Who totally like for sure loves 80’s movies? Honestly, it was the best time for coming of age films and Take Me Home Tonight certainly hits the mark. Topher Grace plays Matt, a recent MIT graduate who can’t figure what to do with his life. So, he decides to spend the entire summer working at Suncoast video until he can get his stuff together. But one day his high-school crush, Tori comes into the store and tells him about this party that will be happening that night. Matt feels that this is finally his chance to get her number, not that he didn’t have a million chances in high school. So matt, along with his coke-headed best friend, Barry played by Dan Fogler and his over-achieving sister, Wendy portrayed by the hilarious Anna Faris head off to a party they will never forget.

First off, huge fan of That 70’s Show so, it was nice to see Grace do another decade piece but not play the same character. Grace really nailed the nerdy, directionless, normal guy who is afraid to take a chance but knows that he eventually has to. Grace is a great talent and the only hope is that this movie takes him more places than one would expect. Grace is not Ashton Kutcher and he doesn’t need to go that route.

Anna Faris not only delivered a different performance in this movie but also met her husband, Chris Pratt on set as well. Pratt plays her cocky, preppy boyfriend. Farris is just adorable and it was good to see her not play the ditzy blonde for once, that may be because her hair was dyed brown for this role. Dan Fogler, not very well known yet buy could be after this film. While Fogler delivered some good laughs, it felt like he was doing an impression of all the heavy funny guys. Fogler could try to be more unique next time around.

Another star on the rise, Australian Teresa Palmer plays Tori. Palmer is not only absolutely gorgeous but portrays the recent college grad who hates her career quite well also. Palmer can also been seen kicking some serious booty in I Am Number Four, which may be more suited for her but she doesn’t do bad in comedy.  She also lucked out in this movie, by finding her real-life boyfriend Topher Grace.

When doing a film about the 1980’s there is something that is so vitality important that is it’s done wrong, it can ruin the whole film. This of course the soundtrack. Thankfully, this one delivered the hits of Duran Duran, Motley Crue, INXS, Journey and much more. Not what one may typically expect in an 80’s movie, but that could be because it’s set in the late 80’s so they wanted to stay more true to the time. This movie tried to stay as true to the time but it was not so stereotypical. Everyone’s overall look fit their character for that particular time. The only stereotypical part of this movie was the excessive drug use, but it was the 80’s and coke was the ‘it’ thing to do. The drug use actually delayed the release of the movie but honestly they could have loosened up because it’s just a movie and a hilarious one at that.

Every film in the 1980’s had a heart or a message that everyone could relate to, whether it was begging for attention or trying to get the girl or boy of your dreams. The message in this one was that there is one night that can change someone’s life and that was this is about. By the end of this film, the main characters lives have changed in many ways some for the stupid but mostly for the better.

Share This

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

About the author

Natasha Cline