Porky's
3/4
Starring: Dan Monahan, Mark Herrier, Wyatt Knight, Roger Wilson, Cyril O'Reilly, Tony Ganios, Boyd Gaines, Kim Cattrall, Chuck Mitchell, Scott Colomby
Rated R for Pervasive Sexual Content, Nudity, Language and Some Violence (I Guess)
Let me ask you a question. Can a critic, in good conscience, give a positive review to a mess of a film that has no coherent plot, absolutely zero character development, and only a few funny scenes? Ordinarily, I think not. But such is the case with "Porky's." There are some amusing bits here and there, but there are many that don't land. There is, however, a sequence that has to last at least five minutes, if not longer, that is absolutely hysterical. I was nearly crying I was laughing so hard. You don't see that very often.
As I said, there's not much of a plot in this movie, just a series of comic set pieces of varying quality. They revolve around six guys and their quest of sex, or failing that, a look at a naked girl. The film is more or less bookended by them going to Porky's, a titty bar run by a mean giant of a man named, you guessed it, Porky (Mitchell). But after he screws them and humiliates them, they vow revenge.
What sets "Porky's" apart from most other raunchy sex comedies is that it's not set in the present day. It's set in the 1950's, which lends it an air of innocence and nostalgia that enhances the humor (somewhat). Now, you'll get me to believe that there are teenagers who are this obsessed with sex (it's called adolescence), but teachers? Right. Still, they play the dominating role in the riotously funny scene that I mentioned before.
Acting-wise, the film is on solid ground, although few of the characters are given enough to work with to make them distinguishable from the next guy. I remember Pee-Wee (Monahan), who is obsessed with and desperate to lose his virginity, Meat (Ganios), because he's big, Tim (O'Reilly) because he's anti-Semitic but gets redeemed, and Brian Schwartz (Colomby) because he's so damn nice.
The anti-Semitism aspect of the film doesn't work. While it was true to the time period and adds an emotional component to the end, it's really too dark for something this silly. There are many other scenes that don't land. Either the timing is off or they're just not that funny.
The film was directed by Bob Clark, whose career was, shall we say, diverse. He directed the slasher movie "Black Christmas," the holiday classic "A Christmas Story," and this. You couldn't find much more diversity than that.
Even when the film isn't as funny as it wants to be, it's still likable enough because the characters are sympathetic (not early on, because it isn't established til later that they're all friends). That, and the scene in the gym (you'll never think of "Lassie" the same way again), are the reasons why I'm recommending the film.
Starring: Dan Monahan, Mark Herrier, Wyatt Knight, Roger Wilson, Cyril O'Reilly, Tony Ganios, Boyd Gaines, Kim Cattrall, Chuck Mitchell, Scott Colomby
Rated R for Pervasive Sexual Content, Nudity, Language and Some Violence (I Guess)
Let me ask you a question. Can a critic, in good conscience, give a positive review to a mess of a film that has no coherent plot, absolutely zero character development, and only a few funny scenes? Ordinarily, I think not. But such is the case with "Porky's." There are some amusing bits here and there, but there are many that don't land. There is, however, a sequence that has to last at least five minutes, if not longer, that is absolutely hysterical. I was nearly crying I was laughing so hard. You don't see that very often.
As I said, there's not much of a plot in this movie, just a series of comic set pieces of varying quality. They revolve around six guys and their quest of sex, or failing that, a look at a naked girl. The film is more or less bookended by them going to Porky's, a titty bar run by a mean giant of a man named, you guessed it, Porky (Mitchell). But after he screws them and humiliates them, they vow revenge.
What sets "Porky's" apart from most other raunchy sex comedies is that it's not set in the present day. It's set in the 1950's, which lends it an air of innocence and nostalgia that enhances the humor (somewhat). Now, you'll get me to believe that there are teenagers who are this obsessed with sex (it's called adolescence), but teachers? Right. Still, they play the dominating role in the riotously funny scene that I mentioned before.
Acting-wise, the film is on solid ground, although few of the characters are given enough to work with to make them distinguishable from the next guy. I remember Pee-Wee (Monahan), who is obsessed with and desperate to lose his virginity, Meat (Ganios), because he's big, Tim (O'Reilly) because he's anti-Semitic but gets redeemed, and Brian Schwartz (Colomby) because he's so damn nice.
The anti-Semitism aspect of the film doesn't work. While it was true to the time period and adds an emotional component to the end, it's really too dark for something this silly. There are many other scenes that don't land. Either the timing is off or they're just not that funny.
The film was directed by Bob Clark, whose career was, shall we say, diverse. He directed the slasher movie "Black Christmas," the holiday classic "A Christmas Story," and this. You couldn't find much more diversity than that.
Even when the film isn't as funny as it wants to be, it's still likable enough because the characters are sympathetic (not early on, because it isn't established til later that they're all friends). That, and the scene in the gym (you'll never think of "Lassie" the same way again), are the reasons why I'm recommending the film.
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