Film #17: 18 Again!
Reviewed on February 19, 2012
Today 88filmers, (a name we are experimenting with)..that or N.E.E.F.s…hmmmm.. Oh well, we will be exploring a film from a genre of body switching films from the time period, 18 Again! The film stars George Burns, Charlie Schlatter, Jennifer Runyon, Pauly Shore,Tony Roberts,and Red Buttons. It was directed by Paul Flaherty of SCTV and Harry Crumb fame (great cred!) and written by Josh Goldstein and Jonathan Prince (both of them wrote for Blossom..woh!)
The PlotThis movie is one of 5 body swap movies that came out between 1987-1989 (Like Father, Like Son, Vice Versa, Big, Dream a Little Dream…not to mention Quantum Leap would also come out on TV). The story revolves around 18 year old David Watson(Schlatter), who is not fitting in well at college. He does not excel at love (pining for Robin, played by Runyon), he does not excel at track, his friends consist of an outsider named Barrett (Shore), and he is treated like a slave by his fraternity brothers led by a bully named Russ (Anthony Starke). Upon attending his grandfather Jack Watson’s (Burns) 81st Birthday he begins to wish that he had the successful life of his grandfather. Jack Watson is a wealthy industrialist, who lords over his own son (Roberts), is a former college standout track star, and husband of a much younger woman (the Gingery Marilyn Monroe-esque Anita Morris). Jack wishes he could have David’s life so that he could live it all over again. After a late night car crash, the wish comes true and Jack and David switch places. Unfortunately for David, that means he gets to be transferred into his grandfather who is now in coma. Unfortunately for Jack, that means transferring into the socially awkward life of his grandson. He learns that life is not like it was and how hard it must be for someone who is not as outgoing. He also learns to appreciate that everyone is not like him, as he learns about his own and his grandson’s talent for art. He turns David’s life around by making him more assertive in relationships and in love. (Who knew that a knowledge of Harry Truman was a recipe for love) At the same time he looks to reshape his old life by rekindling his friendship with Charlie (Red Buttons) and getting seduced by his wife. Event leads to event and eventually the switchback comes. How will it all end? I know and I bet that you wish you and I could switch bodies with me to find out.
The ReviewWhat is not to love about a George Burns movie? As long as you go into this movie with the mindset of entertainment, you will be entertained. If you have never experienced George Burns before (which is crazy) you are in for some guaranteed things. 1. there will be a cigar or 50 smoked. 2. There will be some old Vaudeville one liners thrown around. 3. There will be some sort of Vaudeville singing act 4. There will be jokes about age. The fun of this movie is all of these things are done, for the most part, by Schlatter who is trying to imagine being inhabited by Burns. Sometimes his “old man” routine gets a little grating, reminding me of when characters on Saved by the Bell played old characters, but Schlatter does a fine tribute to one of the funniest men who ever lived. In fact, one wonders while watching this why Schlatter is not a bigger star today. He is a dynamic young actor who seems to really be grateful to be in this film. You can tell that he genuinly loves what he does. He is not brooding and mumbly, but light and happiness. The reason this movie is different than most of the other body swap movies (with the exception of Big) is that the story is able to focus on one character’s story. Usually, you have to spend equal time showing how “the switch” effects both parties, so the focus is split and less narrative can be allowable. In this case, one of the characters is in a coma so we don’t have to spend 45 minutes in David’s story trying to see what it would be like for an 18 year to live in an 81 year old body. I may be wrong, but I think the “pre requisited check out your new adult/youthful anatomy” that always seem to happen in these films was not included either. Again…a refreshing take. Runyon is good in this, but I am going to give her stronger reviews in “the In Crowd”. Red Buttons is always a joy to watch whether it is in this, Pete’s Dragon, or the Poseidon Adventure. I have a particular soft spot for Buttons as, when I was about to embark on a New Years cruise in 1996 after having watched the Poseidon Adventure, I wrote him to tell him how I hoped my New Years cruise would not run into a tidal wave and he wrote me back with a message of a hug for a safe journey. That is A+ class. Do they make actors like Buttons anymore? Plus, after rewatching this film, I realized what an impact this film has had on me for the past 24 years when the Schlatter-Buttons soft shoe adult themed song of “By the light of the silvery moon” is brought out. I sing that version everytime I hear it. In fact, I don’t think I know the actual words. Thank you 18 Again! The plot flows without drag, the villian (Russ) is an 80′s yuppie villian of the highest caliber…ranking perhaps up there with Roy Stalin, Greg Tolan, Johnnie Lawrence (maybe William Zabka should have always been the villian)..and Steff from Pretty in Pink. Also, great supporting performances by Tony Roberts and a subdued Pauly Shore (sadly not yet in full Weasel mode). The only question that remains is why so many body swapping movies and shows came in a clump? My theory is that the baby boomers, having just gone through a decade of intense consumerism and wealth creation (which they had railed against in their youth) were realizing that they were turning 40 and that maybe they were not the youthful vigilantes anymore. Their hippie clothes and Nehru jackets had given way to suits and tennis wear. Their protests of civil rights and Vietnam had turned into car pooling and PTO meetings. Maybe at the end of the 80′s they were also making a wish to return to the SDS rallies and Jefferson Airplane concerts, or the quiet conformity of their Levittown childhoods. If you can’t make being young again a reality,then you can sell it on the screen. I suspect this is why Generation X writers are also beginning to turn out such films in the last few years. Movies are the mirror of our existance….write what you know they say. Hmmm…wait, I am turning 35 and writing a blog about 1988. Oh my goodness…I trapped in my own theory! I say, rent this movie and feel better.
