Written & Directed By: Boaz Davisson
Cinematography: Adam Greenberg
Editor: Bruria Davidson
Cast: Lawrence Monoson, Steve Antin, Diane Franklin, Joe Rubbo, Kimmy Robertson, Louisa Moritz, Brian Peck
The friendship of a group of young friends struggling with teen sex, drugs, and work is jeopardized by a romantic interest which may turn pals into bitter rivals.
Originally intended to be the first in a series of "Last American..." movies (based on the popular Israeli "Lemon Popsicle" series which began with LEMON POPSICLE which eventually spawned 8 sequels.
One of the first films to truly break my heart at a young age. As I am now I was a hopeless romantic and saw this as my first dealing. With tragedy in a film nonetheless teen film. None the less a comedy of all things. Where there was no losing but if you did there was gaining something better. This was the film that taught me sometimes nice guys truly do finish last.
I first saw this film on television edited. So even then I came for the raunchy and ended up leaving crying and depressed. It was a punch in the stomach when not expecting it. As it plays like a teenage sex comedy for 2 thirds of the movie then gets dramatically serious in the last act. Making you realize how silly all that has come before it. Eventually hating the Rick character even though he is supposedly the main characters best friend.
The film stays a cut above other teen sex comedies because of the drama and reality it chooses to place in the middle of the film and not make it a message movie. As the film still feels more real with a mix of the revealing reality of being a teenager with juvenile antics and important decisions on the eve or being an adult. Emotions turning on a dime. It also leaves one nostalgic to a degree. As it is a movie of it’s time that one can forgive the more teen comedic exploits.
As this film is an American remake of the Writer/Director Boaz Davidson’s LEMON POPSICLE. Which ended up becoming a series of films in his native Israel. Continuing the adventures of the trio of male friends from this film. I haven’t seen those movies. I am guessing that there was meant to be maybe sequels to this movie. Even though this one was a strong sentiment and statement and has stayed memorable over the years due to this aspect that makes most forget the other material. It’s why the James Ingram song that closes the movie and encapsulates the emotions felt and still makes one feel weepy when hearing it randomly.
To be fair the main character is there for her. It still really never gets to know her. He idealizes her. So that while all of what he has for. For her is nice. He still choose to do all this she never specifically asked him to do all this and expect her to instantly fall for her. Sure chivalrous, caring and romantic but really doesn’t make her fall in love. As just because she gets back together with the guy who left her high and dry makes her seem a little stupid and selfish but not a villain. Though from movie logic she should fall for him as she owes him something even if just emotionally.
I will admit that initially I watched the film mostly for the soundtrack and Diane Franklin from the movie BETTER OFF DEAD. Was original to me then this movie and nude scenes that I finally saw when I watched this movie on cable made me look at her more as an actress and in a different way, more mature then how I saw her in BETTER OFF DEAD or BILL & TED’S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE. Though now having seen AMITYVILLE 2 and SECOND TIME LUCKY she had quite the career dealing in more controversial material in films.
One can identify with the Film in many ways. If not only for the rapid mood changes. Not the best or necessarily that great but it does set itself apart. --Most of the actors, at least the leads were unknown to the audience until years later. So it made it seem More realistic or authentic. As the director says he choose it to be more that way so that the actors were more virgins to the big screen.
The film is misogynistic which seems to go with the type of film is was. While not ok by today’s standards. Had a kind of innocence about itself at the time. The main pursuits of the film seems to be having sex putting it in the T & A sex comedy category with an almost lots scenario scene as a delivery boy and a foreign nympho that is very explicit but also shows how empty sex can be. Those scenes with Louisa Moritz are the most erotic and truly juvenile sexually of the movie. Though it also comes off as a showstopper that fits but feels more like an out of place highlight also.
I Remember seeing it advertised in TV guide where the ad was like the movie poster. This is a movie that is still Strong to me that I can watch only every few years. Though it takes me back to a time for many T & A teen sex comedies of the 1980’s like PARADISE HOTEL.
From reading the story lines of each sequel seem to get sillier and more sex and comedy focused or rather obsessed then having heart. As they go along even though all are based on writer/Directors youthful experiences.
Eventually even cheapening the character who was the original object of love and affection from the first film. Reconfiguring or treating her badly yet still keeping the character of Rick as a good friend and character.
Though they also make you wonder if American sequels had been made would they have transformed the same where each film seems to pick and choose what to forget when it comes to what came before it. Again I haven’t seen these films but I have read all about them.
It also comes off a bit homoerotic as the camera seems to fixate in the male bodies in this film and their state of undress more Than the females at times. Plus the activity looks at each other where the male leads seem to have a kind of fascination and wonder about each other.
The film ends like a horror movie including a graphic abortion scene in the third act.
The nudity of Diane Franklin seems a little expected but Once it happens it feels out of place. Maybe as she has been presented as the nice girl and has an innocence about her character. That when we are witnessing it during her character losing her virginity it feels like a violation on a private tender moment, Especially as we know the guy doesn’t really care about her that much.
The ending could be a misunderstanding as she tells him the day before that she feels close to him and thankful they then kiss which is where it seems he gets this more romantic notion and idea but she seems to see him as a friend with her making out with her ex and then both of them staring at him once he walks in and discovers them.
I always wonder what happened the next day as he has seemed to have lost everything his best friend, girl he liked his dignity and his money.
A nice guys finish last take and a kind of warning to us all who pine away and believe we will at that person and some chivalrous act will be the event that turns things around.
While this film isn’t as esteemed as some films that have made the hall of fame list. This is recognized as something different that went against expectations and made It's mark where no one else saw it coming. Didn’t actually ask to be different. Taught lessons of It’s Own. It might be easy to dismiss without watching the whole movie and actually gives different audiences what they want not perfection.
GRADE: B+
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