IMDb RATING
5.0/10
8.3K
YOUR RATING
A high school science nerd gains telekinetic powers after a laboratory accident and uses them for revenge upon bullies.A high school science nerd gains telekinetic powers after a laboratory accident and uses them for revenge upon bullies.A high school science nerd gains telekinetic powers after a laboratory accident and uses them for revenge upon bullies.
- Director
- Writers
- Stars
- Awards
- 2 nominations total
Mews Small
- Mrs. Springboro
- (as Marya Small)
Hank Robinson
- Umpire
- (as Henry Ford Robinson)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Featured reviews
Hey, it's a 1980s video-type movie. It's a one-gag picture with some amusing moments, some dumb moments, and a titillating finale. Don't pay more than a buck to rent it. Scott Baio is... well, Scott Baio. Enough said.
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.
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.
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.
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.
I just bought a copy of Zapped for $5 and watched it for the first time in several years the other day. All the reviews you will read for the movie here sum it up. It's a bad story, with bad actors, with bad acting, with bad special effects and I enjoy it every time I watch it. I don't know why because I've never liked Scott Baio or Willie Aames in anything else they did, but they click here. I also think Felice Schacter was a cutie in the picture. I always make the comparison to WKRP in Cincinnati when I watch this picture. Felice is Bailey Quarters and Heather Thomas is Loni Anderson's Jennifer (and I preferred Bailey by far). I always got a kick out of Scatman Crothers and he has some great lines in this movie as does LaWanda Page (from Sanford and Son fame). And don't forget the movie industry's biggest geek, Eddie Deezen, who makes an appearance.
As another reviewer put it, watching Zapped is a guilty pleasure. if that's the case, I probably belong on Death Row! If you want to clear your mind of all thoughts and don't want to do it with chemicals, pop in Zapped and enjoy!
As another reviewer put it, watching Zapped is a guilty pleasure. if that's the case, I probably belong on Death Row! If you want to clear your mind of all thoughts and don't want to do it with chemicals, pop in Zapped and enjoy!
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!
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!
Did you know
- TriviaFollowing the box office success of Porky's (1981), parts of the film were refilmed to increase the amount of nudity and to intentionally earn an R-rating.
- GoofsIn the close-up of Jane's sweater just before it pops open, you can see that it is buttoned with the left side over the right. When it pops open the buttons stay on the material on the left side of the sweater and there are button holes on the right. The shirt wasn't actually buttoned.
- Quotes
Peyton Nichols: Barn, sometimes life is like an onion. When you peel it, it makes you cry.
- Crazy creditsA double was used for Miss Thomas in her nude scene and in the photograph. The closing credits declare that "a [body] double was used for Miss Thomas [Heather Thomas] in her nude scene and in the photograph" but the person who body doubled is not credited in the movie billings.
- Alternate versionsThe movie was re-shot to add nudity to achieve an R rating which replaced the original "PG" rating, mostly the sex scene with Barney and Bernadette.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Svengoolie: Zapped! (2003)
- How long is Zapped!?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Zip !
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $16,897,768
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $823,548
- Jul 25, 1982
- Gross worldwide
- $16,897,768
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