Mischief (1985)

Good story, Not enough for a whole film

Boring

Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

Where George Lucas's American Graffiti captured the late 1950's/early 1960's thanks to incredible costume design and social/political undertones of the time period, Mel Damski's Mischief settles on replicating the time period of the 1950's by way of a costume party. Mischief is one of those raunchier comedies that rides on the coattails of nostalgia, and instead of crafting its own characters or replicating ideas from its respective period, the crew behind it buys some old duds, rents a few classic cars, reads the first ten pages of a book on the lingo of the time period, and proceeds to grab a camera and start filming.The film opens with the same "A long time ago..." title card from Star Wars, only to say the galaxy "far, far away" is Nelsonville, Ohio. This is a peculiar opening sequence to say the least because, being that the film is set in 1956, its narrative predates Star Wars by more than twenty years. After the questionable opening, we are introduced to the shy and clumsy Jonathan Bellah (Doug McKeon), who has a crush on the beautiful Marilyn McCauley (Kelly Preston). Marilyn is the poster-child of women in the 1950's, equipped with a dress that looks like a cross between a wedding dress and bridal lingerie, angelic blonde hair, and personality traits that find themselves eclipsed by her effervescent smile. She's not a character in the film - she's an object of affection. Because of his incompetence around women, Jonathan looks towards Eugene Harbrough (Chris Nash), a rebellious jock, to help him win the heart of Marilyn. Eugene has a crush on Marilyn's friend Bunny Miller (Catherine Mary Stewart), whom he uses as a way to get closer to Marilyn in order for her to recognize Jonathan as more than a face in the hallway.Despite the title, the most mischief these meathead characters get themselves into throughout the course of the film is finding new and riveting ways to damage their vehicles, largely time-apt Studebakers that they use to trade paint, rear-end one another, or basically do anything other than drive like sane human beings that are capable of possessing a license to drive. Jonathan and Eugene constantly find themselves at odds with Kenny (D.W. Brown), a tough-talking bully who instigates the men in front of Marilyn and Bunny whenever he gets the opportunity.The situational comedy in Mischief is as downright atrocious as it is improbable. First off, I simply cannot accept how much we see Marilyn by herself in the film. I cannot accept that a woman this beautiful in school isn't surrounded by a gaggle of girlfriends or doesn't find herself socializing at the mall, malt shops, or parties. I also can't bring myself to reason why she'd find anything attractive about Jonathan and his conflicting aura. Consider the scene where Jonathan slips and falls right before Marilyn, who is walking on the sidewalk. Jonathan's lip is bleeding, and being that Marilyn is such a caring angel, she helps wipe the blood of his lip. While she is cleaning him up, he slowly reaches for her breast and caresses it with his hand. "Why did you do that, Jonathan?," she asks in the most relaxed and unfazed way, to which Jonathan replies, "I don't know, I didn't know what I was doing." Smooth as a gravel road, kid.Or consider when Jonathan and Marilyn go to have sex and Jonathan doesn't even have a condom. He justifies his lack of preparation to Marilyn by saying that if he brought a condom, he thought she'd view him as a "sex fiend." Nonetheless, with Marilyn's consent, they still have sex, but Marilyn implores Jonathan to pull out; let's just say he fails to follow the simple directions and is met by the calmest, most nonchalant reaction a woman has ever given to a man following his failure to follow simple directions.Throughout the film, I didn't know which character was dumber. Was it Jonathan for being so naive to Marilyn's own personal feelings and his lustful tendencies taking over to the point where, by the time he actual does have sex with her, he can't name a single thing she likes, dislikes, or appreciates in life? Was it Marilyn, who never seems to have any shred of self-awareness as to what she's doing or how she's being treated throughout the entire span of her friendship with Jonathan, if you can even call it that? Was it Eugene, for perpetuating this kind of macho-arrogance in Jonathan and bringing him out of his shell to be a contemptible character? It's all very debatable, but I'd rather not split hairs over a film that's already so improbable when it's positioned as realistic.This is another kind of nostalgia comedy that thinks if you continue to play music by time-specific artists like Buddy Holly and Elvis Presley that, eventually, you'll feel you have transported back in time. While the 1950's cars, clothes, and music are all accurate, from what I've read and can tell, what's the point of going through the trouble to recreate the time period if you're not going to do anything with it in a thematic sense? There's no reason this film really had to be set in the 1950's; being shot and released in 1985, it could've been your average eighties comedy that might've seen its longevity and relevance increased thanks to the prominence of the teen comedy genre during that time. In an attempt to do something different, Damski and screenwriter Noel Black take a direction that does nothing but find poorly written characters trapped in a cartoon of a comedy, stripped of their humanity and their rational decision-making.Starring: Doug McKeon, Kelly Preston, Chris Nash, Catherine Mary Stewart, D.W. Brown, and Jami Gertz. Directed by: Mel Damski.

