Genres

Visitors Review

2012-05-16 13:44:27

A Great Coming-of-Age Movie

I must confess a soft spot for what should have been just another throw-away 80s teenage comedy--"Mischief" rises above the usual raunchy, unauthentic junk that pervaded the decade of my own high school experience. With a sweet center that belies its sometimes very adult (but refreshingly honest) presentation, the film walks a fine line between maudlin and moving and in the end is just plain satisfying. Doug McKeon ("On Golden Pond") is Jonathan, a smart but socially awkward teenager growing up in bucolic Nelsonville, Ohio (a real place, though rather more drab and gray than presented here). His ongoing quest for a lusty encounter with the class sexpot (the lovely, lovely Kelly Preston) gets a boost when a thoughtful "bad boy," Gene (Chris Nash), moves into the neighborhood, and the two outcasts become good friends. Gene agrees to teach Jonathan some better moves and when Gene falls in love with the girl-next-door (Catherine Mary Stuart), it's Jonathan's turn to help make a relationship happen. There's not much in the story that isn't predictable--and today's jaded teenagers will likely find the plot corny and simplistic--but the execution in "Mischief" is so charming that viewers get treated to a rarity: a teen comedy with a heart. Great performances, a wonderful 1950s-style production, and a stellar soundtrack (that appears to have never been released in any form . . . pity) certainly help, but it's probably the fact that the teenagers here actually seem like teenagers, with that strange mixture of innocence, neediness, and horniness, rather than cynical, know-it-all adults, that makes the film work. Believe me, in 1985, that feat alone was remarkable. That it fizzled at the box office may have had more to do with poor marketing than poor filmmaking.

2012-05-16 07:41:21

5 minutes

Whatever the movie was about? something about a coming of age drama, I definitely remember the 5 minutes of increasingly rare nude sex scenes in movies these days. Kelly Preston, YUM!

2012-05-14 18:28:37

Hilarious.

I bought this movie randomly without even knowing what it was, and I love it. It's like an 80's American Pie and it's hilarious. And you can see popular actors now, back in the day. I would definitely recommend it.

ethylester 2012-05-14 08:48:00

STUPID

This movie is really really stupid, in fact it could be the stupidest movieI have ever seen. It is so predictable, so stereotypical and unrealistic. Itreally sucks. Anyone who knows anything about people knows this movie is abunch of bologna. No one acts like this. The actors are horrible, too. Thescenes that take place are scenes that you would never witness in a millionyears. The main guy, the "nerd" is is a bad character. It is not funny whena guy "accidentally" ejaculates in his girlfriend after she repeatedly askedhim not to. It is not funny when he rips her panties off and tells her toquit acting so paranoid when he is trying to have sex with her in the car.She told him no a million times and he kept going for it. What an idiot.This kind of thing really bothers me, especially since it is supposed to bea comedy. As if it is a joke to rape a woman and accidentally get herpregnant just because you are caught in the moment (even though she does notget pregnant). I just don't think it's funny. It's a bad film. Stereotypicaland full of stupid, idiotic ideas. Very macho and unrealistic.

2012-05-13 10:09:41

Movie

When I received this movie it was in very good condition. The case was not damaged at all and the movie played very well.

2012-05-12 16:05:51

Mischief is a funny comedy about.........

just a typical guy trying to make it with the most popular girl in school.This is one of the best romantic comedy I have ever seen starring a great cast. Doug Mckeon plays the lead as Johnathan a clumsy and not particularly popular boy attending high school in the 50's has one overriding wish in life - to "make it" with the hottest girl in school. With the help of his slick new friend Gene played by Chris nash, his dream just might come true. Also starring Kelly Preston as marilyn the popular girl. this is a very funny movie.Johanthan finds himself in some crazy and ridiculous situations. I hope that the studio gets the brains and release this film again on vhs/ dvd. Great film.

Chris 2012-05-06 11:58:24

Exccellent Background Cast!!

This movie was especially delightful due to the the background cast that were not only pleasing to the eye but also had me rivited in my seat. In particular the boy behind Mckean and Nash during the carnival kissing booth scene stole the show!!

