Moonwalking its way into theaters today: the retro comedy “Take Me Home Tonight.”
Fans of “That 70’s Show” are likely jazzed for this flick – not only does the star of the hit TV series play the lead, but the show’s writers also penned the screenplay. The comedy, set in 1988, follows a group of aimless college graduates as they convene at a Labor Day party that eventually spirals wildly out of control. Matt Franklin (Topher Grace) painstakingly attempts to impress his dream girl – the elusive and popular Tori Frederking (Teresa Palmer) – with the aid of his jokester best friend Barry Nathan (Dan Fogler). Along the way, Matt is also forced to come to grips with the engagement of his twin sister Wendy (Anna Faris), which puts his own uncertain future into perspective.
If you’re psyched to see Topher grace (ha!) the big screen for the first time since last year’s action vehicle “Predators,” we thought it’d be apt to pick a few flicks reminiscent of his newest in-theater debut. From music to character attributes to the driving compulsion behind the plot device’s plights, we’re pretty sure that if “Take Me Home Tonight” piques your interest, you’ll enjoy these, as well.
"The Graduate" (1967)
Much like Topher Grace’s protagonist Matt Franklin in “Take Me Home Tonight,” Dustin Hoffman’s Benjamin Braddock is a recent college grad grappling with his uncertain future. Where Franklin is reduced to slinging VHS tapes at the local video store, Braddock endures endless bouts of inquisitive conversation and unwanted advice from family and friends (one infamous word, people: plastics). The one thing our respective main characters have in common? This requires two words: love triangle.
“The Breakfast Club” (1985)
Talk about the quintessential 80’s-era ensemble cast movie! In my opinion, this is iconic director John Hughes’ very best film. The parallels between the archetypal main characters of “The Breakfast Club” and “Take Me Home Tonight” – the jock, the popular girl, the jokester bad boy and the outsider – are all accounted for, and their separate universes collide in a turn of events that unmasks and changes them. Funny, poignant and shockingly relevant, the plot of “The Breakfast Club” – which centers upon a group of high school students stuck together in a Saturday detention session – proves that phenomenal acting, heartfelt screenwriting and one wickedly well-curated soundtrack can stand the test of time. Countless films have attempted to emulate the mastery of Hughes’ character drama, but few have achieved the same re-watchability factor. Heck, we own this movie and still freeze the channel whenever it’s on television.
“Pulp Fiction” (1994)
The quest for true love, or for the mysterious contents of a briefcase – is there a difference? The Elusivity Factor regarding the cruxes of “Take Me Home Tonight” and “Pulp Fiction” are much the same – even if the journeys toward the respective goals are markedly different. And lest we not forget that both stories share a pivotal dance-off scene – Barry Nathan (Dan Fogler) wishes he had moves as smooth as John Travolta’s Vincent Vega!
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