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1984 - 103m.

Peter Weller (Robocop) steals the show in this flick as his depiction of a coke-fuelled douchebag is both scary and comical in its ferocity. I suppose this is part of the movie's charm because even though it was intended to be a family drama from an established director, it comes off as more of a campy exploitation movie thanks to Weller's antics. It is hard to believe that Teri Garr would fall for such a jerk and put her kids in harms way but the family dynamics in this flick are something right off the Jerry Springer show. I am not saying this is a bad thing because watching this guy yell and abuse his way through the plot is pretty entertaining throughout even though the reasons I dig this movie may not match with the Oscar dreams of those involved. The movie walks the line between drama and melodrama and in the last act seems to give into the urge to go full on to the exploitation side with its attempt to incorporate a big action finale into what otherwise is a pretty serious and depressing tale of a broken family and a misguided mother trying to find a better life for herself without jeopardizing the well-being of her children who are already troubled enough living life without a father figure.

Christopher Collet stars as Jake Livingston, a teenager who finds himself acting as the man of the house while his mother Wendy (Teri Garr) struggles to deal with the cards life has dealt her. Jake alternates between being a strong foundation for his mom while also taking care of his younger brother Brian (Corey Haim, in his first movie role). Things take a bad turn when the family learn that their dad will be remarrying and the hope for reconciliation evaporates leading Wendy to rebound into the arms of a new man named Sam (Weller) who seems pretty solid at first. After some initial attempts to win the approval of Jake and Brian (such as buying a dirt bike for Jake), inconsistencies begin to present themselves leading Jake to suspect that Sam is not what he is portraying. One day, when the house is empty, Jake snoops around and finds a stash of cocaine under the floorboards and slowly watches his family unravel as Sam attempts to control them all. Things come to a head when Sam lets down some local drug dealers and finds out that Jake is responsible. This is the catalyst that sends Sam on a rampage of domestic violence that Weller plays with such gusto that he becomes a sweaty comic-book villain who will do anything to get his coke.

For whatever reason, I distinctly remember Manfred Mann's "Runner" playing on a TV set in this flick. It happens although very briefly but having the constant stream of rock videos from MTV playing in the background is a firm reminder that this movie was set in the 80s. It seems more appropriate that I would have remembered Helix's "Gimme Gimme Good Lovin" as opposed to the Manfred Mann song but that is the one that stuck. Another scene that stuck with me from this flick is when the high school lacrosse coach instructs his students on how to properly towel off after a shower. He then goes on to explain that he did not follow the correct procedure (head, crotch, feet) when he was a teen and ended up losing a testicle as a result. This random scene is completely out of place and bizarre but that's what makes it memorable and I have certainly followed this practice since 1984 because I like my balls.

I'm sure director Michael Apted (Coal Miner's Daughter, The Up Series) had every intention of making a serious film about an abusive relationship and the effects it would have on a single mother and her family but the movie is a product of its time and loses its focus in the final act by ironically trying to be hip to the era it was being made with the music and extended chase scene (perhaps to appeal to action audiences). As Jake says in the turning point of the film, "hip isn't hip anymore" but this works in the movie's favour as a cult film as the exaggerated performance by Weller steals the show. This, in addition to melodramatic dialogue, has turned this into something that isn't as hard hitting but instead is an exercise in 80s nostalgia that is accentuated by seeing Haim at such a young age as well as Robert Downey Jr. and Sarah Jessica Parker in small roles. I have mixed feelings about this because it does make for an entertaining flick but Collet's excellent performance as a confused teen dealing with a hopeless situation and trying to keep his family together gets lost in the mayhem. I still enjoy this flick for what it is but I'd be willing to bet that Apted does not. Collet also starred in Sleepaway Camp and The Manhattan Project but he eventually left the movie business to open a pilates studio in New York. Writer Ron Koslow followed up this flick with the underrated Into the Night (directed by John Landis) in 1985. (Josh Pasnak, 10/10/15)

Directed By: Michael Apted.
Written By: Ron Koslow.

Starring: Teri Garr, Peter Weller, Christopher Collet, Corey Haim.