St. Elmo's Fire

1985’s St. Elmo’s Fire is a timeless hit. Rocking theme song, awesome cast, and a radical plot makes this movie a great 80’s classic. I saw it in a movie theater while I was a private in the Army and remember my friend saying, “It’s the Breakfast Club all grown up”. That’s it in a nutshell. Most of the friends return (minus Molly Ringwald and the addition of  more super stars).

Brat pack returns include Judd Nelson as Alex Newbary, Emelio Estevez as Kirby Keegar and Ally Sheedy as Leslie Hunter. Defining actors include Rob Lowe (Class, Youngblood) as Billy Hicks, Andrew McCarthy (Class, Pretty In Pink, Mannequin, Weekend at Bernies, Less than Zero) as Kevin Dolenz, Demi Moore (One Crazy Summer) as Jules, Mare Winningham (Turner and Hooch) as Wendy Beamish, and Andy MacDowell (Sex, Lies and Videotape) as Dale Biberman.

Newbary, Keegar, Hunter, Hicks, Dolenz, Jules and Beamish are inseparable friends from Georgetown University. They’ve been tight for years and as realize their futures are right before them. All they have to do is seize the day. But there’s a problem, they refuse to grow up. They go to the same bar, (St. Elmo’s Fire) insist on sitting at their table, refuse to get jobs and those who do work, can’t seem to give up their drug habits they developed in college.

Through a series of ordeals that include arrests, suicide attempts, bad breakups, broken trust and fighting, the group realizes that not only do they need each other, they need to make the plunge into adulthood.

Great lines include, “The only way to lose weight in the thighs is amputation”, “Men, can’t live without ‘em, can’t shoot ‘em”, “I enjoy being afraid of Russia. It's a harmless fear, but it makes America feel better..” and much more.

St. Elmo’s Fire has a totally awesome soundtrack that helped define the 80’s. Love Theme From St. Elmo’s Fire and Man in Motion are awesome contributions to 80’s pop culture.  

St. Elmo’s Fire is rated R

Dangerous Curves

Dangerous Curves stars Tate Donovan (Love Potion #9, Magnum, P.I.) as Chuck Upton, a square dude who is given a chance to demonstrate responsibility by driving a super tubular 1988 Porsche cross country. The only problem is, his irresponsible buddy Wally Wilder (Grant Heslov-License to Drive) is distracted by beautiful women and they lose the car. Later, they find out it is stolen, only to be a cherry prize at a righteous beach beauty pageant.   

This low budget comedy is slow at times. However, if you are in for a late 80’s movie that tries to hold onto the mid decade summer hi jinks genre you might try it.

Dangerous Curves has an 80’s movie soundtrack, but no songs that are familiar. Just the synthesizer and some toe tapping beats.  Look for small appearances by Robert Stack, Leslie Nielsen and Robert Romanus (Mike Damone-Fast Times and Ridgemont High).  

Dangerous Curves is rated PG for adult situations and language.

Plain Clothes

1988’s Plain Clothes is an undercover cop comedy starring Howard Arliss (Full Metal Jacket) as Nick Dunbar. Dunbar is a police officer whose brother is framed for murdering a teacher. After the brother is arrested, Dunbar enrolls in school posing as the son of his sidekick Ed Malmburg (Seymour Cassel of Johnny B. Good, Colors).

Dunbar has a hard time adapting to school. He never fit in as a high school student and came across as too mature. On is first day of school he dresses as a punk rocker but is polite and out of character. His brother gives him some serious high school student perpetrating tips from jail. These excellent pointers transform Dunbar from bogus wannabe to big man on campus. Soon his gnarly company is choice for jocks, princesses, preppies and teachers. He deftly negotiates the relationships around the numerous statutes and bogus policies and laws while on the pursuit of the killer?

Like the movie Clue this chuckle filled mystery has the entire school staff under suspicion. As more murders occur, the suspect list dwindles, but the final twist leaves you with the feeling of “I didn’t see that coming”.

It’s awesome that Plain Clothes offers a great cast of relatively normal actors. 

There are no super popular actors and that makes the movie all the more enjoyable. However, look for tubular performances from George Wendt (Cheers, House), Diane Ladd (Christmas Vacation, Father Dowling’s Mysteries), Suzy Amis, and Max Perlich (Ferris Bueller’s Day Off).

There are no particular songs you might recognize, but the music is definitely of the awesome decade. Catchy songs and accompanying music interact well with the clothing and setting of 1988. Even Dunbar wears the porkpie hat made bodacious by the lead singer of Scritti Politti (Perfect Way).

This movie is rated PG for adult situations. 

Top Gun

1986's Top Gun stars Tom Cruise (Legend, Risky Business, Color of Money, Cocktail) as hot shot pilot, Maverick who gets his chance to go the Navy’s gnarly and super tubular Top Gun school. Only best attend Top Gun and Maverick brings his best weapon's guy, Goose (Anthony Edwards of Gotcha, Revenge of the Nerds) along for the ride.

