Saturday, 18 September 2021 19:23
Teen Wolf
TEEN WOLF
US, 1985, 91 minutes, Colour.
Michael J. Fox, James Hampton, Jerry Levine.
Directed by Rod Daniel.
Teen Wolf looks like an '80s variation of I Was A Teenage Werewolf. However, commentators noted that it was more a Jekyll and Hyde story and related it to Jerry Lewis's The Nutty Professor.
The film is a piece of high school nonsense, reminiscent of so many high school films of the '80s - especially Michael J. Fox's telemovies High School U.S.A. and Poison Ivy. However, the film has a great deal of charm and relies on the compelling presence of Michael J. Fox. Made before Back to the Future, it was released in the aftermath of the extraordinary success of that film and did very well.
Fox is an ordinary teenager at high school, has a sympathetic girlfriend but hankers after Pamela the blonde. He clashes with her boyfriend. He clashes with the headmaster. Eventually he discovers that he and his family are werewolves. The film doesn't highlight much of the werewolf theme - rather it enjoys its possibilities (especially on the dance floor, at basketball,. with the girls). James Hampton enjoys himself as the father. Inconsequential - but entertaining.
1. An enjoyable teenage comedy? Americana? The American family and high school? Teenagers? The werewolf themes -played for laughs?
2. The portrayal of the American town ' homes and streets, teenagers' activities? School? Drama, basketball? Dances? The contemporary musical score and the songs? The memories of songs of the past?
3. The title and its focus? On Scott as a teenager? As human, the animal within him? Repercussions on peer group?
4. The portrayal of Scott - Michael J. Fox's presence and charm? At the basketball and losing, his range of friends, his liking for Boof? His not seeing her charm but wanting Pamela? The clashes with Pamela’s boyfriend? The clashes with the basketball coach? His behaviour at dances, games? Parties? The change in himself - the long hairs, the voice changing when he wanted to buy. the beer? The transformation in the bathroom and the special effects? The humour at seeing his father as a werewolf? The discussions about the family, his mother, the rivalry with the teacher? His decision to go out as a wolf - and his turning into a wolf and back to himself? The change in the basketball games, the dance floor? Pamela attracted towards him and being seductive? His going on the van around the town with the music? His friends? The school's fan club? The clash at the bowling alley? The friends thinking that he was a freak, moving away from him? His dilemmas - and wanting to be him self? The final decision to be himself, the team gaining energy and winning the match? A hero by himself? Reconciliation with Boof?
5. Scott's father, his shop, genial, bringing his son up, seeing him as a werewolf, the heart-to-heart talk, the clash with the teacher? The happy ending?
6. Boof as the good friend, the party and in the closet, her disappointment at Scott's infatuation with Pamela? Pamela and her self-consciousness, seductive attitude towards Scott, her own boyfriend? Her being abandoned at the end - though gently?
7. Scott's friends, their getting about together, the party, the promotion of the wolf, the raucous friends? The fat friend? Lewis and his moving away? The basketball team? Finally getting together behind Scott?
8. Nick and his tough attitudes, jealousy, clashes with Scott? The victim of the wolf?
9. The Coach and his attitude towards his hopeless team, his inane comments, his reaction to the wolf?
10. The sketch of people around the town, the school? The reaction to the wolf - cheering the celebrity? The ironic quick acceptance of Scott's wolf character - making it part of school life?
l1. A pleasant variation on werewolf themes?