Loverboy (1989)

February 08, 2009

Netflix Live Stream, Seattle, WA

** / ****

This was not the first time I saw this movie.

By Scott Muoio

There are numerous reasons that I have, for two decades, held a fantastic curiosity for everything ‘80s Southern California. Some perverted combination of ‘80s cinematic clichés including the sun-drenched ecstasy of The Valley, the ever-frisky, seemingly endless supply of bikini clad Golden State hotties, the politically incorrect slacker innocence, and the ridiculously awesome visual aesthetic are likely contributors. Another reason is the deliriously dopey, dated, yet supremely giggle inducing Loverboy, the movie that forever made me dream of delivering pizzas with extra anchovies to hot housewives eager to give more than a tip for my services. Ahhhh, the memories!

Loverboy tells the story of a goofy college sophomore, Randy (Patrick Dempsey) banished by his parents from continuing his studies due to lousy grades. In order to pay his way back into school Randy gets a job at Senor Pizza, a pizza shop every bit as absurd as its moniker. It’s a long climb to $9,000, the cost of a semester, working as a pizza delivery boy, that is, until Randy discovers that certain deliveries pay a little better. The twist: every time a woman places an order for pizza with extra anchovies she expects full service delivery, if you know what I mean and I think you do. Cue the hilarity as Randy squirms, wriggles, awkwardly seduces and then provides marriage counseling to the lovelorn cuckolds. Subplots involving Randy’s misconstrued homosexual tendencies, a young scooter riding Italian with the hots for Randy’s mom (Kate Jackson), a gaggle of jealous husbands out for Randy’s blood, and every manner of ridiculous misunderstanding not yet mentioned round out this goofball ‘80s teen comedy.

Overall, Loverboy is a memorably average film. Other than its anchovy embellishment, it is by the book ‘80s silliness: politically incorrect lingo, a smattering of famous faces, and gloriously ridiculous fashion and awkwardness. But that isn’t bad at all. If, like me you’re a former ‘80s teen then I suspect you’ll enjoy being brought to a kinder, gentler, and far less sophisticated cinematic age, an age where girls lost their tops, geeks beat jocks, and parents just never understood. Loverboy is part of that ‘80s cinematic legacy, and at least in my mind, a very good part.

Director: Joan Micklin Silver

Producer: Gary Foster, Willie Hunt

Writer: Robin Schiff, Tom Ropelewski, Leslie Dixon

Starring: Patrick Dempsey, Kate Jackson, Kirstie Alley, Carrie Fisher, Robert Ginty

Original Music: Michel Colombier

Cinematographer: John Hora

Copyright 2009, Scott Muoio and Undependent Media. You may link to this review but may not reproduce it in full for your own means.