esrosedotblog

I knew I had to go see the original with Michael J. Fox.

Teen Wolf (1985)

It is a supremely bad movie but it is not hard to see its charms underneath the wolf's clothing.

It is a basketball movie. Scott gets his super powers going once he accepts being a werewolf and learns to control himself. Should we read this as a sexual metaphor? No. It is too easy.

Scott does get ahead of himself, pride takes over and he does some asshole things but then comes to his senses and ends up able to win at the game without the super powers, well almost, because he inspires the team to do their best.

The film is good hearted even when the rival jock tries to best him. They do not like each other but they do so with some geniality.

All of the stuff is in place though. The goofy sidekick Stiles, the serious and accepting girlfriend, the wish to do good with his powers and not harm, the way in which the wolf features grow and wane, the dangers of the full moon when control is not possible, the sort of dorkiness of Scott and his normality even when the powers are on. A teenage boy after all but coming of age and into himself.

I liked it and then it got silly, so silly I could not take any more and so I FF to the end which makes it a 2 out of Netflix5 which seems kind of arbitrary as I had a good time but rules are rules. FF=a 2. Period.

When I had some emotional space while watching, I reflected on how I have been around for all of Michael J. Fox's career and life from the time as a very talented young star to his maturity and well managed coming out as an early Parkinson's, well, victim. Although "victim" or "sufferer" seem to be inappropriate terms as he has handled it in public.

I get the feeling that he is a great guy and a fully formed human who has done a lot of good with his charm and ability.

This film was right before his television success in Spin City and is a breakout performance in a trivial film which, as it turns out, had a lot of charm and savvy itself. Enough to inspire a very successful television franchise which we have on our "must see it all" list.

Labels: films