Mischief

When you look back at films from the 80s, they all have this distinctive old-fashioned "feel" to them and it's not just the big hair and leg warmers. Even something set in earlier times, like "Happy Days" or "Peggy Sue got married" feels a bit dated.

Mischief, however feels like it could have been released this year. Maybe it's the natural and casual way that sex is portrayed in the film that is typical today but not then (think Porky's or Animal House). The scene with Preston and McKeon is pretty explicit even by today's standards but at the same time sweet, innocent and funny. The characters, situations and dialogue throughout the film feel very real and genuine and maybe that's what keeps it modern and relevant.

Anyway, the film isn't preachy, maudlin or overly sentimental as it could easily have been. It just tells the story of two young guys bonding and learning a lot about life and a little about love. And with that type of subject matter, it's pretty funny without having to try too hard...

I think Leonard Maltin missed some of the finer points in this often overlooked movie. Watch the film and listen to the music. The music sets the mood and matches the action. The recreation of the time and characterizations is very well done. If you liked American Graffiti then you will like this movie. One of my all-time favorites.

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. )

Enjoyable tale of a likable geek(Doug McKeon) trying to snag the girl of his dreams with the help of his cool new friend. Unlike the bulk of teen sex comedies from this era, MISCHIEF comes off as slightly less hyperactive and slighty more reflective(come on, the kid learns something about the nature of sexual infatuation at the end, something most of the kids in these films never approach). The inclusion of some great 50's tunes(Ivory Joe Hunter's "Since I Met You Baby" is simply exquisite)goes along way towards heightening this film's charm. On his way to manhood, Jonathan learns, sometimes poignantly and sometimes humorously, about friendship, sex, girls, and his own insecurities. What we see is a coming-of-age story, much more realistically portrayed than the horny hijinks of flicks like PORKY'S. Seek it out.

Kelly Preston shows her bush. That's pretty much all you need to know about this one. She would go on to make Space Camp where she doesn't show her bush. Doug McKeon gets to see Kelly Preston's bush, which would be the highlight of his career. John Travolta would go on to marry Kelly Preston's bush. I don't have much else to say about this movie besides discussing how cool it was seeing Kelly Preston's bush. The 80's had some really great bush to look at. The only problem that I can come up with in Mischief is there's only one scene of Kelly Preston's bush. Another two of three more scenes of Kelly Preston's bush and this is an easy 8/10.