Pinball Summer (1981)
It's a summer of fun for two teenaged boys who spend their time chasing two sisters, annoying a biker gang, and basically getting into typical sophomoric hijinks whenever they can.
Watch Trailer
Cast
Similar titles
Reviews
Too much of everything
One of my all time favorites.
The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful
Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.
The original title "Pinball Summer" is more thematic, but there is a fair amount of picking up/pulling/scoring and mostly just making out in this juvenile offering. Generally, films with this type of cast fall into one of two categories: horror in particular slasher films in which even the gorgeous girls get killed, and half-baked scatological escapades in which testosterone-filled teens and young men chase girls who are often more than willing to get caught. There is usually a virgin of course, as well as a nerd and an alpha male/bully. Other characters include exasperated older people, and occasionally cops who are out to spoil the fun.All those elements are present here, but the film doesn't succeed. The plot, such as it is, is about a pinball competition with a long run-up into it. On the plus side, nobody gets killed, and as the bad guys are more idiots than thugs, there are no villains with a capital V either, so no real triumph, certainly not over evil. There is a soundtrack, but even that is half-hearted. Watch a slasher flick next time.
This movie ended up making me feel like I'd been sucking helium or something. Fun, silly and kind of surreal. Similar feeling to watching Dazed & Confused... except in D&C at least there were somewhat realistic characters with somewhat believable lines. The characters in this movie are all cartoons with silly lines and over-the-top acting. Total drive-in movie fare. It's perfect for a bunch of friends to hang out and watch while drinking a bunch of beer. You don't have to follow the plot too closely to understand what's happening. It's got everything. Cool vans, pinball, bikers, hot chicks, disco dancing and a happy 70s soundtrack.I actually had a kinda hard time placing the year when I first saw it. I thought for sure 80s but in the arcade scenes not one video game was visible and instead pinball machines seemed to be the big craze.I have to say I liked this movie a lot and could see myself going back and watching it a few more times. I've tried to watch Meatballs again recently and found to my disappointment that I no longer enjoyed it but somehow this film has the perfect knucklehead teen comedy vibe. I only heard of this movie because the band Fu Manchu mentioned it as an inspiration... I was unable to find a copy anywhere until one showed up on e-bay.
The first time I saw this it was about 4 in the morning and I wasn't all there. It was insanely cheesy and funny at the same time. Bad acting, bad music equals CLASSIC MOVIE! I have been looking to buy a copy of this movie but it is IMPOSSIBLE to find. This movie captures summer perfectly. Steve and Greg have an unforgettable time throughout the movie and you get a good feeling after watching it! I find myself watching this movie alot because it is a CLASSIC!! The soundtrack is amazing also!
This is a fairly routine teen comedy, with precious few laughs and lots of guys with sex on the brain. I will, however, give this film high marks for actually "feeling" like summer. Perhaps it's just me, but I can't identify at all with a California or Florida summer...there are no palm trees around my city. So for all of the flaws in this movie, I think that I'll remember the lovely Canadian summer scenery for some time...the only part worth remembering in an otherwise forgettable film.