Take Me Home Tonight (www.the-usher.com)

"I have an in"

Four years after graduating from MIT, Matt Franklin (Grace) still does not know what he wants to do with his life. Working at the local video store to make ends meet, Matt is content with his life just ticking away until the girl of his dreams, the one that got away in high school, Tori Frederking (Palmer) walks into the store. Telling her a little white lie by saying he works for a high-powered financial company, she reveals that she is going to Kyle’s (Pratt) party. Desperate to make an impression, Matt enlists his best friend Barry (Fogler) and his sister Wendy (Faris) to help him keep up the lie and bring him and Tori together.

The 80s might have been the decade that fashion forgot and whatever decade it is you always remember your first love but can this film make you want to “Take Me Home Tonight”?

For anyone who was around during the 80s, you will remember it as a decade that was famed for excess, silly fashion, big hair and some great music but Hollywood has rediscovered the time and now sees it as a place for comedy. With comedy hits like ‘Hot Tub Time Machine’, ‘Adventureland’, ‘Good Luck Chuck’ and ‘The Rocker’, the 80s is a decade that can supply a few laughs and give us a setting that is both nostalgic and slightly over the top.

Based on a story by Gordon Kaywin and star Topher Grace, this is a tale that could be told in any decade but ‘Take Me Home Tonight’ uses the 80s setting to fill the soundtrack with some hits that will have you tapping your toes throughout. With tracks from ‘The Buggles’, ‘Duran Duran’, ‘Yaz’, ‘Sly Fox’, ‘INXS’, ‘Wang Chung’ and ‘Dexy’s Midnight Runners’, the soundtrack sets the scene for a tale of lies, love, drugs and a giant mental ball.

While Topher Grace, Anna Faris and Dan Fogler playing characters about ten years younger than themselves, this tries hard to be ‘That 70s Show’ in the next decade. Grace’s Matt is an underachiever who despite a MIT degree, he still does not know what he wants to do and is scared to start his adult life. Faris’ Wendy is about to make the biggest decision of her life. Fogler’s Barry has just had his world completely changed and he is going to drown out all the pain with lots and lots of drink, while helping out his best friend. With life lessons to be learnt, a girl to be won in the shape of the beautiful Teresa Palmer and a few laughs on the way.

While it might not be the most original of films, a little too rude in parts and have a completely predictable ending, ‘Take Me Home Tonight’ is still a decent rom-com. The 80s setting brings the story to life but it is the soundtrack that makes the film all the more enjoyable.

None

The Usher Home | Hush, Hush... | The Big Story | The Usher Speaks

Stuck @ Home | Coming Soon | Links | Contact the Usher

2011