I love this movie when it first came out. You get more from it, if judging it by it's cover. What you have is a comedy and drama with heart, that balances well. Plus you have the likable Hershberger, an awkward type character here, the different end of the cue to the more confident and cocky one he played in Free Ride. He's just moved into sunny California, with his parents who've just bought a motel. Unfortunately, he sleeps in a room, where every night above him, he hears the constant rocking and squeaking of lovers humping it. Quickly befriended at his new school by a couple of guys, with obvious underlying intentions, the hot studs they are, he is soon renting out his rooms, free card, to his new circle of friends, where Papa eventually catches on. They shout Sam (Hershberger) video games, free sodas, whatever, as long as they get, you know what. There are some really funny incidents in this fresh 80's comedy, one I'll never forget where Sam and his friend, (JJ Cohen-The Principal) bragging about his member, sneak into a strip club, and clash with the bouncer. Sam has also caught the eye of a delicious blonde beauty, who happens to be going out with the deceitful head of his circle of amigos, who's apparently into almost every girl. That confrontational scene, with Hershberger delivering that warranted line of attack, before he punched the head friend out, after catching him with the beauty, had me cracking up, rewinding, continually, it even had me acting it out. In my own way, I was silently rooting for Hershberger. PM has some great music too, it's movie track "One Track Mind", rocks. This movie is tasty entertainment all the way. Movie's like this made the eighties unforgettable. The dinner scene with Hershberger awkwardly, politely swallowing down sushi while alone with the beauty at her house, is something most of us could relate with. Lucky, Hershberger options to take his date to the bowling alley for coke and fries. Stay for the end credits, as some clips are repeated, as the names of our mains are introduced.
Review of Paradise Motel
