Spectre General Reviews an 80's movie: Beach Balls

[Spectre General]

Before anyone becomes TOO confused let two things be known: a) I'm 22 years old, and hence didn't really "experience" the 80's (this will be relevant later) and b) This movie cost me $3.

If any of you are lucky enough to remember this "Roger Corman Classic" then there's probably something wrong with you, but for those who've never seen it, or did see it and don't remember, let me take a minute of your time to shine some light on this lost gem of 80's aggregation.

Let's have a brief look at the ingredients to this movie: 1 part 80's teenage boy who lives on the beach loves to rock, and wants to go out with hot girl who also lives on the beach, yet he's never spoken too her. 1 part religous mother and overbearing sister who prevent 80's boy (Charlie) from acheiving either goal (rocking, or dating.) 1 part overly religious overbearring older brother of the object of Charlie's affection (Wendy) 1 part 3rd rate wannabe hair metal band (Dr. Starr is the real life name of the band if you must know, and yes, I would like to have their music, or at least the OST to this movie because I'm weird like that.) Add a touch of street punks, and goofy 80's best friend, and well, you've basically got the idea already.

So what distinguishes this movie from pretty much any other 80's teen comedy, like say Pretty in Pink, or Weird Science you might ask? Some of you are probably thinking quality, which is likely true, but to me, where this movie really gleams is in it's particular brand of comedy. The entire movie is basically a very obvious, yet UNITENTIONAL satire of the social climate of the 1980's.

Taking a step outward for a moment; in my experience, most people who lived through it tend to view the 1980's as one lump whole (present company excluded of course.) And basically, most people take that lump, and bury it somewhere in the sinews of their brain, in a small chamber marked "ridiculous" and never think about it again, unless for some god-forsaken reason, it needs to be thought about. People then take this prejudiced viewpoint that they've collectively agreed upon, and force it on everyone who for any reason doesn't view anything from the 80's as "ridiculous." Not having lived through it, perhaps I have no idea what I'm talking about, but somehow I think I do. Well, 20 plus years later, those of us who care to, are able to look back at that decade and say, "My God, that really was ridiculous" but discriminating minds will know what WAS ridiculous (fashion, and hair metal for instance) and what WASN'T.

Beach Balls is ridiculous. But maybe not in the way you're expecting. The movie tries very hard to create the atmosphere of reality, which it succeeds in doing, because for the most part, reality was quite different then than it is now. I can believe that Dr. Starr (or Severed Heads in a Bag as they're called in the movie) is a band someone would want to go see. I can believe that Charlie's goofy 80's friend is the kind of guy that was around. I can believe that Charlie could be occasionally accosted by a gang of punks his age. But only because it's the 80's. Basically everything that happes in the movie is beliveable, or at least, it's not hard to suspend disbelief within the context of the movie. But the parts that are intended to be unrealistic, are the easiest to believe.

The genius of this movie is that it was able to take aspects of normal day teenager life (which is COMPLETELY different now) and REALIZE how insanely ridiculous they were and accept it and make it sorta beliveable. The movie then turned around and satirized the undesireable parts of normal life, like familial relations for instance. However the satirization was portrayed in ways that teenagers supposedly would empathize with such as the religious mother who plays her sons' music backwards to detect satanic messages, and is a supporter of a pedophiliac money-grubbing televangelist "I'd rather hold a shotgun to my daughter's head than have her listening to rock music, the fight against satan costs money, so pick up those phones!" And the homophobic masculine clueless "young republican" older brother of Wendy and the similar crowd he runs around with "This is what I'd like to do to those fags! [crushes beer can] I bet they're commies too!". The irony however is that in 1988 when this movie came out, I can almost guarantee that it offered nothing desireable, and it's mockery then would have seemed more rabble-rousing than humorous because it probably would have offended people at the time, but is not nearly offensive enough to strike a chord with the youth, which of course, would be the only people watching it. Technically the movie's not even funny.

So basically, you take a cookie-cutter plot for the 80's teen comedy, combine it with people who are trying to make their movie seem "cool" to all the kids at the time, and what you end up with in 1988 is a shallow poorly executed attempt to amalgamize everything about everyday life, emphasize the desireable parts of it, ridicule the undesireable parts, and end up with a happily-ever-after, totally unrealistic story. The worst part is, it doesn't even have the sleaze factor that "Roger Corman Presents" is notorious for.

In 2006 however, what you end up with is a time-capsule, that's basically the most unintentional, but right on the money social commentary you could ask for. Some of the ways the "over the top" characters such as Charlie's mom and sister and Wendy's brother are accentuated - to a degree that's SUPPOSED to be ridicuilous - , is really what make the movie because, sadly, the gross satirization of them is the most realistic part of it. The humor in this movie is really completely stemming from irony in that what's supposed to be a hyperbole of antagonisim is no exaggeration at all (and when compared to what's antagonizing today, trivial) and in what's portrayed as normalcy, and desireable is awkwardly humorous now.

In short, I really enjoyed this movie, so much so that I felt compelled to write this. (Maybe if it goes over well, I'll do it more often.) For those of you who were around in the 80's its the perfect thing to step outside of now and take a road trip back to another time, where you can point to things and say "Oh my God I remember that!" "I knew somebody just like that!" or (heaven forbid) "That was SO me!" The best part is, the positive ending leaves you with a warm feeling (unless hair metal makes you queasy) and ultimately you're glad you watched it, even if you didn't pick up on the inherent social commentary. My opinion is that it's $3 well spent - but who knows, maybe I'm just some kid who doesn't know what I'm talking about. What do you think?

~ Spec out

[ben_at_work]

I think you nailed it spec. I watch 80's movies now and totally get that feeling. Recognition in characters and such. Repo Man for example, as off the wall as it was, what with the aliens and all, totally reminds me of hanging out with my punk friends. Even Meatballs, I totally new a Spaz when i was in high school. Anywho, good call... I'll have to revisit Beach Balls. [;)]

[UniversalRadio]

Never seen the movie. Never even heard of the movie. But a very intellegent review. It definitely sounds like you do know what you're talking about, Spectre.

Maybe this hair metal band is believable, but can they beat the Wyld Stallyons (sp?)in a battle of the bands? I miss the Keanu Reeves of yesteryear.

You know, Spectre, you watch cheesy 80's movies for the same reason I love cheesy 60's movies.[8D][:D]

Looking forward to more reviews, but I think I'll pass on Beach Balls.[;)]

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