LooseScrews

Loose Screws: Screwballs II (1985)

In this sequel, which in spite of reoccurring characters is really one in name only, to the original Screwballs. This time around you have 4 guys that are in their 5th year as being seniors in High School. All they do is try to “score” and pull any prank they can to see girls naked. In an effort to finally graduate them they are sent to summer school. Where sure enough they try to score and pull pranks to see girls naked. After pushing their luck they get tossed out of summer school, so they set up an elaborate prank to get back at the principal.

I actually did like the original Screwballs, which I found to be a pretty good movie with some really funny stuff in it. Unfortunately this sequel isn’t nearly as well written or as funny as the first movie. The movie does a good job of showing quite a bit of female nudity, with many sets of “twins” on display. But what passes for comedy are the elaborate schemes that the 4 main characters use to try and get the girls naked. There is also this subplot about them trying to score with the French teacher that isn’t funny. In fact most of what is supposed to be the humor this time around is kind of creepy. While much of it is similar to the first movie, I think that at times they take it just a bit too far here and then at other times the movie just seems to be lazy. Also the characters were much more likeable in the first movie, but in the sequel are just annoying.

Bottom line for me as a child of the decade of the ‘80s I immediately noticed that this movie falls into a rather unfortunate category. So many of the knockoff sex comedies of the decade tried to replace laughs and an interesting story with a pair of boobs, or sometimes several pairs. I suppose when I was 15 that might have been interesting, but as a much older movie viewer I find that boring. This is the difference between the true classics and the generic knock offs. Just my 2 cents.

As far as the behind the scenes stuff goes I have no problems. The movie is shot very well and has that ‘80s feel to it. Between the music, the hair, and the clothes it was sort of fun at times. Though that nostalgia wears off quickly. Though much like the couple of jokes the movie beats to death they keep playing the annoying theme song in the movie. I could have done with a bit less of that.

I did want to mention some of the special features on the DVD. As always Severin delivers the goods. You have interviews with the producer Maurice Smith that I did find pretty interesting. There is also an interview with production manager Ken Gord, which is okay. Also included is an audio commentary with director Rafal Zielinski. Honestly I didn’t get to listen to much of it for this review, but it did sound pretty interesting. If I ever pop the DVD back in the player to watch Loose Screws again it will be to listen to the commentary.

Basically guys what we have here is a movie that fails to live up to the original. Not sure if it was the change in the writing team involved, of if they just caught lightning in a bottle the first time out. Either way Loose Screws: Screwballs II is a harmless and mediocre movie that I just can’t recommend wasting your time on. If you must then you can pick this one up from the nice folks at Severin films. Check out their website at http://www.severin-films.com/ Severin also put out the original movie, which is a must buy for fans of ‘80s sex comedies.

1 ½ out of 4

reviewed by John Shatzer