Zapped Again!

I loved the original Zapped! with Scott Baio and Willie Aames. So when I first heard there was a sequel, I was shocked. I thought this is gonna stink. However, seeing it on cable, I actually enjoyed it. I like how they have Ms. Burnhart now the principal of the school where Barney first used his powers. Also the new fresh cast (at the time) delievered some B-moviesque performances. And Linda Blair??? Ummm...I would've liked to see Heather Thomas reprise that role but it's all sheer out fun. The song at the end is too laughable...ahhh...B-movies like this...so much fun and cheese to enjoy!!!

My review was written in March 1990 after watching the movie on Nelson Entertainment video cassette.

This made-for-home video (it even lists a teleplay credit) sequel to 1982's "Zapped" offers the same formula of teen t&a, but it's gotten stale over the years.

With verbal references to the Scott Baio-starring original, pic covers exactly the same territory. Todd Eric Andrews, a poor man's Kevin Bacon, is the new boy at Emerson High School who joins the Science Club and finds Baio's mysterious elixir, which gives him telekinetic powers.

These are used, naturally to cause girls' garments to raise, drop or split on cue. Other dumb gags proliferate as Andr4ews, plain Jane heroine Kelli Williams and their friends fight with the stuck-up campus bullies led by Reed Rudy.

Overacting in the adult roles are Lyle Alzado as the football coach and Sue Ann Langdon as school principal. Linda Blair and Karen Black camp it up in guest shots as teachers.

Limp effort is quite dated, presenting a condescending, old fogeys' approach to the way young people supposedly talk and behave.

Todd Eric Andrews is brilliant in this film, working with a very witty, charismatic and charming character. His presence is not only enough to compensate for a silly plot and a predictable, lifeless romance, but he is also able to bring this sequel to a level higher than the first film. The are a number of amusing moments, and they are genuinely funny this time round, with likable even if very silly characters and Andrews heading the cast. Just like the first entry, this is not a film to watch for nudity, as there is very little. It is not one to watch for the premise either, because all the science behind it is not deeply examined. But, it is a film to watch for amusement - simple good fun.

This is one of those movies that suffers from painfully poor reviews here at the IMDb, from people who are the most pretentious film snobs you will ever not meet. If you are going to judge this film against something with legitimate cinematic merit, like Citizen Kane, or Seven Samurai, or whatever stock staple film you choose, of course you will be disappointed.

However, if you just want a ridiculous early 90's teen film for a little escapist fun whilst flipping through the channels at 4am on a Saturday night, then you could do a lot worse than this movie. If you are a big fan of teen movies in particular, you may find this pretty enjoyable. It's no Breakfast Club, don't get me wrong. It's complete crap. But it's fun crap.

So, if you are the kind of person who generally enjoys teen movies and has a high tolerance for zany antics, over the top performances, and silly plots, then you should watch this movie in the event that you happen across it.

If you are the kind of person who refuses to acknowledge anything as cinema except for films produced during the French New Wave, then not only should you avoid this movie, but also, maybe not waste so much time and energy criticizing it so harshly, you Godard-watching hippie.

I'm glad I saw this movie on late-night TV rather than renting it for four bucks on video, because I got screwed big time. Why weren't the characters as funny and outrageous as they were in the 1982 original? More to the point, where was the SEX? The Scott Baio movie fairly dripped with prurient appeal. I mean, they had an entire prom full of scantily-clad people running around; why didn't they have a prom scene this time? And why was this movie so gosh darn wholesome? You have to be between the ages of 13 and 18 to fully appreciate it, and I think I was about 20 when I saw it. There's hardly any profanity, and the writers must have thought that people would find jokes about the word "wiener" daring and hilarious. Who thought up this sequel, a roomful of second graders? It was direct-to-video, for God's sake! There should have been MORE racy material, not less! It should have been worthy of an R rating, but instead they made it tantamount to a PG-13. I was very disappointed with ZAPPED AGAIN! Watch it for the laughs, but not so much for the flesh.