Mischief is an Underrated,hilarious and entertaining Coming Of Age/Teen film from the 1980s that's filled with fantastic direction,a great cast,a wonderful script and an excellent soundtrack making Mischief one of the better Teen films from the 80s.Set in Nelsonville,Ohio in 1956,Mischief tells the story of Jonathan Bellah(Doug McKean),a nerdy and awkward 17-year old teenager who's in love with Marilyn McCauley(Kelly Preston)the most beautiful girl in his school and Jonathan wants to ask Marilyn out but Jonathan is shy and doesn't understand girls. But when Jonathan becomes friends with his new neighbor Gene Harbrough(Chris Nash),a rebel who knows about girls,Gene shows Jonathan the ropes and tells him how to get Marilyn's attention. Meanwhile,Gene has his eye on and falls for the girl next door Bunny Miller(Catherine Mary Stuart). Now Jonathan and Gene have to deal with love as well as growing up and friendship.Mischief is a funny and very underrated Coming Of Age/Teen film that sadly got lost in the shuffle of the Teen movie boom of the 1980s which is just a shame because it's one of the better Teen movies from the 80s and seems to have found an audience since it's 1985 release thanks to cable and home video. I guess one of the reasons Mischief is so underrated and so overlooked is because on the surface Mischief sounds like a Teen sex comedy in the tradition of Porky's but the truth is Mischief is not a Teen sex Comedy but more of a Coming of Age film about growing up and friendship. One of the reasons I like Mischief is because I love Teen Films and Coming Of Age films and while Mischief doesn't reinvent the wheel or do anything groundbreaking in terms of Teen films or Coming Of Age films,Mischief gives viewers a funny look into the bright world of Teenage love,friendship and romance in the late 1950s. The Comedy and Humor in Mischief is funny and memorable because the Comedy is a fine balance of being sometimes over the top and truthful thanks to the movie's hilarious and funny situations or the dialog from the film's main characters. Another thing that I like about Mischief is the 1950s setting because right from the very beginning Mischief brings into the world of the late 1950s whether it's with the music,clothes or attitude and as a viewer you are sucked into that world that just feels very realistic and you are transported to a different world that lives on today. And while the style and clothes are of the 1950s and the past,the thoughts,feelings and emotions of the teenagers in the film true and timeless and can be felt in any decade and if you are or were a young teenager you will relate to the films situations and feelings happening in Mischief because it happens all the time no matter what era or past decade. Although the film is about love,romance and getting girls the film deep down is about the teenage friendship between Jonathan and Gene. The friendship between Jonathan and Gene is great and funny and is one of the things that drives the film because while the two main characters are different in who they are with Jonathan being the nerd and Gene being the rebel,the two form a friendship that's real and honest and when you watch the film you feel like the two would have each other's back no matter what and that their great friendship would last forever. Jonathan and Gene's fine and grand friendship is a great staple in a Coming Of Age film. The screenplay by Noel Black is just wonderful and well-written with Black giving the film and it's main characters great dialog and amazing depth that feels honest and very accurate. Black has said that the script is somewhat true and a little autobiographical and it's believable. The ending of Mischief is great,wonderful and heartfelt and will have you laughing at the same time because the film gives you hope and optimism for the characters and you will wonder what happened to them. A great ending to a wonderful film.The whole cast is great. Doug McKeon is excellent as Jonathan,with McKeon bringing humor,depth and likability to the role. Catherine Mary Stewart is wonderful and beautiful as Bunny,Gene's love interest. Kelly Preston is fantastic and sexy as Marilyn,Jonathan's love interest. Preston's nude/sex scene in Mischief is classic,iconic and unforgettable and will make your jaw drop. Chris Nash is brilliant as Gene,Jonathan's rebellious friend with Nash having great scenes and chemistry with McKeon and Stewart. D.W Brown great as Kenny,the town jerk. Jami Gertz is wonderful and funny as Rosalie,a nerdy girl that likes Jonathan. Terry O'Quinn is good in his small role as Claude Harbrough,Gene's estranged Father.The direction by Mel Damski is fantastic,with Damski bringing a natural style to the film that is simple but effective while moving the camera whenever Damski can and giving the film a great atmosphere. Wonderful direction,Damski.The score by Barry De Vorozon is a good score when it's used. A fine score by De Vorozon. The film also has a excellent and memorable Rock N'Roll soundtrack with songs by Elvis Presley(Don't Be Cruel),Little Richard(Rip It Up),Chuck Berry(Sweet Little Sixteen,School Days),Buddy Holly And The Crickets(Everyday,Peggy Sue,Maybe Baby,That'll Be The Day),Fats Domino(Blueberry Hill,I'm In Love Again,Ain't That A Shame),The Platters(The Great Pretender,My Prayer),Ivory Joe Hunter(Since I Met You Baby),The Skyliners(Since I Don't Have You),The Danleers(One Summer Night),The Ames Brothers(It Only Hurts For A Little While),Bill Haley(See You Later Alligator),Danny And The Juniors(At The Hop),The Cleftones(Heart And Soul),Tommy Edwards(It's All In The Game),Mickey & Sylvia(Love Is Strange),Gene Vincent(Be-Bop-A-Lula)and Tab Hunter(Young Love)and Clyde McPhatter(A Lover's Question). An amazing Rock N'Roll soundtrack.In final word,if you love Teen Films or Coming Of Age films,I highly suggest you see Mischief,a funny,underrated and overlooked Teen Comedy and Coming Of Age film that is definitely worth your time. Highly Recommended. 10/10.

