Recently played on FMC: Surprise to me; I only did that for a few overlong scenes.
I figured that this would be a simple by-the-numbers, boy meets girl, boy falls in love with girl, boy is totally outclassed by girl and her jock boyfriend, and the 'bad' guys would 'win', and the poor innocent schnook would leave with a broken heart. I expected to DVR through it at 3x speed.
It was sort of along that pattern, but there were two twists that put this movie a cut above, and earned it a bit of respect for it from me.
The volleyball-playing freshman girl, Molly (Melissa Sue Anderson) needs a math tutor. The early admissions tutor (an EEP: genius 14 y.o. college Junior, Harry, played by Doug Mckeon) strikes a deal to teach her what she needs to know for a big exam (the purpose of which you are allowed to incorrectly assume for a while). They negotiate a fee of $75; an amount Harry needs for a school astronomy trip.
At Harry's first meeting with Molly, he also meets Dunc (Steven Bauer), who obviously has a thing for Molly, as they seem very close in many ways.
This is where things break the usual mold.
SPOILER ALERT!!!!!!!!!!! Dunc seems to be a fairly decent fellow at first. (Decent Jock: Oxymoron alert!!) He tries to get Molly to take advantage of Harry's offer to tutor her for a challenging math test. Dunc promises he'll sell Molly on letting Harry tutor her.
SERIOUS SPOILER ALERT!!!!! The first big surprise is that Dunc keeps his word, and Harry begins tutoring Molly with Dunc's full cooperation.
Dunc even begins to befriend Harry and invites him to join Dunc's sculling crew as coxswain (caller).
At this point, you know Dunc realizes that Harry's developed feelings for Molly, and you're assuming that Dunc is somehow gonna skunk Harry and his chances with Molly; somehow humiliate him.
I won't spoil it all for you, but suffice to say that Molly ends as a very heartsick girl who ends up still dedicated to her dreams. Dunc and Harry form a 'broken hearts' club of sorts. Harry's mom doesn't end up as quite the spying, over-protective shrew she is first depicted as, and while all story options are not forever foreclosed, one is led to expect that everyone nurses their broken hearts forever, until they can love-- but never meet -- again.
No one entered this set reaching for an Emmy. The acting is kind of flat even from actors of whom one expects better. Nonetheless, if you want some sweet brain candy and you're willing to accept this film on its own terms. it's not a bad way to spend about 95 minutes.
Mike
I figured that this would be a simple by-the-numbers, boy meets girl, boy falls in love with girl, boy is totally outclassed by girl and her jock boyfriend, and the 'bad' guys would 'win', and the poor innocent schnook would leave with a broken heart. I expected to DVR through it at 3x speed.
It was sort of along that pattern, but there were two twists that put this movie a cut above, and earned it a bit of respect for it from me.
The volleyball-playing freshman girl, Molly (Melissa Sue Anderson) needs a math tutor. The early admissions tutor (an EEP: genius 14 y.o. college Junior, Harry, played by Doug Mckeon) strikes a deal to teach her what she needs to know for a big exam (the purpose of which you are allowed to incorrectly assume for a while). They negotiate a fee of $75; an amount Harry needs for a school astronomy trip.
At Harry's first meeting with Molly, he also meets Dunc (Steven Bauer), who obviously has a thing for Molly, as they seem very close in many ways.
This is where things break the usual mold.
SPOILER ALERT!!!!!!!!!!! Dunc seems to be a fairly decent fellow at first. (Decent Jock: Oxymoron alert!!) He tries to get Molly to take advantage of Harry's offer to tutor her for a challenging math test. Dunc promises he'll sell Molly on letting Harry tutor her.
SERIOUS SPOILER ALERT!!!!! The first big surprise is that Dunc keeps his word, and Harry begins tutoring Molly with Dunc's full cooperation.
Dunc even begins to befriend Harry and invites him to join Dunc's sculling crew as coxswain (caller).
At this point, you know Dunc realizes that Harry's developed feelings for Molly, and you're assuming that Dunc is somehow gonna skunk Harry and his chances with Molly; somehow humiliate him.
I won't spoil it all for you, but suffice to say that Molly ends as a very heartsick girl who ends up still dedicated to her dreams. Dunc and Harry form a 'broken hearts' club of sorts. Harry's mom doesn't end up as quite the spying, over-protective shrew she is first depicted as, and while all story options are not forever foreclosed, one is led to expect that everyone nurses their broken hearts forever, until they can love-- but never meet -- again.
No one entered this set reaching for an Emmy. The acting is kind of flat even from actors of whom one expects better. Nonetheless, if you want some sweet brain candy and you're willing to accept this film on its own terms. it's not a bad way to spend about 95 minutes.
Mike