"Teen Wolf" (1985)

Rating: PG

Genre: Comedy, Science Fiction & Fantasy

Directed By: Rod Daniel

Written By: Matthew Weisman, Jeph Loeb

In Theatres: Aug 23, 1985 

Runtime: 92 minutes

Studio:  Atlantic

Summary:

Before there was the TV Series there was this little treasure… When secondary school nerd Scott Howard (Michael J. Fox) learns from his father, Harold (James Hampton), that being a werewolf runs in the family, he decides to take advantage of his freakish trait. With his newfound strength and agility, Scott quickly becomes the hero of his school's basketball team while winning over his crush Pamela Wells (Lorie Griffin). As he grows more popular, Scott worries he is being celebrated as a novelty rather than for who he is. 

  

Review:

Ey-yey-yey-yey-yey… What can I say about this movie? There are…no words. There were moments I had to ask myself what I was watching. But you know what, at the end of the day, it’s very light-hearted and just a fun 80s film. It has one of those types of plotlines where you just have to go with what’s happening and not ask too much from it or about it. Michael J Fox is a funny guy. Sure as long as he’s leading you and the rest of the cast through the goings-on, it’s safe to say you’ll have a good time (even it if it is…bizarre to say the least…)

I guess the highlight of the film, at least in my opinion, is the scene where we have Scott in wolf form dancing on top of a truck to The BeeGee’s “Surfin’ USA”. I’d like to acknowledge the fact that there would have been an actual person on that truck’s roof top doing those backflips and balancing like a boss as it drove down the road. No CGI. There is your real hero of the movie.

I think the success of this movie was down to the current success Michael J Fox was having with Back To The Future’s release. The strategy to bring this film out when its lead had become a household name and the object of many teenage girls’ affections, proved a winning move. It’s an odd fish of a movie. Let’s put it that way. I wouldn’t call it his finest of life choices… If nothing else, while under his wolf exterior, he looks more like a husky dog than a wolf. Or Chewbacca from Star Wars. Or is this just me? 

I’m not going to say one way or the other whether one should go see it or not. Some people love it. Some people will look upon it with quizzical and baffled expressions like myself. It’s charming and fun. Sometimes that’s all you really need in a movie. It's cheesy and it knows it! 

TRAILER: