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DVD Review: License to Drive/Mischief High School Hi-Jinx Double Feature
by Jim Pappas
Published: November 19, 2007
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Rating: 
Country: USA
Release Date: November 20, 2007
Distributor: Anchor Bay
Director:
· Greg Beeman
· Mel Damski
Cast:
· Corey Haim
· Coey Feldman
· Heather Graham
· Doug McKeon
· Chris Nash
· Kelly Preston
· Catherine Mary Stewart
Grade: B-
Hi-School Hi-Jinks Double Feature, indeed, with "License to Drive" and "Mischief."
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“I’ll never look at another pair of tits as long as I live.” The preceding is an actual line from the film “Mischief,” a poorly written excuse for a teen comedy from 1985, and now included as one side of a double sided DVD being released this month by Anchor Bay. The flip side of the disk is “License to Drive,” which I recommend, but “Mischief” is painful to watch. Both films are from 20th Century Fox studios and there are no special features on the DVD, just the two films, not that any “special features” would have helped “Mischief.”
Directed by Mel Damski, whose work here is not part of the problem, “Mischief” is the story of two teenagers in Ohio in 1956, Jonathan Bellah (Doug McKeon) and Gene Yarbrough (Chris Nash), who become best friends and conspire to capture the affections of two girls, Bunny Miller (Catherine Mary Stewart) and Marilyn McCauley (Kelly Preston, who appears nude in the film, which is quite wonderful, actually, thank you Kelly). The real story is the relationship between Jonathan and Gene, one a future dentist, and the other a future, well, grease monkey if not a felon. Unfortunately for the audience the performances by misters Nash and McKeon are amateurish, and they are hindered (along with all the other actors in the film) by the dialogue, written as if by a 12 year old. Noel Black is credited as the writer of this film, and based on his biography was 48 years old or so at the time the movie was released. I can only assume he wrote this screenplay around the time the film was made. Take from that what you will.
There are positives, besides the aforementioned Kelly Preston, and they include the musical soundtrack, littered with some really classic and most excellent songs from the 1950’s. Additionally, the cinematography, the locations, and the general production values present in “Mischief” are first-rate. None of that can overcome the acting of MeKeon and Nash, who really struggle with the truly inane dialogue they are required to speak on screen. The female leads fare better, though, as they are more or less background characters to the males. They don’t have to recite as much dialogue, so appear less inept in their craft. That is small consolation for the hideous experience of sitting through this dreadful movie.
And now we come to “License to Drive,” a film that flew under the proverbial radar when it was released in 1988. It has the distinction, in my opinion, of having one of the funniest car chase sequences ever on film, and a more or less surprise ending that leaves you laughing just as hard at the end of this film as at the beginning. It features a stellar cast, with Corey Haim as every-teen Les Anderson, Corey Feldman as his rules-do-not-apply buddy Dean, Richard Masur as Les’s dad and Carol Kane as his pregnant mom.
Unfortunately for “License to Drive,” though, is the fact the film borrows liberally from other teen comedies of its era, most notably “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.” It owes a debt to “Better Off Dead” as well. This means, I suppose, that Neil Tolkin, who wrote the screenplay for “License to Drive,” saw those films and used them as inspiration for his movie. This leaves “License to Drive” in 3rd place among the other films it mirrors, but it is worthy on its own merit. If you haven’t seen the other 2 aforementioned films, see “License to Drive” first, and then you won’t feel so much like you’re watching something that was ripped-off from something else. That is really my only complaint with “License to Drive,” as otherwise it is well acted, well directed (by Gene Beeman) and also has the added attraction of Heather Graham as Les Anderson’s dream girl, Mercedes Lane. See how before she became famous as “Roller Girl” from “Boogie Nights,” she becomes “Trunk Girl,” in “License to Drive.” You’ll get it when you see the film.
Also, "Mischief is rated R, and "License to Drive" is rated PG-13.
This double sided DVD set will be released on Nov. 20th.
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