Lunch Wagon

This innocuous nudie comedy was made in the late 70's/early 80's between the great 70's drive-in sexplotation era and the 80's "Porky's"-style teen comedy era. The most obvious inspiration might have been "Gas Pump Girls" and "Teen Lust". While those two films were about three sexy girls trying to, respectively, run a gas station, and work as ride-along police cadets, this is about three sexy girls trying to run a lunch wagon for hungry (and horny) construction workers. Along the way they somehow get involved with two different gangs of inept jewelry thieves and have several run-ins with the (strangely uncredited) early 80's pop act Missing Persons.

Voluptuous blonde lead actress Pamela Jean Bryant, who very recently passed away, had only a brief career, but appeared in a number of seminal exploitation films of the era like "HOTS". She played the sexy older sister of one of the protagonists in "Private Lessons" (one of the very first of the 80's teen exploitation comedies) and she also had a small role as a topless victim in the sleazy slasher flick "Don't Answer the Phone". African-American actress right Roseanne Katon might be as well known today for her tireless charity work as her exploitation career, but the latter stretched all the way back to Jack Hill's "The Swinging Cheerleaders". Candy Moore, the least-known actress of the main trio, is kind of miscast as a female body-builder (since she has slender 110-lb.fashion-model body), but her character has a funny fetish for small nerdy guys who can she can really take charge of in the sack. A little further down the cast list is Louisa Moritz as a bubble-headed gangster moll. She was ubiquitous in supporting bimbo roles from the mid-70's to mid-80's, her most famous being as race-car driver in "Death Race 2000" and as hot-to-trot Latina who takes on three pizza boys in "Last American Virgin" (another seminal early 80's teen comedies).

The male cast are mostly supporting comic buffoons who provide some mildly entertaining antics between bouts of toplessness and generally drool over the female characters. They're not very memorable, but they're not too annoying either. Half-assed and leering as it may be, this movie still has a little of the 70's era feminism with the female characters taking center stage, whereas a couple years later movies like this were all about horny teenage boys trying to get laid. I have no idea how Missing Persons came to appear in this movie (or why they're not credited), but they contribute several memorable songs. They were definitely the best early 80's pop group fronted by a former Playboy Bunny.. .

Despise the presence of a bunch of Van Pattens (a stalwart of a lot of these teen-hijinks flicks), this is a pretty decent run-of-the-mill teen-exploitation flick. The big twist being the fact that ex-Frank Zappa drummer Tony Bozzio and his wonderfully beautiful wife at the time, Dale Bozzio (of previous Joe's Garage, Hustler, and Playboy fame), she of the squeaky voice and large talents, are both in the movie. The band, US Drag is credited, and they play the title track "Lunch Wagon Girls," Mental Hopscotch," and "Walking in LA". They of course were really Missing Persons. Not sure if they hadn't come up with the Missing Persons band name yet (MUCH better than US Drag), or if they were hiding the fact that they were in the movie in the first place (not sure why), but I remember seeing this on some late-night channel around 1988, hearing the songs, and thinking what the hell is Terry Bozzio doing in this?

For those of you who voted so lowly for this "new wave" concoction, I'm too ashamed to say why you've missed something that turned out as a pure delight. What's the problem with shorts as high as the buttocks, or rock music, or a movie that "looks" dated? Think, T-H-I-N-K, before and after you watch any movie that's been out for a long period of time! You might be surprised!

Now that's been said and clear, I must say that LUNCH WAGON is the best "bimbo" flick yet in the exploitation comedy category, based on my viewings of hundreds of rental store tapes. Much of what I've seen before didn't impress me at all, but this one's exceptional in several departments. Not too long ago, I've watched GAS PUMP GIRLS, another good recommendation which was decent, but this one stands out better. It's better than most, really. You can discover that one of the three girls (almost resembling CLUELESS) in the cast has a unique personality of a bodybuilder, which is a nice gag. These girls take this movie seriously without an excuse for the "naked" truth every so often, with fine acting. The group doing the cool tunes on stage is the one-hit wonder 80s band Missing Persons. A clever plot and a lot of hilarity bodes pretty high with positive results. In other words, a nice soft, sweet, sexy exploitation comedy gem that stands straight and doesn't tip over the wall. The print quality is absolutely sharp, providing you search for the Media version. One thing I didn't like, though, and don't guess! BOOM MICS!!! At the bottom of your screen, they really show off! Aaaargh!!! But forget the common flaw that's occurred in several other drive-in films. LUNCH WAGON is a definite must that will make you want to "Come And Get It!".

Lunch Wagon is a fun little comedy, about 3 girls trying to make it in the lunch wagon business, when they are pursued by a couple of bumbling jewel thieves. It has a new wave look about it, and never gets too goofy. Look for missing persons, and a lot of naked women...