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Whether you graduated from college in 1988, 1968, or 2008, you probably remember what it’s like to take that first step into the real world and worry about the future—to wonder which direction you should take. Some of us dove right in. Some of us took longer to figure it out. And some will never really figure it out. But the ‘80s flashback Take Me Home Tonight isn’t about a college grad sitting down and debating the pros and cons to help him figure out his future. It’s about a college grad who figures it out the way any ‘80s character would: by going to a party.
Matt Franklin (Topher Grace) was the smartest kid in the class of 1984. He was destined to go places. Now, four years later, the MIT graduate is back in LA, living with his parents and working at Suncoast Video in the mall. When his high school dream girl, Tori Frederking (Teresa Palmer), shows up at the mall and talks about going to a big Labor Day bash, Matt sees it as his opportunity to do one great thing: ask Tori out. So he calls in the reinforcements—his best friend, Barry (Dan Fogler), and his twin sister, Wendy (Anna Faris)—and heads out for a life-changing adventure.
While Matt’s chasing Tori, though, his friends are dealing with their own problems. Wendy’s boyfriend, party host Kyle Masterson (Chris Pratt), proposes, making her question her dreams of going to Cambridge for grad school. And Barry’s just lost his job as a car salesman, sending him on a cocaine-fueled downward spiral.
Of course, it doesn’t take a whole lot of head-scratching and speculation to figure out where the story is heading. The film fits neatly into the usual formulas. It’s the typical teen/twenty-something party movie—almost like a wacky parody of Say Anything—with the same touches of romantic comedy, the same zany sidekick, and the same life-changing, coming-of-age lesson to be learned in the end. There aren’t any surprises here—but at least Grace and Palmer make charming co-stars.
Aside from the moments when his character is painfully, uncomfortably awkward around his high school crush, Grace is a likable lead. Most viewers will either remember or relate to his nervousness around the girl of his dreams and his fear of settling down and heading down the wrong path. And it’s not hard to see why a guy like Matt would fall for Palmer’s Tori. She’s the perfect dream girl: pretty, outgoing, and bubbly, without the usual popular-girl chip on her shoulder. Other characters, however, aren’t quite as successful. And some of the subplots (like Barry’s wild and crazy antics) seem unnecessary.
Meanwhile, though the film is definitely filled with all kinds of ‘80s nostalgia—from music and fashion to current events—it often feels forced and unnatural. It could have had ‘80s feel without, for instance, a montage involving Tori in a tanning bed and Barry moussing up his hair. The dialogue, too, is sometimes awkward and distracting. I may not have graduated from college in the ‘80s, but I can’t remember ever hearing anyone tell a friend “You’re whippin’ it real good now.”
Take Me Home Tonight may fit into the usual ‘80s formula, but it’s missing the believable story and the memorable characters that made others instant classics. It’s an entertaining retro flashback, but while this wild and crazy night is supposed to be one that the characters will always remember, it’s the kind of movie that viewers will quickly forget.
Blu-ray Review:
Take Me Home Tonight was shelved for four years before it was finally released (reportedly due to its abundance of drug use), so the Blu-ray release is understandably short on extras. Still, you’ll find trailers, a music video, a handful of deleted scenes, and an interactive music boom box, which allows you to find all of the ‘80s songs that appear in the movie. Unfortunately, though, it only plays the parts that were featured in the movie—not the full tracks.
The disc also includes footage from a recent cast get-together—with Topher Grace, Dan Fogler, Teresa Palmer, and cast couple Anna Faris and Chris Pratt (who met on set and married in 2009). It’s almost like a class reunion—with the five stars getting back together to reminisce about their experiences.
If you’re a big fan of Demitri Martin, you might want to check out his foul-mouthed outtakes and improv in the deleted scenes—but the rest of the extras aren’t required viewing.
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