Verdict
Summary
Filmed in 1977, but not released until 1982, Homework was a little ahead of the curve when it caught the teen coming of age sex comedy wave before it really hit its stride with Porky’s and a slew of other notable titles in the early 1980’s. The film is remarkably frank and almost downbeat at times with a reality-cleansing approach with characters that are relatable and down to earth, but never overwritten or overplayed.
Plot:
A teenaged boy pines to lose his virginity as he navigates his youth in Los Angeles.
Review:
Blonde-haired teen Tommy (Michael Morgan) is good at something, but just what that exactly is he’s still trying to figure out. He’s got buddies who are into his enthusiasm and a girlfriend who is much more interested in breaking her swim team time than in helping him get laid for the first time, and, and when Tommy manages to get enough momentum to form a band, they write a few songs (about getting laid, of course) and manage to create a sound that suits them, hoping to premier their act in the school talent show in a few weeks. Meanwhile, Tommy’s best friend gets private tutor lessons from their new (and very attractive) French teacher (played by Lee Purcell), and Tommy’s girlfriend’s mom (played by Joan Collins) takes special notice of Tommy one day when he’s helping her with a household task, which redirects the course of his life (and confidence) when she makes the first move …
Filmed in 1977, but not released until 1982, Homework was a little ahead of the curve when it caught the teen coming of age sex comedy wave before it really hit its stride with Porky’s and a slew of other notable titles in the early 1980’s. The film is remarkably frank and almost downbeat at times with a reality-cleansing approach with characters that are relatable and down to earth, but never overwritten or overplayed. There are flashbacks for the Joan Collins character where she remembers her first sexual encounters, and there are fantasy sequences where Tommy imagines himself a rock star encumbered by naked women (more than once), and the film is extremely generous with its high quotient of nudity, which is nearly constant, but somehow appropriate for the film’s proceedings. The film’s script was co-written and originated by Maurice Peterson, a black screenwriter, and the film has meaty roles for black characters that are central to the plot. Rock music is important to the story, and there are original songs that were written for the film. Wings Hauser plays a sleazy rock star in a few scenes who gives one of the main female teen characters the clap. My favorite moments feature star Morgan just walking around Hollywood, the town I grew up in and recognize from the late ’70s and early ’80s. The final shot of the movie has him walking out of the old Egyptian Theater, one of the theaters I went to many times as a kid. Directed by James Beshears who never directed another movie.
Unearthed Classics has just released a Blu-ray edition of Homework (#15 on the spine), and it’s a notable upgrade from the previous DVD release from VCI, which I have in my collection. The disc comes with a ported over interview with producer Max Rosenberg, who passed away shortly after the interview was conducted, and a promotional gallery, plus bonus trailers.