2012-05-05 23:23:32

Mischief

This review is from: Mischief (DVD) This is a funny "comming of age" film. Set in the mid '50s, it has action,comedy, romance, and a great soundtrack of "oldies". Though it was our time,(me and Pam), it should appeal to all generations.Mike and Pam

hall895 2012-05-05 08:36:47

It's another teen sex comedy

Teen sex comedies are a dime a dozen. Seen one, seen them all more orless. Hollywood never tires of churning out these movies but it is veryrare that one of them sets itself apart from the pack in any way. Suchis the case with Mischief. This was one of the first of the genre andthat, along with its 1950s setting, makes it at least a little bitdifferent from what we see nowadays. A little sweeter than today'steenage sex romps. And certainly a lot less raunchy. It's justendearing enough that you can consider it to be at least a modestsuccess. Nothing spectacular to be sure but it's OK.Set in Ohio in 1956 Mischief tells the story of introverted, sociallyawkward Jonathan. He desperately wants to hook up with his classmateMarilyn. She's the town's resident teenage goddess. Every town has one.Well every movie town does at least. Of course Jonathan's got no shotwith Marilyn. But then Gene comes along. He's the cool new kid in townand he takes Jonathan under his wing, teaching him the tricks of wooingthe ladies. Jonathan sets about winning over Marilyn while Gene goesfor Bunny. Bunny's the girlfriend of Kenny, the mean kid in town. Sowe've gathered all the teenage sex comedy clichés together. The nerd,the unattainable hot chick, the cool kid, the mean kid, the mean kid'sgirlfriend who stays with him even though she really knows better. Andfloating around the periphery of the movie throughout we have Rosalie,the nice but unattractive girl who could probably be hot if she tried.Toss all these characters together and watch them interact more or lessas they do in every teen movie you've ever seen, with our nerdy herofinding that what you want and what you need may be two differentthings.Mischief is charming enough. But it's never really funny enough to beconsidered a great movie. For a supposed comedy there certainly areplenty of sizable gaps between laughs. The performances are all prettygood, all the actors fit their clichéd roles well. Doug McKeon'ssuitably nerdy as Jonathan. Chris Nash is totally cool as Gene. And ifin 1985 you were looking for an actress to play a teen goddess youcouldn't do any better than the impossibly beautiful Kelly Preston.Perhaps the best thing the movie has going for it is its soundtrack,those classic 1950s rock and roll tunes fit the story perfectly.Unfortunately that story is so similar to so many other movies of thisgenre that it's hard for Mischief to stand out. It's a reasonablyenjoyable movie though. As teen comedies go there have been better butthere have certainly been a lot worse.

2012-05-04 21:52:59

The 50s captured perfectly

This review is from: Mischief [VHS] (VHS Tape) For those who were not there, this film really does capture the 50s teen experience. The cars, the dress, the town, the attitudes are all perfectly rendered.The soundtrack is as great a collection of 50s tunes as was ever assembled.Okay, so the story is not perfect, some of the performances are weak, but Kelly Preston is amazing. WOW!

2012-04-28 14:19:08

WHERE WERE THE TIGHT LEVI'S ???

CASTING WAS SO SO BUT THE PART PLAYED BY DOUG McKEON WAS LACKING.AS A TIGHT JEANS FAN, MISCHIEF WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE WATCHABLE HAD DOUG BEEN WEARING TIGHT LEVI'S THROUGHOUT THE FILM OR AT LEAST WHEN HE STARTED TO FEEL LIKE A STUD. LOTS OF TAIL-A-WAY SHOTS....YUMMY!!!!

2012-04-28 07:06:02

Mischief

Loved it! I saw it when it first came out to video and knew I had to have it! I bought the video for my own library. Glad I did! Loved the comedy and CHRIS NASH!

2012-04-22 15:05:44

Something to watch after watching "American Graffiti,"

Do you have, like, a lot of DVD's? Do you have so many that you started to create a rating system for how you want to appreciate your movies? I rate my movies as 1 to 5 stars and I keep a list of all my 5 star movies.This movie "Mischief" is a five star movie to me. I discovered this the third time that I've watched it. The picture quality is great. The depiction of life of a male teenage "horndog", a misunderstood tortured soul heartthrob, and good girls who get the hots for bad boys. These issues are represented well in this movie. If you think that American Graffiti is the ultimate 50's or 60's teenage high school drama, then you better check out this movie.This is a great Saturday afternoon matinee type film, just like American Graffiti. I strongly recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys 50's and early 60's pop culture films. The cast is fabulous and the movie deserves more recognition than it's gotten.

