has Sheila's mom Diana (Joan Collins) lusting after young Tommy and finally introducing him to sex (with the aid of poorly matched double Joy Michael, who also portrays Diana at age 16 in several crudely inserted flashback scenes).

"Homework" ironically also strikes a blow against serious-minded efforts in the exploitation field. While out-and-out silly and frivolous teen pics are easy to watch (viz., the many American International and Crown International hits of the last two decades), this film's serious scenes clash with viewer's expectations and the rest of the package. It is dreary and tedious to see Tommy pouring his problems out to school psychologist Dr. Delingua (Carrie Snodgress) or traipse around the seamy Sunset Strip, forlorn amidst a barrage of sexual enticements. Instead of being funny, his bed scene of impotency with a hooker is distasteful. Documentary-trained lighting cameraman Paul Goldsmith stresses source lighting for a "realistic" look, which runs counter to the comedy and results in dim, ugly interiors.

Well-known adult cast plays second-fiddle to the kids, with Collins a steady trouper even when assigned to staring at a kid's jeans-clad crotch for a whole scene. Purcell is winning as the nervous teacher, though her role and that of the psychologist played by Snodgress are peripheral. Betty Thomas (later of "Hill St. Blues") has a ten-second bit part as rock star Wings Hauser's secretary. Biggest laughs of the film go to Mel ("Little Shop of Horrors") Welles and Beverly Todd, as doctor and clinic receptionist.

I had never heard about this 1982 movie titled "Homework", from director James Beshears, prior to stumbling upon it by random chance here in 2025. And with it being a movie that I had never seen before, of course I opted to check it out and give it a fair chance.

The storyline in the movie, as written by Maurice Peterson and Don Safran, failed to entertain me. The movie felt insanely random and erratic, as the narrative was all over the place, yet nowhere all at once.

But I suppose that fans of Joan Collins might enjoy this movie, in some odd and bizarre way, as you get to see her without a top.

Of the entire cast ensemble, I was only familiar with Joan Collins and Wings Hauser. The acting performances in the movie were fair. The acting performances in the movie were fair, despite the fact that the storyline was rubbish.

The music in the movie was insanely annoying to listen to.

This is definitely not a movie that I would recommend you to waste 89 minutes on watching.

My rating of director James Beshears's 1982 movie "Homework" lands on a generous two out of ten stars.

It wasn't perfect, and that's why it's so cool. Lots of emotion, and you can tell it's from a true story. And catch Betty Thomas! I saw it on Showtime a long time ago but I just rented it and it really brought back memories. Joan Collins' role is short but bitchin.

This has to be one of the worst movies I have ever seen. I assume that was supposed to build on movies like Fame as well as your usual teen high school comedy, but this movie fails in every aspect. At less than 90 minutes, the film is still too long and boring, the dialogue is rather silly and the music/rock star image being portrayed is quite odd, even for the time. The movie features some gratuitous nudity, but even these scenes are rather dumb. The whole styling reminds me of Boogie Nights era adult movies, but is seriously lacking in appeal. Most of the actors were (and stayed) unknown, at least one scene is done with a body double.

If you see this movie advertised in your TV program guide, my suggestion is change the channel immediately and watch Class instead.