Watch this if...you are interested in an underrated "coming of age" comedy set in the 50's. It is goofy, unrealistic, and over the top, but it is meant to be.Acting/Casting: 5.5* - Probably the weak point of the movie. Doug McKeon wouldn't have been my first choice for the lead role, but he does an okay job. Chris Nash does a solid job selling the rebel role in the film. The female cast of Kelly Preston, Jami Gertz, and Catherine Mary Stewart did a fine job in their limited roles.Directing/Cinematography/Technical: 6.5* - The movie has a really nice pace and the soundtrack is outstanding. The music really adds to the film and gives it a 50's feel.Plot/Characters: 6* - A loser teen who has no luck with the ladies meets a rebellious teen who moves into the neighborhood and shows him the ropes on scoring with women. Nothing fresh here, but always a fun premise.Entertainment Value: 6.5* - Being that I hadn't ever heard of this movie before, I was a bit skeptical. However, I was pleasantly surprised and really enjoyed the movie. I would recommend to anyone who wants to see an undervalued "coming of age" comedy.My Score: 5.5+6.5+6+6.5 = 24.5/4 = 6.125Email your thoughts to [email protected]

I watched this expecting a lazy knock-off to "Porky's", and though that's pretty much where it starts from, it takes a different direction pretty quickly. The sleazy approach I knew and loved was replaced by a very warm approach I got to know and love. Our main guy all in all is pretty standard (Dan Monahan school of sympathetic nerds, wants to lose his virginity no matter what) but once his friendship with new guy Gene is established the dimensions start to even out, the stereotype walls crumble of. This duo is so thoroughly enjoyable you really don't care about the comedy values anymore. The gags get the job done (the store mannequins!), but they're not that high in number, nor would I want them to be. Quite remarkable about this movie, which let's not forget was brought out between a staggering amount of light-hearted cornball 80's sex comedy fluff, is the surprisingly downbeat ending. Though the movie is played for laughs most of the time, you don't sit through the credits (like nobody does anyway, but still) laughing your ass of. Interesting choice. A hidden gem, just not hidden particularly well.