Take Me Home Tonight is a cute 80’s era post-graduate adolescent flick about five friends whose lives intersect during one crazy Labor Day weekend. Matt (Topher Grace), who recently graduated from MIT with prospects, decides to chuck the yuppie-filled existence and opts to clerk at the local video store.
After meeting his former high school flame Tori (Teresa Palmer), he fakes an identity to impress her. His lies lead him to meet and confront major financial elites in Beverly Hills using his recently acquired college math skills and along with his best friend Barry, and twin sister Wendy who is dealing with a pending proposal, the wild and wooly weekend ensues.
The film is essentially about Matt coming out of his introverted shell and getting the girl (albeit on a trampoline). Not much could be done to create a compelling drama or comedy and the viewer sits through the glorification of car stealing, the first use of cocaine, over the edge partying, Matt’s unethical father on the LAPD, foul language, and token body shots and sex scenes. I can’t believe I am longing for the days when movies had some form of socially redeeming value! Unfortunately, there’s none here.
2 Stars Our of 5
Take Me Home Tonight is Rated R for language, sexual content, and drug use. Running Time: 114 minutes
Contributor: Fred Gardner
