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Starring |
Topher Grace
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Dan Fogler
,
Teresa Palmer
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Anna Faris
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Directed By |
Michael Dowse
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Audio
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Dolby Digital 5.1
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Visuals
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2.35:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
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Running Time |
97 mins
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UK Release Date |
September 12, 2011
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Genre |
Comedy
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Our Rating |
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User Rating |
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Take Me Home Tonight is set in 1988 and follows Matt (Topher Grace), a college graduate struggling to figure out where to take his life. After graduating from MIT, his father is putting pressure on him to become an engineer, but Matt doesn’t want to and finds himself stuck in the local video store. As well as Matt we have his twin sister Wendy (Anna Farism) who is also struggling to decide whether or not she wants to stay with her boyfriend in America or go to Cambridge University to study.
Just to add to the classic teen/young adult-crisis formula, we also have Matt’s best friend Barry who, after working for a car dealership for seven years, loses his job. One day at work Matt discovers his high school crush Tori has returned to town and he will try anything to get a second chance with her.
It is clear to see that the writers are trying hard to make sure that all the 80s teen comedy clichés are ticked off the list. Whilst watching the film you are reminded of classics such as Cameron Crowe’s Fast times at Ridgemont High and John Hughes’ Ferris Bueller’s Day off. However, Take Me Home Tonight feels as if it is trying too hard to be like these films. Indeed, there’s no real reason for the film to be set in the 80s, other than the costume, which comes off rather clichéd with rolled up suit jacket sleeves, ala Miami Vice, Barry’s Yuppie look, and all of the girls hair blown way out.
Despite it’s rather clichéd narrative, the film does have some humorous moments. However, its major letdown is Topher Grace. I found it very hard to believe him as his character, mainly because, as with most of the cast, it’s a group of 30-somethings playing people in their early 20s. Apart from that he just can’t carry the film, partly because this type of character has been done so many times before and Grace can’t add anything to it other than just just sticking to the tried and tested formula of the geeky guy trying to get the popular girl.
Luckily Grace’s performance is backed up by a strong comedic supporting cast. American comedians such as Demetri Martin, Michael Ian Black, Bob Odenkirk and Chris Pratt all have minor roles, and their performances are definitely some of the funniest moments of the film. Dan Fogler does a great job as Matt’s oddball best friend but you can’t help seeing him as a rent-a-Jack Black style character, being loud and odd-ball just for some cheap laughs.
Overall Verdict: Take Me Home Tonight is a love letter to the classic film of the 80s. It’s entertaining with its heart in the right place, but it does make you think if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.
Special Features:
None
Reviewer: Gareth Haworth
