The 1980s brought us a brand new genre: the teen sex comedy. That genre was so definitive that Mr. Skin likely would not be here without. Where did it come from and why? Well, my quick answer is simply: 1982. That was the year that busted out with teen sex comedies which let the genre influence generations to come. For today's Throwback Thursday, let's take a deep dive into the hot and horny films of 1982.
Porky's
Bob Clark directed this Canadian comedy that crossed the border into the states for a low-brow good time. Right off the bat, I will say that this film does not hold up under a modern lens. Please know that I am talking about it in terms of its context and how popular it was when it was released back in 1982. The reason this raunchy comedy was so popular was simple: nudity. Lots and lots of nudity. Sex sells and Porky's took that idea and ran with it.
The film's plot is barely there. It's basically just about some horn dogs getting up to a lot of hijinks in high school. These boys play a lot of pranks, such as dressing up as a woman and trying to spy on girls in the locker room. A brunette Kim Cattrall stars and she has one of the hottest nude scenes that she has ever done when she shows her bush as she throws herself all over one of the lucky teens.
The success of Porky's did affect Hollywood's rating system. It was rated R, but the film was supposed to be targeted at teen boys who were now too young to see the movie. PG, however, was out of the question. Porky's wasn't exactly "family-friendly" (imagine watching this movie next to grandma). The film was originally going to be rated X, but Bob Clark felt that that would kill his film. It was not supposed to be porn. It was a comedy for teens with nudity in it. That's it!
This debate eventually brought on PG-13 even though there is no way on Earth that Porky's would ever be rated PG-13. Still, Porky's ushered in the debate over more specific target audiences for films, like teens. Not only that but Porky's was one of the first films - because of the teens who wanted to see it - that put theaters in the awkward position of having to enforce the rating system.
The Last American Virgin
Boaz Davidson introduced us all to the darling Diane Franklin, a curly-haired cutie who played the titular American virgin. A group of young men is determined to win Diane's affection and the film was innovative in showing women's sexual drives and choices.
This was actually a remake of Boaz Davidson's original film, Lemon Popsicle, from 1978. The original film was Israeli, made in his home country, and starred hot Israeli talent that went incredibly nude. The plot was about a trio of young men who want to lose their virginity. We meet several gorgeous girls that the boys make attempts on like Denise Bouzaglo and Ophelia Shtruhl who goes totally nude except for a pearl necklace. No, literally, she is only wearing pearls.
This is all to say that Boaz clearly had a story that he wanted to tell and he was wise to re-tell it in the states with Diane Franklin in the lead. Plus, the wonderful Diane Franklin ditched her clothes so willingly. She had European parents, so Diane previously told Mr. Skin in an interview that her views regarding on-screen nudity were much more relaxed than an average American's.
Fast Times at Ridgemont High
The most iconic of these films is definitely Amy Heckerling's Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Interestingly, the studio didn't have a ton of faith in this movie. They basically wanted it to be Porky's and they didn't care much beyond that. It turns out that Fast Times is still hilarious and introduced some of the sexiest stars of the 80s to young fans.
Barely-legal Phoebe Cates had one of the best nude scenes of the 80s - nay, the history of film when she gets out of a swimming pool and takes off her red bikini top in a guy's sexual fantasy. It is HOT. Phoebe had already done nude scenes in the 1982 film Paradise earlier that year, although some of the scenes use a body double against Phoebe's wishes. She wanted it to be HER body in the buff. Phoebe was proud to be naked! As a result of Paradise crossing her like that, Cates made sure to talk up her next film, Fast Times, in which she is actually nude.
Fast Times focuses on a year in the life of a 15-year-old girl played by Jennifer Jason Leigh as she explores her sexuality for the very first time. Leigh has previously said she was nervous about doing nudity, but Cates told her that it wasn't a big deal. Cates thought nude scenes were fine - and even fun - to do and it shows. She looks good!
Between Jennifer Jason Leigh and Phoebe Cates, there is a lot of non-judgemental sexuality and nudity in this film from the teen girls who are trying to get laid as much as the boys are. That's part of what makes it so funny. While there is no nudity, this scene where Phoebe and Jennifer talk about blowjob techniques and practice on carrots while boys in the lunchroom is just as funny (and hot) now as it was then:
These three films were incredibly influential. Not only did they inspire a generation of horndogs, but they inspired a genre and movies that were frank and funny about teen sex in general. Well, adults playing teens, but you know what I mean! These movies were targeted at teens and were meant to be relatable - and hot - to anyone who remembered what it was like to be a teen.
While there are conflicting views today about some of the films, it is clear that they all made a lasting impact. If not for these three movies, we may have never seen an American Pie decades later. Plus, these movies were helped by the development of the VCR. All of these films enjoyed repeat viewings on VHS. A lot of audiences wore out their rewind buttons to see these scenes over and over again. Thank goodness Mr. Skin exists, right? Now we just fast forward to the good parts.