8 out of 10 stars
The PlotThis movie is one of 5 body swap movies that came out between 1987-1989 (Like Father, Like Son, Vice Versa, Big, Dream a Little Dream…not to mention Quantum Leap would also come out on TV). The story revolves around 18 year old David Watson(Schlatter), who is not fitting in well at college. He does not excel at love (pining for Robin, played by Runyon), he does not excel at track, his friends consist of an outsider named Barrett (Shore), and he is treated like a slave by his fraternity brothers led by a bully named Russ (Anthony Starke). Upon attending his grandfather Jack Watson’s (Burns) 81st Birthday he begins to wish that he had the successful life of his grandfather. Jack Watson is a wealthy industrialist, who lords over his own son (Roberts), is a former college standout track star, and husband of a much younger woman (the Gingery Marilyn Monroe-esque Anita Morris). Jack wishes he could have David’s life so that he could live it all over again. After a late night car crash, the wish comes true and Jack and David switch places. Unfortunately for David, that means he gets to be transferred into his grandfather who is now in coma. Unfortunately for Jack, that means transferring into the socially awkward life of his grandson. He learns that life is not like it was and how hard it must be for someone who is not as outgoing. He also learns to appreciate that everyone is not like him, as he learns about his own and his grandson’s talent for art. He turns David’s life around by making him more assertive in relationships and in love. (Who knew that a knowledge of Harry Truman was a recipe for love) At the same time he looks to reshape his old life by rekindling his friendship with Charlie (Red Buttons) and getting seduced by his wife. Event leads to event and eventually the switchback comes. How will it all end? I know and I bet that you wish you and I could switch bodies with me to find out.
The ReviewWhat is not to love about a George Burns movie? As long as you go into this movie with the mindset of entertainment, you will be entertained. If you have never experienced George Burns before (which is crazy) you are in for some guaranteed things. 1. there will be a cigar or 50 smoked. 2. There will be some old Vaudeville one liners thrown around. 3. There will be some sort of Vaudeville singing act 4. There will be jokes about age. The fun of this movie is all of these things are done, for the most part, by Schlatter who is trying to imagine being inhabited by Burns. Sometimes his “old man” routine gets a little grating, reminding me of when characters on Saved by the Bell played old characters, but Schlatter does a fine tribute to one of the funniest men who ever lived. In fact, one wonders while watching this why Schlatter is not a bigger star today. He is a dynamic young actor who seems to really be grateful to be in this film. You can tell that he genuinly loves what he does. He is not brooding and mumbly, but light and happiness. The reason this movie is different than most of the other body swap movies (with the exception of Big) is that the story is able to focus on one character’s story. Usually, you have to spend equal time showing how “the switch” effects both parties, so the focus is split and less narrative can be allowable. In this case, one of the characters is in a coma so we don’t have to spend 45 minutes in David’s story trying to see what it would be like for an 18 year to live in an 81 year old body. I may be wrong, but I think the “pre requisited check out your new adult/youthful anatomy” that always seem to happen in these films was not included either. Again…a refreshing take. Runyon is good in this, but I am going to give her stronger reviews in “the In Crowd”. Red Buttons is always a joy to watch whether it is in this, Pete’s Dragon, or the Poseidon Adventure. I have a particular soft spot for Buttons as, when I was about to embark on a New Years cruise in 1996 after having watched the Poseidon Adventure, I wrote him to tell him how I hoped my New Years cruise would not run into a tidal wave and he wrote me back with a message of a hug for a safe journey. That is A+ class. Do they make actors like Buttons anymore? Plus, after rewatching this film, I realized what an impact this film has had on me for the past 24 years when the Schlatter-Buttons soft shoe adult themed song of “By the light of the silvery moon” is brought out. I sing that version everytime I hear it. In fact, I don’t think I know the actual words. Thank you 18 Again! The plot flows without drag, the villian (Russ) is an 80′s yuppie villian of the highest caliber…ranking perhaps up there with Roy Stalin, Greg Tolan, Johnnie Lawrence (maybe William Zabka should have always been the villian)..and Steff from Pretty in Pink. Also, great supporting performances by Tony Roberts and a subdued Pauly Shore (sadly not yet in full Weasel mode). The only question that remains is why so many body swapping movies and shows came in a clump? My theory is that the baby boomers, having just gone through a decade of intense consumerism and wealth creation (which they had railed against in their youth) were realizing that they were turning 40 and that maybe they were not the youthful vigilantes anymore. Their hippie clothes and Nehru jackets had given way to suits and tennis wear. Their protests of civil rights and Vietnam had turned into car pooling and PTO meetings. Maybe at the end of the 80′s they were also making a wish to return to the SDS rallies and Jefferson Airplane concerts, or the quiet conformity of their Levittown childhoods. If you can’t make being young again a reality,then you can sell it on the screen. I suspect this is why Generation X writers are also beginning to turn out such films in the last few years. Movies are the mirror of our existance….write what you know they say. Hmmm…wait, I am turning 35 and writing a blog about 1988. Oh my goodness…I trapped in my own theory! I say, rent this movie and feel better.
8 out of 10 stars