Verdict
Summary
One of the junkiest but remarkably most appealing teen sex comedies of the 1980’s, Joysticks is endearing to a fault, despite its trying to appeal to the lowest common denominator (even by today’s jaded standards), and it hasn’t lost one inch of its time capsule greatness.
Plot:
A corrupt businessman wants to put the local video arcade out of business.
Review:
River City’s hopping video arcade attracts all sorts: Nerds, babes, cool kids, gang bangers, and old folks looking to feel “with it,” but it has the attention of local businessman Joseph Rutter (Joe Don Baker) who wants the place shut down so he can take over the property, and so he puts his two moron nephews in charge of trying to sabotage the arcade by any means necessary. Meanwhile, the teen stud who runs the place, Jefferson Bailey (Scott McGinnis) and his virgin nerd pal Eugene (Leif Green) have the upper hand because the arcade is just too popular to shut down, no matter what happens. The place is hopping with gorgeous bimbos and sort of has its own mascot in fat slob McDorfus (Jim Greenleaf, aping John Belushi in Animal House) who can’t be beat in any game in the arcade, although Rutter hires punk mercenary King Vidiot (a memorable Jon Gries) to try to beat him in a winner-takes-all match that will decide the fate of the arcade.
One of the junkiest but remarkably most appealing teen sex comedies of the 1980’s, Joysticks is endearing to a fault, despite its trying to appeal to the lowest common denominator (even by today’s jaded standards), and it hasn’t lost one inch of its time capsule greatness. It’s good trash, as they say, and with plentiful and playful Playboy Playmate nudity on display (and goofball sex scenes), the movie can’t be stopped with its grindhouse / drive-in aesthetics that simply don’t exist anymore. I’d rather watch this than Oppenheimer, you’d best believe it. From exploitation auteur Greydon Clark.
MVD Rewind has just upgraded Joysticks to Blu-ray in a premium edition that has a 2K scan and restoration (from 2015), two audio commentaries, an interview with Clark, a foldout poster, and a reversible cover.
