Morgan Stewart's Coming Home

I appeared in this movie as an extra, along with a number of my college friends.

It was primarily filmed in and near Charlottesville, VA (I'm guessing it was the spring of 1986) and a bunch of the extras were U.Va. students like myself.

I got a check for $50 and also got to chat with (and appear on screen with) Cryer for a bit. He actually was a really nice guy.

I think the mall scenes were filmed at the beautiful Fashion Square Mall north of Charlottesville.

But note I said I got a check for $50 -- I didn't get PAID the $50 because the bastards bounced my check.

After all these years, I'm still bitter. :)

There is a really sweet, gently funny teen comedy buried Morgan Stewart's Coming Home. But it all falls apart when it becomes kind of a weird political thriller. It's little surprise the director successfully petitioned to have his name replaced with Alan Smithee.

It's got a great hook - nerdy but rebellious kid who keys getting kicked out of boarding schools goes home so he and his parents can appear to be a loving family, as his dad is a politician. It's got good casting, great chemistry between Cryer and Viveka Davis, and some fun, offbeat writing (Davis' parents are horror movie buffs). And there's nice conflict as Cryer tries to convince his stuffy, overbearing mother to allow him to fly his freak flag while they try to get him to straighten up and fly right.

So what do they do? They scuttle this movie by throwing in an espionage thriller bit, adding dumb violence and even dumber plotting (if you are surprised by the revelation of the bad guy, hey, welcome to your first movie). It's a lazy, unnecessary way to resolve things.

It's not like this was a perfect movie to begin with, but Cryer makes Stewart equally geeky and rebellious - an interesting take on the Matthew Broderick WarGames character. The script does him few favors, but Cryer somehow make it work. Davis has less to work with - she's a Manic Picture Dream Girl, essentially - but she gives Emily a fearless enthusiasm that's hard to resist. And Redgrave is excellent, and funny, as Morgan's cold, calculating mother.

But man, does the movie turn dumb. Oh, well.

Weirdly enough, if you told me this movie was directed by the same Alan Smithee who have us the similarly troubled The Shrimp in the Barbie, I'd believe you. Same kind of movie.

First of all, I love this movie. I know the film didn't do well in theaters, and that it had all sorts of trouble behind the scenes, and critics bash it every chance they get. But, I simply don't care... I love it, from start to finish. Jon Cryer is great. And, if you agree with me on this, then you will enjoy this film. If not... then, most likely, you won't enjoy this film. It's that simple.

I grew up watching this film countless times, as I identified not only with Cryer, but also with his character, Morgan. Growing up, I was "Morbid Morgan", and still am. Along with Cryer's other films, "NO SMALL AFFAIR", "PRETTY IN PINK" and the extremely underrated "HIDING OUT", this one ranks as one my favorites.

Also, I am getting pretty tired of the accusations that this film was made to cash in on "FERRIS BUELLER'S DAY OFF", as the two are nothing alike, and this particular film, although it was released in 1987, was shot in 1985, a full year before the latter film's release. So there.

Wow, was this a stinker. The only character who was tolerable was Mr. Stewart. I've always liked that actor because he has a warm, humorous presence. Cryer was fine when he was not being hyperactive. Other than that this dumb, predictable nonsense is good for one viewing only. That is if you can get through that. Cryer gets his obligatory 80s scene where he does a song and dance number. It worked so well in Pretty in Pink why not throw it in here...Lord knows a filler is always welcome in a movie like this. The scene was so embarrassing and odd. We get it, you went to acting school and were in plays so you gotta let us know about it by strutting your Broadway stuff. Its as if he was using it as a vehicle or trying to prove himself to the industry. How versatile and showy of you....Unfortunately, how annoying for the viewer. The only thing more embarrassing was the botched attempt of humor when Redgrave uttered, "My God he's on drugs" to end the scene. I suppose that was supposed to be the big payoff. Cringe worthy! Then there are the endless chase sequences. I could go on but you get the point.

The only redeeming part of the movie for me was the touching scene in Arby's where Morgan runs into his Dad eating a beef sandwich. They share the sandwich and Morgan says he can't remember the last time they did that. This was a true, honest moment between a father and a son trying to restore their relationship after a long time away from each other. In a way it reminded me of the scene between Donald Sutherland and Timothy Hutton in Ordinary People in how the father and son have a genuine bond that nothing can break. Not even the mother. This is the Cryer that was human and so lovable as Ducky. IMO this scene shows his acting chops more than any song and dance number could.

I personally love "Morgan Stewart's Coming Home". Perhaps it's the scenes of Washington, D.C. (my hometown), perhaps it's that I've always had a crush on Jon Cryer. In any case, I think this is a great movie. Viveka Davis is in her best role since "Student Exchange". Jon Cryer is in rare form. If you loved him in "Pretty in Pink" you'll also enjoy him in this movie.