Morgan Stewart's Coming Home

' Morgan Stewart's Coming Home ' is great fun, a delightful 80's teen comedy unduly criticized because of it being credited to pseudonym Alan Smithee and not co-directors Paul Aaron and Terry Winsor. Infact it is an incredibly funny, sharply scripted Washington-based tale of a young man's attempts to seek the attention of strangers, his always far too busy parents Tom and Nancy - Tom is running for the U.S. senate and Nancy is the driving force behind Tom's campaign. Morgan is misguided in bringing his family closer together, relying on reruns of tv's ' The Brady Bunch ' but gains a true friend in fellow horror movie fan Emily, the two stumbling upon a plot to bring down his father! Jon Cryer and Viveka Davis are immensely likeable as the movie's teenage leads and they are wonderfully supported by the likes of Lynn Redgrave, Nicholas Pryor and Paul Gleason. Full of terrific one liners and crazy characters, it is a movie that can be watched time and time again.

First of all, I love this movie. I know the film didn't do well in theaters, and that it had all sorts of trouble behind the scenes, and critics bash it every chance they get. But, I simply don't care... I love it, from start to finish. Jon Cryer is great. And, if you agree with me on this, then you will enjoy this film. If not... then, most likely, you won't enjoy this film. It's that simple.

I grew up watching this film countless times, as I identified not only with Cryer, but also with his character, Morgan. Growing up, I was "Morbid Morgan", and still am. Along with Cryer's other films, "NO SMALL AFFAIR", "PRETTY IN PINK" and the extremely underrated "HIDING OUT", this one ranks as one my favorites.

Also, I am getting pretty tired of the accusations that this film was made to cash in on "FERRIS BUELLER'S DAY OFF", as the two are nothing alike, and this particular film, although it was released in 1987, was shot in 1985, a full year before the latter film's release. So there.

I appeared in this movie as an extra, along with a number of my college friends.

It was primarily filmed in and near Charlottesville, VA (I'm guessing it was the spring of 1986) and a bunch of the extras were U.Va. students like myself.

I got a check for $50 and also got to chat with (and appear on screen with) Cryer for a bit. He actually was a really nice guy.

I think the mall scenes were filmed at the beautiful Fashion Square Mall north of Charlottesville.

But note I said I got a check for $50 -- I didn't get PAID the $50 because the bastards bounced my check.

After all these years, I'm still bitter. :)

Geeky cute teenager Jon Cryer (as Morgan Stewart) is kicked out of eight boarding schools in six years. Finally, he returns home to get re-acquainted with wealthy Washington, DC parents Lynn Redgrave and Nicholas Pryor (as Nancy and Tom). There, mother Redgrave is busy being a perfectly coiffed politician's wife, and Republican father Pryor is running for office. A horror fan, Cryer meets beautiful kindred spirit Viveka Davis (as Emily) at a George Romero book-signing.

Cryer and Ms. Davis take a shower together, clad in their underwear and horror heads. Guess some parts don't get dirty. Also, Cryer finds out corrupt executive aide Paul Gleason (as Jay Le Soto) is working against his father, and the plot goes haywire. Cryer is a believable and engaging teenage horror fan (his father John debuted as a ghost on "Dark Shadows"). And, Davis is an appealing romantic interest. But, the story obviously isn't sure where to go, or how to get there.

***** Morgan Stewart's Coming Home (2/20/87) Paul Aaron, Terry Windsor ~ Jon Cryer, Viveka Davis, Lynn Redgrave, Paul Gleason

I know Jon Cryer was getting a little annoyed in the 80's, when he was being called Matthew Broderick's clone. Jon Cryer has his own cool charm, thats very different Matthew Broderick. And who ever called this movie a Ferris Bueller rip off, really did'nt see this movie, and tried to figure out that this movie is very different from Ferris Bueller. Okay someone copied John Hughes film making style, and did pretty well. This movie was very funny, and it was fun to watch. So give it a break.