Morgan Stewart's Coming Home

First of all, I love this movie. I know the film didn't do well in theaters, and that it had all sorts of trouble behind the scenes, and critics bash it every chance they get. But, I simply don't care... I love it, from start to finish. Jon Cryer is great. And, if you agree with me on this, then you will enjoy this film. If not... then, most likely, you won't enjoy this film. It's that simple.

I grew up watching this film countless times, as I identified not only with Cryer, but also with his character, Morgan. Growing up, I was "Morbid Morgan", and still am. Along with Cryer's other films, "NO SMALL AFFAIR", "PRETTY IN PINK" and the extremely underrated "HIDING OUT", this one ranks as one my favorites.

Also, I am getting pretty tired of the accusations that this film was made to cash in on "FERRIS BUELLER'S DAY OFF", as the two are nothing alike, and this particular film, although it was released in 1987, was shot in 1985, a full year before the latter film's release. So there.

I keep seeing this film compared to Ferris Bueller's Day Off, and I don't see why. The plots have nothing in common, and the characters are not at all similar. Ferris Bueller's Day Off is about a very cool and clever kid who fools his parents into thinking he is sick, and goes on an adventure in the city. Morgan Stewart's Coming Home is more of a family story. A not so cool kid (Cryer) who was shipped off to boarding school at a young age is brought home to help with his fathers campaign to be elected to the senate and tries to win the affection of his very cold mother and dim-witted father. So why are these two films compared to one another? I see some of the comparison comes from the idea that this film was sold to the public as a Bueller-esque film, but it wasn't. I remember the commercials for this film from way back in the day, and they in no way tried to capitalize on the success of Ferris Bueller. This film is it's own film, as good or bad as it may be. It isn't a Ferris Bueller rip off. Morgan Stewart's Coming Home has it's moments, but it is more suited to a younger audience.

Geeky cute teenager Jon Cryer (as Morgan Stewart) is kicked out of eight boarding schools in six years. Finally, he returns home to get re-acquainted with wealthy Washington, DC parents Lynn Redgrave and Nicholas Pryor (as Nancy and Tom). There, mother Redgrave is busy being a perfectly coiffed politician's wife, and Republican father Pryor is running for office. A horror fan, Cryer meets beautiful kindred spirit Viveka Davis (as Emily) at a George Romero book-signing.

Cryer and Ms. Davis take a shower together, clad in their underwear and horror heads. Guess some parts don't get dirty. Also, Cryer finds out corrupt executive aide Paul Gleason (as Jay Le Soto) is working against his father, and the plot goes haywire. Cryer is a believable and engaging teenage horror fan (his father John debuted as a ghost on "Dark Shadows"). And, Davis is an appealing romantic interest. But, the story obviously isn't sure where to go, or how to get there.

***** Morgan Stewart's Coming Home (2/20/87) Paul Aaron, Terry Windsor ~ Jon Cryer, Viveka Davis, Lynn Redgrave, Paul Gleason

There is a really sweet, gently funny teen comedy buried Morgan Stewart's Coming Home. But it all falls apart when it becomes kind of a weird political thriller. It's little surprise the director successfully petitioned to have his name replaced with Alan Smithee.

It's got a great hook - nerdy but rebellious kid who keys getting kicked out of boarding schools goes home so he and his parents can appear to be a loving family, as his dad is a politician. It's got good casting, great chemistry between Cryer and Viveka Davis, and some fun, offbeat writing (Davis' parents are horror movie buffs). And there's nice conflict as Cryer tries to convince his stuffy, overbearing mother to allow him to fly his freak flag while they try to get him to straighten up and fly right.

So what do they do? They scuttle this movie by throwing in an espionage thriller bit, adding dumb violence and even dumber plotting (if you are surprised by the revelation of the bad guy, hey, welcome to your first movie). It's a lazy, unnecessary way to resolve things.

It's not like this was a perfect movie to begin with, but Cryer makes Stewart equally geeky and rebellious - an interesting take on the Matthew Broderick WarGames character. The script does him few favors, but Cryer somehow make it work. Davis has less to work with - she's a Manic Picture Dream Girl, essentially - but she gives Emily a fearless enthusiasm that's hard to resist. And Redgrave is excellent, and funny, as Morgan's cold, calculating mother.

But man, does the movie turn dumb. Oh, well.

Weirdly enough, if you told me this movie was directed by the same Alan Smithee who have us the similarly troubled The Shrimp in the Barbie, I'd believe you. Same kind of movie.

I appeared in this movie as an extra, along with a number of my college friends.

It was primarily filmed in and near Charlottesville, VA (I'm guessing it was the spring of 1986) and a bunch of the extras were U.Va. students like myself.

I got a check for $50 and also got to chat with (and appear on screen with) Cryer for a bit. He actually was a really nice guy.

I think the mall scenes were filmed at the beautiful Fashion Square Mall north of Charlottesville.

But note I said I got a check for $50 -- I didn't get PAID the $50 because the bastards bounced my check.

After all these years, I'm still bitter. :)