Zapped!

It's your basic 80's teen comedy. How can you identify this unique sub-genre? Look for a movie with a good brunette and an evil/bad girl blonde.

Scatman Crothers was probably embarrassed to list this on his resume, but Christopher Aames is actually kinda funny in a few spots: he does a decent Groucho impersonation near the end.

Baio and Schacter have some decent chemistry, and for some odd reason I really like the music. Other then that, it's pretty much a guilty pleasure.

And I ain't joshin'.

Why Scott Baio gets the proverbial shaft when great actors are discussed is beyond me. Here's a cat who has dated all the hottest tail and was the driving force behind what is arguably the edgiest, most acerbic teen flick ever in "Zapped!" ... yet he is often mentioned in the same breath with the two-headed Corey Monster (Haim and Feldman) and his frequent, far less dramatically astute compatriot, Mr. Willie Aames. Such degradation is tantamount to a travesty.

This movie is a cutting comedic triumph. Baio's character makes incisive observations about the empty rhetoric of adolescence, and challenges authority not only with his telekinetic powers, but alcohol, tobacco and sex. And let's examine the telekinesis closer -- is it just another one of those blessing-and-a-curse afflictions that finds the right guy or girl? Absolutely not. We're talking about a uniquely Zen ideal, a manifestation of a young man's private internal nirvana in the laboratory of the local high school. Beakers move, brooms sweep up debris, roulette wheels spin out of control, dad tosses liquid laxative all over himself uncontrollably ... this is a celluloid incarnation of unrivaled genius.

Alas, who am I kidding? This movie is stupid bad. And yet I still love it, dammit. So sue me.

Zapped has only two redeeming values...the fact that it showcases the talents of the late, great Scatman Crothers (NOT a pinnacle of his career) and more importantly...the big screen debut of the lovely Miss Heather Thomas. Other than that, this movie is best watched after many, many beers...even then it may not be watchable. The story is a soft-core porno meets an ABC after-school special...lotsa boobs, extremely bad story-line, a "Star Trek" sequence that must be seen to be believed (or disbelieved!)...But somehow the 10 minutes that Heather Thomas graces the screen makes it all seem worthwhile...Hmmmmmmmmmmmm

Skip the lame sequel at all costs! (Even Linda Blair doesn't save it!)

As Scott Baio's father asks him: "Son, are you on dope?" - - you'd have to be to enjoy this one!

Zapped secured the services of three current teen stars to guarantee a box office for this comedic salute to Carrie. The three are Scott Baio from Happy Days, Willie Aames from Eight Is Enough, and Felice Schachter from The Facts Of Life. Would that things had only gone this well for Carrie on her prom night.

Nerdy kid Scott Baio, a misunderstood science genius, gets some kind of chemicals mixed due to baseball coach Scatman Crothers spilling something and a noxious gas overtakes him in the laboratory in school. When he wakes up he finds himself with the power of telekinesis. After that it's one ridiculous situation after another.

One thing about this film, except for the three leads nearly everyone else in the movie is a blithering idiot. Other kids, teachers, Baio's parents, Scatman Crothers is an exception. Best scene in the film is on prom night Baio's parents get a couple of priests to perform an exorcism on him.

As for the prom, the scene is strictly a takeoff on Brian DePalma's Carrie with the damage played for laughs instead of violence. Typical brat pack comedy by three who were trying to break into the pack. Some funny scenes, but mostly kind of dopey.

Barney Springboro (Scott Baio) is a real high school science nerd. His best friend Peyton Nichols (Willie Aames) just wants to party. Coach Dexter Jones accidentally adds to Barney's formula. Bernadette is the pushy class nerd who wants to interview Barney. The mixture explodes giving him telekinetic powers. Jane Mitchell (Heather Thomas) is the entitled cheerleader going out with a college guy. Both Bernadette and Peyton find out about Barney's powers. Bernadette wants to publish while Peyton uses his powers to win a baseball game.

It's a functional sex romp of a pretty low caliber. It was a lot better seeing this as a boy. This is the usual raunchy teen movie with nude boobs. The idea of a guy with telekinetic powers is a lot better than the execution here. The highlight is Heather Thomas. Scott Baio has a bit of charisma but he doesn't seem to be fully committed to being a nerd. A good pair of thick glasses would help and he needs to button up his shirt. It's like he's too cool to play the part.