Shyjohn 2012-04-22 09:02:04

Loved the movie but hated culture potrayal

Being from Ohio and a big fan of anything 1950s I LOVED Mischief. Eventhough I had a couple gripes. I cant understand why though thatNelsonvillewas potrayed so antiseptically. Nelsonville is Appalachian Ohio coalmines,sawmills, and hill farms. There were no coal miners, rowdyrednecks,moonshine references and NO country music. Unbelieveablythis is 60 miles from West Virginia mind you no referencestoWest Virginia. It was like in a way they took all the people who were inanyway "Southern" or "Backwoods" and pushed them to the side. That was aboutasbad as the Crew Cuts trying to sing Earth Angel in 1954.I loved the movie,script everything. Maybe the writer was trying to makethetown and people more general but it seemed like he lost alot of therealnessof the people by making it so antiseptic. Thats one reason why John Watersis a genius. When he potrays 1950s Maryland like in "Cry-Baby" he includeseverything. He took Marylands distinct culture and made sure every elementwas potrayed even the taky ones.If the writer of Mischief had been a little more culturally consciousmaybehis movie would have hit bigger than it did

2012-04-12 12:18:20

Some insight on the movie

There is just about an entire genre of coming-of-age-in-the-'50's movies.Boomer self-absorption/nostalgia, I guess. This is a pretty good one. KellyPreston was the only cast member I was at all familiar with, and she waslovely. (And naked!) Everyone did a pretty good job here, and all of thecliches were present. A general note for people making films about the'50's. Those beautifully restored vintage '50's cars look great, and I'msure the filmmakers salivate over photographing them. But for a touch ofrealism, there should be some '40's vintage cars that look like they havesome miles on them, and maybe even one or two beat-up '30's cars. Noteveryone has a brand new car, particularly in a small town. Anyway, thisfilm is worth a look. Grade: B

2012-04-12 05:19:29

Still Holds Up - Full of Mischief!

Ok so I may be prejudice since I had a small role in this, but is gratifying to see that people still love it so much! Is a funny and warm story and a kicking 50's soundtrack. One of Catherine Mary Stewart's best roles (and great lady to boot) and Doug McKeon is totally believeable as Jonathon. Enjoy!

2012-04-09 19:56:04

Great Sleeper Movie!

Here is one of those great movies that you have never heard of. Set during the late 1950's, it is a nice movie about a shy boy, his dream girl and the good hearted hoodlum. Ok before you say cliche, give this movie a try. It is subtle comedy spiced with a heartwarming story about great friendships. It will take you back to a kinder and simpler time in America.

2012-04-09 12:38:20

Mischief!

This review is from: Mischief (DVD) Take a visit back in time to Ohio. A kid struggles with his game and a new kid comes along to save his pride. This film is representative of days gone by in small town America where many days were spent outside playing and TV wasn't important.

2012-04-08 23:21:58

Great flick! Needs to show up on dvd!

Not only is this a very funny fifties nostalgia movie, but a young Kelly Preston in the role of Marilyn, the high school hottie, is -- wow! Too hot to handle! She "teams up" (ahem) with the main geeky character here in my all-time favorite make-out scene. This movie came out back when I was still a single guy and watching it then was like throwin' bacon on the hot grease -- sizzlin'! Not to mention the hilarious antics of Jonathon, the main character, as he clumsily tries to do the kinds of things that every teenage guy wants to do with the best-lookin' chick in the school. Then there's the great fifties tunes sprinkled throughout. It's a great sentimental trip to the past that lacks the recognition of the better-known "American Graffiti" and "Grease" movies, but more than makes up for it when Marilyn's parents go away on a trip...

2012-04-08 08:35:01

Great flick!

all i have to say about this movie...is hilarious, and oh yeah one more thing...mmm kelly preston..ahhhhhhh