Maverick and Goose get noticed after chasing off a seriously bogus commie dink bogie. Their commander is totally bummed, but the stoked duo heads to Miramar AFB in California for the next stage in their career. However things aren’t going to be easy. The testosterone filled atmosphere only gets more difficult as two rivals Iceman (Val Kilmer of Real Genius, Top Secret) and Maverick square off for recognition and the affection of instructor Charlie (Kelly McGillis of Witness, The Accused). Add to that Maverick’s reputation as a loner who only cares about himself and the similar reputation of his father and the mystery behind his father’s death.

Big budget, lot’s of action and bodacious dogfights make this movie a definite must see. One guest star is the Kawasaki Ninja 900 / GPz90R, the motorcycle Maverick screams down the highway in. Other actors include, Meg Ryan, Michael Ironside, Tim Robbins and Tom Skerritt.

Great lines include, “I think she lost that loving feeling”, “You can be my wingman anytime”, “The Department of Defense regrets to inform you that your sons died because they were stupid” and the ever re-quoted, “I feel the need, the need for speed.”

Top Gun has a totally awesome soundtrack that helped define the 80’s. Kenny Loggins’ Danger Zone, Berlin’s Take My Breath Away, and the Top Gun Anthem.

Top Gun is rated PG

April Fool's Day

1986’s April Fool’s Day is a horror comedy that delivers a big punch. Deborah Foreman (3:15, My Chauffeur, Valley Girl) plays twins Muffy/Buffy. As Muffy she is an heiress who invites her college buddies to her parent’s island home for a party. Strange events occur from the moment the classmates arrive. One by one, guests are being murdered by an unseen killer. Before they die they express unbelief and horror at discovering who is behind their demise. The survivors begin to notice that there may be a little something not right with their hostess. Who is whacking the classmates and what do they all have in common?

We do have some awesome preppie names to go with our rich and privileged students. Of course Buffy, Muffy, Skip (Griffin O’Neal-The Wraith)  and Chaz (Clayton Rohner-Just one of the Guys) are some of the rad cast names. In the close group of friends we have the gnarly characters that make for good chemistry. Being an April Fool’s Day party weekend, collapsing chairs, whoopee cushions and other friendly pranks are sprinkled throughout the film.

The group of friends include a nature girl and her rugged boyfriend, a bad boy complete with a pompadour/mullet, a country boy, the rich heiress, several preppies, and a woman of questionable (well she pretty straight forward) morals.

There is hardly any 80’s music. The score is timeless and cannot be pinpointed to any 80’s culture. On the other hand, we are reminded of the decade of indulgence by the girls’ pants with ultra high waistbands, head bands, loose legged tight cuffed sweat pants and sweater vests.

As with other movies in our favorite decade, the Cold War was still going on as bitchin as ever. There are several defeatist comments about Nukes and nuclear war, something on everyone’s mind.

I admit that in the 80’s I had a crush on Molly Ringwald. I watched every movie that I could with her in it and more than one. Lately I find that Deborah Forman is a talented actress with so much to offer. In fact, I’ve written reviews of three of her movies and look forward to a couple of more opportunities.

I saw this movie when it first came out in 1986. Nonetheless, I had forgotten the entire movie and was again surprised by the ending. This movie is worth seeing. The twists and finally are part of the formula that makes this movie so appealing. In fact, it has a rather large cult following.

April Fools Day is rated R for bad language and adult content. 

My Chauffeur

My Chauffeur is a hilarious feel good movie starring Deborah Foreman (3:15, Wax Works, Valley Girl) as Casey Meadows. Casey is offered a job as a chauffeur for a snooty Brentwood Limousin company. The service is mostly staffed by stodgy old men who want to do anything else but work with a woman, especially not with the free spirited and unconventional Casey.

Undaunted, the impulsive Casey quips and wise-cracks her way through the crass gentlemen's objections. She is given a hard time when she arrives dressed like Madonna. When given a man's formal suit, she alters it to a rad uniform. She does have an ally who helps her during her "probation". However, Howard Hesseman (WKRP in Cincinnati) is McBride, a major obstacle and pain who tries to run her out of the business.

Throughout the movie, Casey is challenged with difficult and entertaining clients including a wild rock star, over worked and insulting executive, Penn and Teller, and a few others. Each adventure is funnier than the last. Watch for the scene where she consoles a client who is dumped by his fiance, you won't regret it.The creative Casey also has a warm heart. She extends her service impromptu to a struggling young man trying to impress his complaining girlfriend.

Witherspoon, played by E.G. Marshall  (12 Angry Men, Christmas Vacation) is keeping a close eye on Casey. Sam J. Jones (Buck Rogers) plays Battle, his son. Battle and Witherspoon have a strained relationship and Casey puts a hilarious and new spin on it.

My Chauffeur has a great soundtrack. You might not recognize the songs, but they make for totally awesome background music.

This movie is rated R for nudity and language.