Loose Screws

LOOSE SCREWS reminds me of other lame sequels to sex romps. HOLLYWOOD HOTTUBS 2, BIKINI CAR WASH 3, EMMANUEL 34...the list goes on and on. And this film is no exception.

I liked the original film, SCREWBALLS. It was a silly comedy about five teen boys trying to get laid, and the many loose women and wacky adventures that the high schoolers encounter. It was a take on PORKY'S, but a much funnier one. There is genuine joy in SCREWBALLS, which is sorely lacking in LOOSE SCREWS.

Once again, we have characters trying to have sex, but the results are less funny this time. There's the fat guy, the nerdy guy, the womanizer: all of the cliches of the genre we have now come to expect. But, the cast is different, and the women are not the same ones from the original. While SCREWBALLS bordered on soft-core (granted very fun soft-core), LOOSE SCREWS is neutered. Nothing worse than a sex romp without sex.

Still, there are a few moments that made me laugh in this film, and maybe if you're feeling less discriminating one night, it's possible to enjoy the movie. Yet, after seeing SCREWBALLS, this film is a very pale second.

After watching this movie more than 6 or 7 times, it remains a hilarious experience.

Granted, not everyone will share my enthusiasm for the adventures of Marvin Eatmore, Steve Hardman, Hugh G. Rection, and Brad Lovett, but if you are willing to set your brain on neutral for an hour and a half, you WILL be entertained.

Basically the four guys, after failing grade 12 four times, are sent to Coxwell Academy for the summer as a last chance to get their high school diplomas. Their teenage libidos raging, the four quickly start a game to see who can score with the most girls that summer. It is best summarized by Brad, who offers, "10 points for every girl you score with, 5 for an almost, and 2 for a look-see." in their own creative ways, the four embark on a sexual journey full of mishaps and hilarity.

As an interesting side note, Canadian comedian Mike Macdonald fills the role of Principal Arsenault, out to ensure the boys' summer is a living hell.

Vying for the affection of both the principal and the guys is the French Teacher, Mona Lott (yes, that is her real name). Again, more hilarity ensues.

This movie is absolutely ridiculous, but outrageously funny. Granted, many of the jokes are rehashed from the original "Screwballs", "Loose Screws" offers its own unique take on a strip club journey, beach party, sneaking a boy into the girls' dorm, and a thrilling 'climax' at the end. Come on, how can a guy pretending to be a girl who is forced to have a bath, only to find a single tub left that he must share with an innocent co-ed who happens to be blinded by her missing glasses not funny?

On top of all this, the soundtrack is amazing, featuring such classics as The Extras "Circular Impression", "Screw It" and "Loose Screws."

Rent Loose Screws if you and some friends want to laugh harder than you have in a long time.

Enjoy!

Loose Screws (1985)

* 1/2 (out of 4)

Sequel to SCREWBALLS finds four perverted guys getting sent to a school with plenty of women where they decide to play a rating game. For every girl they score with they get ten points but the main prize is a French teacher with big breasts. I'm still a little confused as why they'd punish perverts by sending them to a school with nothing but women. Anyways, this 80's teen-sex comedy is pretty bad no matter how you look at it. It's clear that the original movie made some money so this thing was rushed into production without much of a screenplay. Instead of any type of story we're just graced with scenes where one of the four men will be making out with a number of women who find them desirable. None of these scenes are all that erotic and it's rare for me to say this but even the nudity gets boring after a while. There's also very few laughs to be found here as the "stunts" and "games" played by the guys are all rather lame. The film tries hard to recapture the spirit of the first movie but it pretty much fails on all levels. Even the ending tries to copy the one in the original but it just doesn't work. The performances are certainly below average but I'll overlook this since we really don't come to these movies to see Oscar-winning performances. The characters aren't all that likable and it's really hard to care about anything going on. LOOSE SCREWS is a pretty poor movie that was made just to try and get some extra bucks off the first film's success.

Pretty much the start of this sequel is same at the start of it's predecessor, plus a few other familarities, even plot. This non awesome foursome are practically pigs, two hunk sorts, plus the geek, and the fatty- CLICHE'D! Right. But too, it's very funny, much funnier than no one, and hot, but also entertaining as.... well you know. One of the things I think I like most, about this typical, did I say cliched, fun T and A comedy, and there's quite a few saucy honeys, not just schoolgirls, and we see them wholily and appreciatively. You never wanna see French in another light again, oh yeh, and she's SMOKIN HOT! You do have to admire it for it's audacity, and this is what this T and A flick is. But too, yes, but, this movie has an awesome title opening soundtrack. But again, a comedy with no substance, but all the guilty pleasures, ala 80's. The girls have brains for peanuts, loving the non awesome foursome's acts of vulgarity never offended or angry, and we too have a sort of Porky's Ms Ballbreaker head mistress, to keep the girls in line.

While not as good as the original. This sequel was still funny and yes boobs a plenty. 2 actors from original Star in this sequel. I'll let you watch and find out your. Definitely worth a look.

Tim Treakle