Take Me Home Tonight

Take Me Home Tonight (2011)
Director: Michael Dowse
Writers: Jackie and Jeff Filgo
Starring: Topher Grace, Anna Faris, Dan Fogler, Teresa Palmer, Chris Pratt
Rating: R
My Rating: 3 (out of 5) Stars

 Look!! One day later and I've already made good on my promise!!! Here is my first entry about the 2011 film Take Me Home Tonight, starring Topher Grace (That 70's Show, Spiderman 3), Anna Faris (The House Bunny, Scary Movie), Dan Fogler (Fanboys, Balls of Fury), Teresa Palmer (I Am Number Four, Bedtime Stories), and Chris Pratt (Everwood, The OC, Moneyball). With notable appearances by Michael Ian Black (Run, Fatboy, Run), Demetri Martin (Taking Woodstock) and Michelle Trachtenberg (Eurotrip).

This movie actually had some ringing truth in my real life, because it's about recent MIT graduate Matt Franklin (Grace) at the end of the summer, working at a video store, and trying to figure out where to go and what to do with his life. I'm going through a similar thing except...it's January and none of my friends are home. Matt, his best friend Barney (Fogler) and his twin sister Wendy (Faris) are sort of in the same boat, except Wendy has a soon to be fiancee (Pratt) and Barney got fired from his job as a car salesman (and never went to college).

Their lives are changed "forever" when Mike's high school crush, Tori Frederking (Palmer) comes into the video store where Matt works, and she (not knowing he works there) tells him he "should come" to Kyle Masterson(Pratt)'s party.

Anyway, I don't want to spoil the whole movie for you, this all happens in the first 10 or 15 minutes. I just wanted to give you my thoughts:

I thought it was a pretty good movie. It wasn't quite what I expected, though. Topher Grace plays a lovable, little bit smarter version of Eric Forman, which was actually refreshing to see. Anna Faris plays her role well, though her commitment and love for the ex-frat boy Chris Pratt didn't really work for me. Faris and Pratt both brought their game to the characters and fit the film well, but their relationship didn't make sense. Teresa Palmer playing the "high school crush" was a great choice and she did a great job.

What I expected from this movie that I didn't get was more comedy. Grace's Matt Franklin was good, but I was hoping for a bit more Eric Forman sarcasm. Dan Fogler also brought his comedy brilliance to the table, but I just don't think the writing was enough.

Bottom Line: This movie was well acted by all of the main characters and the smaller roles. I thought the writing left something to be desired. This movie would've been more successful, however, if it had played more to the comedic strength of Pratt, Grace, and Fogler. Their characters, though, were all lovable and the story was actually pretty moving. My one wish is that they would've pushed either more to the comedy side or  to the dramatic side, because otherwise this is just an 80's version of She's Out of My League. But if you want a good form of mild entertainment with a few good jokes, I'd recommend this movie. It had the potential to be great, but all in all was still just good.

Oh, and they never used "Take Me Home Tonight" (the song) on the soundtrack. Although I must admit the songs they used were pretty good.

That's my first review. Hope you liked it!

NAH