"Mischief" is an appealing, sexy period comedy set in the 1950s when mild mannered nice guy Jonathan Bellah (Doug McKeon) is hung up on high school hottie Marilyn McCauley (Kelly Preston). He befriends rebellious Gene Harbrough (Chris Nash), who in actuality is not much of a hellraiser, and Gene, just for something to do, decides he'll help Jonathan try to score, while he himself falls for the sweet Bunny Miller (Catherine Mary Stewart).
While there are serious elements to be found in the movie - such as the strained relationship Gene has with his ill tempered musician father Claude (Terry O'Quinn) - it never gets too grim or melodramatic, and does go far on the likability of its main characters (and performers). In fact, if one watches this hoping for "Porky's" style raunchiness, they're going to be disappointed, as this movie never focuses too much on that aspect, although it gets appreciably risqué, and co-star Preston, gorgeous as always, supplies one very big reason to check this out as she does a brief and tantalizing bit of full frontal nudity.
In fact, she and Stewart look very good throughout, as does Jami Gertz, as the awkward Rosalie who truly blossoms by the end of the movie. Some comedic misadventures make this fun; although we've seen countless scenes like this, the moment where a flustered Jonathan has to avoid detection by Marilyn's parents, after having had sex with her, still delivers a good laugh. Part of the effectiveness of this story is our ability to identify with the characters, no matter what era in which we were raised. The screenwriter, Noel Black, who'd previously done the sex comedy "Private School", does maintain that his screenplay is "somewhat" autobiographical.
"Mischief" does do a fine job of recreating the '50s, to be sure, with a nonstop selection of fantastic golden oldies, and heavily references the classic "Rebel Without a Cause". Supporting actors include D.W. Brown as snooty rich jerk Kenny, and Margaret Blye and Graham Jarvis as Stewarts' parents, and overall the movie is slickly done, well directed by TV veteran Mel Damski and nicely photographed. It's not particularly memorable when all is said and done, but is still pleasant enough, and entertaining enough, while it lasts.
Seven out of 10.
While there are serious elements to be found in the movie - such as the strained relationship Gene has with his ill tempered musician father Claude (Terry O'Quinn) - it never gets too grim or melodramatic, and does go far on the likability of its main characters (and performers). In fact, if one watches this hoping for "Porky's" style raunchiness, they're going to be disappointed, as this movie never focuses too much on that aspect, although it gets appreciably risqué, and co-star Preston, gorgeous as always, supplies one very big reason to check this out as she does a brief and tantalizing bit of full frontal nudity.
In fact, she and Stewart look very good throughout, as does Jami Gertz, as the awkward Rosalie who truly blossoms by the end of the movie. Some comedic misadventures make this fun; although we've seen countless scenes like this, the moment where a flustered Jonathan has to avoid detection by Marilyn's parents, after having had sex with her, still delivers a good laugh. Part of the effectiveness of this story is our ability to identify with the characters, no matter what era in which we were raised. The screenwriter, Noel Black, who'd previously done the sex comedy "Private School", does maintain that his screenplay is "somewhat" autobiographical.
"Mischief" does do a fine job of recreating the '50s, to be sure, with a nonstop selection of fantastic golden oldies, and heavily references the classic "Rebel Without a Cause". Supporting actors include D.W. Brown as snooty rich jerk Kenny, and Margaret Blye and Graham Jarvis as Stewarts' parents, and overall the movie is slickly done, well directed by TV veteran Mel Damski and nicely photographed. It's not particularly memorable when all is said and done, but is still pleasant enough, and entertaining enough, while it lasts.
Seven out of 10.