Gimme an 'F'

"Flashdance" meets "Meatballs III" or maybe it should just be called "Meatballs IV". This is my friend Wesley's all-time favorite movie, largely because he still has a thing about J.V. cheerleaders. As someone once said: "This is fine-more than fine-but as you get older you need to branch out. Whether you want to or not, society demands it".

"Gimme An F" has cinema's greatest J.V. cheerleader Mary Ann (played by Beth Miller), who looks like a sweet-faced Alicia Silverstone from before her "Clueless" days. Wesley hates Miller's other film, the horrific "Teen Wolf Too" made three years later, where she plays a fickle southern belle much like Martha Smith's character in "Animal House". Personally I admire Miller's range as the two characters could not be more different and she is convincing as both.

Anyway, Mary Ann is a naïve novice cheerleader from Moline (a member of "The Lucky Ducks" squad) who comes to Camp Beaverview for cheerleading instruction. She's befriended by Jenna (Karen Lee Kelly), the leader of the tough girl squad-appropriately named "The Demons". Jenna becomes protective of Mary Ann after her main rival takes an instant dislike to Mary Ann.

Later Mary Ann gets a crush on Tommy Hamilton, the head instructor. Tommy is spending his summer wrestling with the dilemma of having to grow up and move on, which is a problem as his only skills are teaching cheerleading and performing elaborate dance routines in the shower, for the enjoyment of viewers who get off on that sort of thing. Phoebe (Daphne Ashbrook) is Tommy's long-suffering girlfriend, she has a well-adjusted attitude and an experienced perspective. She even tolerates Tommy's flirtation with Mary Ann-trusting that Tommy will not actually take advantage of young Mary Ann.

While these four characters are solid and their relationships have a nice charm, the supporting cast is almost as weak as the material they have to work with. Which is a shame because had they brought some actual comic relief to the production it would have been a decent film. Jennifer Cooke plays Pam, a social climbing and terminally peppy instructor who is carrying on with camp's money-hungry owner Bucky. And there is another couple with a thing for the characters from "Mad Max". Since nothing is very funny you are left with only a cute semi-romance and some great dance routines.

An attempt is made to create some suspense by slowly leading up a final competition but unless this is your first movie experience the outcome is never in doubt. And there is a back-story about some Japanese businessmen Bucky wants to get money from, but it goes nowhere dramatically or comically.

Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child.

My review was written in November 1984 after a mall screening in Boca Raton, Florida.

"Gimme an 'F'" unsuccessfully converts the once-popular cheerleaders exploitation film format ("The Cheerleaders" and "The Pom Pom GIrls" a decade or so ago) into an intended dance-oriented romp. Pic is unlikely to warrant a national release following its current regional bookings by distrib 20th Century Fox, and should play better on pay-cable.

Debuting feature director Paul Justman, who displays solid technical skills, has a meager premise to work with in Jim Hart's script. Story revolves around an annual clinic and competition for school cheerleading teams, held at Camp Beaver View, run by Bucky Berkshire, a/k/a Dr. Spirit" (John Karlen, hamming it up in the principal older-generation role). Berkshire, who is working on obtaining Japanese financial backing for a chain of boutiques, bets his top instructor Tom Hamilton (Stephen Shellen) $10,000 that he can't get the Moline Ducks squad to win over the powerhouse Fudge High Falcons. If he loses, Hamilton must work another five years for Berkshire.

Teen antics and sexcapades at the camp are extremely mild, with film erring in offering almost no nudity for its target youthful/drive-in audience. In keeping with the recent hit "Footloose", there is an interesting role reversal, in which lead Shellen dances sexily in his underwear in a shower while femme cat secretly watch voyeuristically.

Dance numbers are overproduced, with the Ducks' predictable blossoming from awkward, mousy types to sexpots on stage coming off as unbelievable. Also, the use of dance doubles for several of the lead players is obvious. Thesping is adequate in context and musical score serviceable.

I love this movie as much or even more than I did as a teenager. It's silly & funny & sexy. It's just fun. I really love the performance scenes.

A cult classic amongst my friends and I, this movie is hilarious and fun. Don't watch it too seriously, and you'll love it. The cheerleading aspect is cool to watch, and the jokes and pranks are funny. Slightly reminiscent of Porky's. And remember, "D is for Duck".

If you are at all into the "dancey" style of cheerleading (there is some minor gymnastics involved in this movie), this movie cant be beat. It is obvious that the producers of this show wanted to show all aspects of cheerleading and really put some serious thought and money into the cheerleading numbers. The songs and routines seem to be highly original and are amazingly better than those than I have seen in actual High School/College cheerleading competitions (until the pyramid building/circus style became popular).

A broader recap: If you like to look at great looking girls who are talented, this is the movie to see. If you want some great acting and/or an interesting plot look elsewhere.