As I lamented in my last issue (Preview Review on The Lost Boys), I am already sick of all the hype and hysteria over Twilight and the new sequel New Moon. Each generation has their own pop culture lightning rods and mine are obviously from the 80s. I made the statement that I would just assume watch 1987's The Lost Boys instead of this most recent version of a vampire flick. Well, it was pointed out to me that New Moon focuses much more on the werewolf angle, so I have my 80s substitute for that as well. I will have to go with a little cheesy film from 1985 called Teen Wolf.

Teen Wolf starred Michael J. Fox as "Scott Howard" a high school student who discovers he is part werewolf and, after coming to grips with this fact, begins using it to his advantage. Here is the original trailer for Teen Wolf...

The film was released at the height of Fox's popularity. It was a big success with over $33 million at the box office and debuted at #2 only behind Fox's even bigger success, Back to the Future. Teen Wolf was actually filmed before Back to the Future, but was released after that blockbuster which could have partly paved the way for its success. Though quite campy and very much cheesy at times, it is now considered somewhat of a cult classic. Give me the basketball-playing, truck-surfing werewolf from Teen Wolf any day before the angst and love torn werewolf from New Moon.

There is a scene from Teen Wolf which ranks on my popular Best Dancing Scenes from 80s Movie list and another which ranks on my Best Montage Scenes from 80s Movies list (which you should check out if you have not before). There are several things that amuse me about Teen Wolf now that never seemed to stand out when I was a kid watching this film. The first is the nickname of the girl he ultimately ends up with at the end. Her nickname is "Boof" which is strange, yet they never really explain the origination or significance of it. The second is the high school's team name and mascot being the Beavers. The last is the bully from the other school, "Mick" played by Mark Arnold, looks like he is 30 years old but is supposed to be a high school kid. Arnold was actually 28 when the film was released and looked every year of it to me. He ranks on my Best Bullies from 80s Movie list (which is another one worth checking out). It is funny how your perspective changes over the years, though I try to suspend my disbelief and overlook some aspects when it comes to my 80s classics and guilty pleasures.

Teen Wolf was followed by a cartoon spin-off in 1986, and a sequel in 1987 titled, Teen Wolf Too, with Jason Bateman starring as Todd Howard, Scott's cousin. The sequel did not see even close to the success of the original and werewolves seemed to take a backseat for a while. Now, they seem to be making a comeback. First, back in June (2009), MTV announced that they would be adapting Teen Wolf into a television series "with a greater emphasis on romance, horror and werewolf mythology." Then after the huge success of Twilight and New Moon, there is a remake of 1981's The Howling as well as a sequel or relaunch of John Landis' An American Werewolf in London (also 1981) in the works not to mention a Benicio Del Toro film called The Wolfman due in theaters this February. As I said about The Lost Boys, I have to say that I would still be more willing to see Teen Wolf (or the original An American Werewolf in London or The Howling for that matter) than watch Twilight or New Moon. That's still just the 80s kid in me, I guess.

That'll wrap up this issue of Kickin' it Old School. Hope you enjoy the Preview Review issues and please let me know if there are any particular 80s movies that you want to see me cover. Thanks as always for reading. If you are interested in reading any of my other 80s related issues, please click there for a summary of those. You can also always click on the Archives in the upper left hand column or use the Google Search Box at the top of the right hand column to find any other issues you may have missed. If you are a fan of Kickin' it, PLEASE CLICK ON THE FACEBOOK LOGO in the upper right hand column. This will take you to the Fan Page where I ask you to then click on "Become a Fan". Even if you are not a Facebook member yet, please consider joining and registering as a fan at that page. You can also follow Old School on Twitter by clicking on the FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER LOGO also in the upper right hand column. This will take you the page and you can just click on the box that says "Follow". I am sending daily 80s tweets, so sign up to get those. Let other 80s fans know about it as well! Peace and much love.