What's Your Favorite 80's Movie?

Tell us your favorite 80's movie and what you liked about it. Share some information about where you lived or other memory about what was happening in your life at the time of the film.

Take Me Home Tonight

Take Me Home Tonight is a 2011 release. Though not a movie made in the 80’s, it is nevertheless is an outstanding 80’s movie. It’s got the setting, background, music, and vernacular that made the 80’s totally tubular. Take Me Home Tonight stars Topher Grace (That 70’s Show, Spider Man 3, Predators) as Matt Fanklin, Ana Faris (House Bunny, Yogi Bear) as Wendy Franklin, Dan Fogler (Kung Fu Panda, Good Luck Chuck) as Barry Nathan, and Teresa Palmer (I am Number Four, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice) as Tori Frederking.

Matt just graduated from MIT, but has not idea of what to do with his life. As such he fills his time working at the mall chain Sun Coast video store, much to the chagrin of his father and friends. One day Tori, his secret crush walks in, turning his life upside down.

He’s got one chance to make an impression and change his destiny. He and his buddy Barry intercept her and follow her from party to party totally convincing her he is a high level banker.

Take Me Home Tonight has the formula for a great 80’s movie. Swimming pools, parties, drug use, exotic cars, beautiful women, young adult angst and a soundtrack of the most righteous songs from the decade. But wait, one last ingredient; the speech of all speeches Matt gives similar to those found at the end of great 80’s hits like Revenge of the Nerds.

Among the many in the awesome soundtrack, great songs include:

Video Killed The Radio Star-The Buggles

Hungry Like The Wolf-Duran Duran

Situation-Yaz

Der Kommisar-After the Fire

There’s even the one hit wonder Opus with Live is Life, a top hit in Europe.

I give Take Me Home Tonight 3.5 alligators for script, clothes and teen angst. The only reason it didn’t get four stars because it wasn’t filmed in the 80’s.

Take Me Home Tonight is rated R

Tightrope

Tightrope stars Clint Eastwood as New Orleans Police Detective Wes Block. Block is a father of two girls and a man unable to get past his divorce. A man in pain, he is frequently in the company of the working ladies.

Armed with dozens of red ribbons, an unknown killer is strangling women through New Orleans. To make matters worse, Block knows the victims and is the last to see them alive.

Beryl Thibodeaux is a rape counselor and self-defense instructor and wants answers. She and Block form a tentative relationship moving quickly from consulting to romance. Somewhere in between Block calls on her to help him cope with the murders, divorce and raising two girls. The murders become more personal and soon the killer is after his family and Thibodeaux. Block will stop at nothing to protect those he loves.

Jazz oriented music tracks this film, but it’s rare. There is hardly any accompanying music, even in the action scenes. Though filmed in 1984, it seems that just like Charlie Bronson, Eastwood brings a 70’s theme. There are several 80’s memorabilia relating to the decade. People drink Perrier with their meals, wear members only jackets, fluff their hair and use 80’s technology like reel to reel answering machines. However, preteens don’t usually listen to generic keyboard and guitar solo music on the radio. They would be listening to Howard Jones, Thompson Twins, Duran Duran, or Def Lepard.

Look for appearances by Dan Hedaya (Nick Tortelli from Cheers)

Tightrope is rated R for violence, adult situations, and nudity.