Do you long for the days of yesteryear; when you could sport a suit with rolled up sleeves, casually sniff cocaine while driving your 1985 Mazda RX7 or even get down to the nasty beats of Men Without Hat's Safety Dance? Then perhaps Take Me Home Tonight is the movie for you.
This 1988 based teen comedy follows Matt Franklin (Topher Grace), an MIT graduate whose coasting through his youth, aimless and full of wonder, while working at the local video store. After a chance encounter with his high school crush, Tori Frederking (Teresa Palmer), Matt finds himself heading to a massive Labor Day party with his sister Wendy (Anna Faris) and his recently unemployed and heavily drinking best friend, Barry (Dan Fogler). Realizing that tonight may be his last chance to get his dream girl, Matt and Barry pull out all the stops in preparation for the biggest night of their lives.
Right off the bat, Take Me Home Tonight plays like a love letter to the 80's. The ridiculous fashion, music, hairstyles and decor are hit nail on the head. Matt's workplace, Suncoast Video is a blast from the past; it's literally wall upon wall of VHS tapes with posters for various John Hughes movies adorning the windows. It's here that the film is a complete success. If you've never experienced the 80's, it's a fantastic recreation of the era that will evoke a real nostalgic feeling for a lot of the audience. The best way to describe the tone and feel of the picture is Ferris Bueller's Day Off meets Animal House (which the film gives a nice little wink too). Not that the film is of the same quality as those comedies, but it certainly shares that certain 80's cheese vibe.
Director Michael Dowse (Fubar, It's All Gone Pete Tong) has chosen his cast wisely. Topher Grace, of TV's That 70's Show, is charming, often witty and always likable as the lead, Matt. Anna Faris is quite good as the cool older sister, Wendy, who just wants to see her little brother get the girl. And most surprisingly, Dan Fogler. I'd seen Fogler previously in Fanboys and admittedly, he was largely the reason I didn't like that film. In Fanboys he's used as the Jack Black type character; the small, fat, funny guy. But here Fogler is actually rather great. Spurned by his ex-employee, his character is the epitome of 'let's-just-get-shit-faced-and-forget-everything', but he makes it work, making Barry an honest, well-meaning, lovable idiot.
The film's minor flaws lie solely in it's script. Take Me Home Tonight really had the potential to be great. But unfortunately, it's just not that funny. With a plot like this, the possibilities for hilarious gags are endless, but somewhere between the written word and the delivery, the comedy of the various situations just doesn't come through. That's not to say it's not funny at all, as there is a few laughs to be had, but I ultimately came out expecting more from it.
Overall, Take Me Home Tonight is a charming, fluffy 80's throwback. With a capable cast and a nostalgic electronic-pop soundtrack, it provides some solid entertainment. Just don't expect to be hurting from laughter afterward.
