There's a natural wholesomeness to MISCHIEF, even if it does include the kind of sex scene you'd never see in a '40s film, but even so it comes across as surprisingly fresh and natural with a '50s soundtrack of pop songs that fill the background score in appropriate fashion.
Acted with zest and skill, it's the tale of a love-struck teen (DOUG McKEON) and his high school romance with one of the prettiest girls (KELLY PRESTON). McKeon's cool best friend is played with style by CHRIS NASH.
There's a nice comic flavor to the whole story and a satisfying conclusion when the town bully (D.W. BROWN) gets his comeuppance from an angry McKeon who smashes his Studebaker into Brown's fancy red sports car (front and rear) to make a mess out of it. "That's for Marilyn!" he tells the bully, before he drives off to find a date with someone else.
It reminded me of an updated MARGIE ('46) in which Jeanne Crain was the gal in a coming of age story about flaming youth of the '20s. But whereas that film was strictly wholesome with a capital "W", MISCHIEF is grounded in the more realistic mid-'80s with language and sex scenes considerably more risqué than allowed in an earlier period. Still, it manages not to offend and is an enjoyable comedy played with a natural flair for comedy by a talented young cast.
With '50s songs like "The Great Pretender" and "Don't Be Cruel" on the soundtrack, it has an authentic '50s flavor that gives it added credibility.
Acted with zest and skill, it's the tale of a love-struck teen (DOUG McKEON) and his high school romance with one of the prettiest girls (KELLY PRESTON). McKeon's cool best friend is played with style by CHRIS NASH.
There's a nice comic flavor to the whole story and a satisfying conclusion when the town bully (D.W. BROWN) gets his comeuppance from an angry McKeon who smashes his Studebaker into Brown's fancy red sports car (front and rear) to make a mess out of it. "That's for Marilyn!" he tells the bully, before he drives off to find a date with someone else.
It reminded me of an updated MARGIE ('46) in which Jeanne Crain was the gal in a coming of age story about flaming youth of the '20s. But whereas that film was strictly wholesome with a capital "W", MISCHIEF is grounded in the more realistic mid-'80s with language and sex scenes considerably more risqué than allowed in an earlier period. Still, it manages not to offend and is an enjoyable comedy played with a natural flair for comedy by a talented young cast.
With '50s songs like "The Great Pretender" and "Don't Be Cruel" on the soundtrack, it has an authentic '50s flavor that gives it added credibility.