Although I'm not sure why the makers of this film chose to set it in the 1980s, I'm glad they did, if for no other reason than the kickass soundtrack, which is filled with hits from that decade. However, the fashions on display are an unfortunate, but amusing side effect. I probably would have enjoyed it just as much if it had been set in the present, but the nostalgia is an added bonus for anyone, like me, who grew up during the '80s.
Topher Grace stars as Matt Franklin, a recent MIT graduate, who can't decide what to do with his life. He's moved back in with his parents and is working at a Suncoast Video store at the mall. One of his great regrets in life is that he never asked out Tori, the girl of his dreams in high school. He gets a second chance when he runs into her again and finds out she'll be attending a party that night. Complicating matters is the fact that Matt has lied to Tori and told her that he works for Goldman Sachs. The rest of the movie takes place over the course of that night, but will Matt get the girl and will he figure out what to do with his life?
Despite being obviously too old for the part, Grace does a good job as the awkwardly, charming Matt. There have been a lot of movies along similar lines to this one, but mainly because of Grace, we still care to see this one all the way through until dawn.
The supporting cast is also quite good. An underused (and also obviously too old) Anna Faris plays Matt's twin sister Wendy. She's also going through a life changing night as she tries to decide whether or not to move in with her boyfriend and settle down or go to graduate school. Dan Fogler (Balls of Fury) plays Matt and Wendy's friend, Barry. Fogler provides the broadest humor and is like a younger and lesser Jack Black. And lastly, Teresa Palmer, who brought much needed life to the recent I am Number Four, plays Tori, Matt's dream girl. It's a fairly thankless part, but she has the looks and charm to at least make you see why Matt has obsessed about her for all these years.
Although the movie is occasionally quite funny, some of the better moments are actually the most serious and heartfelt. Matt is unable or unwilling to decide what to do with his life because of the expectations people have for him. There's a nice and funny moment of symbolism at the end of the movie involving him and a giant metal ball. He also shares a moment with his dad, who is frustrated at Matt's inability to at least try at something.
The other thing this movie has in common with the comedies of the '80, besides the music and the fashion, is that it has a lot of heart. There's none of the snarky, self-referential humor that has become common place since the 1990s. There's an innocent earnestness about Matt's desire for Tori that is quite sweet. It's not a spoof or a satire of '80s movies, it just happens to be set in the '80s.
For some reason this movie has been sitting on the shelf since 2007. It's also mainly been panned by critics, currently sitting at 33% on Rotten Tomatoes. I found plenty to enjoy in it and I imagine others will too, even if it's not until the DVD release that it becomes appreciated.
