18 Again! (1988) New World/Comedy RT: 93 minutes Rated PG (language, nudity) Director: Paul Flaherty Screenplay: Josh Goldstein and Jonathan Prince Music: Billy Goldenberg Cinematography: Stephen M. Katz Release date: April 8, 1988 (US) Cast: George Burns, Charlie Schlatter, Tony Roberts, Anita Morris, Miriam Flynn, Jennifer Runyon, Red Buttons, George DiCenzo, Bernard Fox, Kenneth Tigar, Anthony Starke, Pauly Shore. Box Office: $2.5M (US)
Rating: ***
The third entry in the “Invasion of the Body Switchers” comedy cycle of 1987-88 is 18 Again, an imperfect but agreeable piece with a slight twist. Instead of a father and son changing places, it’s a grandfather and grandson played by George Burns (Oh, God!) and Charlie Schlatter (Heartbreak Hotel). Of the four body-switch comedies, it ranks between Vice Versa (#2) and Like Father, Like Son (DEAD LAST!) To its credit, it’s a big improvement over the Dudley Moore-Kirk Cameron debacle.
On his 81st birthday, Jack Watson (that’s Burns, of course) makes a wish that we all know will come true by the end of the first reel. He wants to be 18 again (hence the title). As it so happens, his grandson David (Schlatter) is 18. They’ve always been close, partners-in-crime you might even say. They leave the party early to grab a bite to eat at a diner. While returning home, they get into a car accident that leaves David pretty banged up and Jack in a coma. Also, Jack’s spirit has slipped into his grandson’s body and vice versa (oops!). Now he gets to be a young man again.
The problem is that David’s reality is far from idyllic. A first-year college student, he’s bullied endlessly by his fraternity president Russ (Starke, Return of the Killer Tomatoes) and his two sidekicks. He’s being forced to write their term papers. He’s hardly the star of the school track team. He likes this cute girl named Robin (Runyon, Up the Creek) but can’t summon up the courage to ask her out. All of this changes once Jack takes over, of course.
In David’s body, Jack learns a few sad truths. For one, his female companion Madeline (Morris, Ruthless People) is a gold-digging slut. He figures this out when she makes a pass at David/Jack. Also, he realizes the rocky relationship between David and his father Arnie (Roberts, Manhattan) mirrors that of him and Arnie. Just like Jack never listened to any of his son’s ideas on how to improve the family business, Arnie doesn’t listen to his own son about being more interested in art than accounting. He hopes to come out of his coma and fix things before it’s too late. He won’t if that bitch Madeline has her way.
As much as I like 18 Again, I must say that I’m disappointed Burns isn’t it more. He spends most of the movie unconscious in a hospital bed. It’s always great to see an old vet like Burns do this thing. He was 92 at the time and as lively as ever. Before he exits for a long period, he gets to sing a little number (“I Wish I Was 18 Again”) at his birthday celebration. That is the George Burns I love. Speaking of old-timers, comedian Red Buttons (The Poseidon Adventure) co-stars as Jack’s pal Charlie, the only one who knows the truth about him being in David’s body. It’s great seeing him too.
Schlatter does a damn good George Burns imitation. The sight of him walking around with a cigar delivering lines in the style of his elder co-star is both funny and a tribute. You gotta love somebody that wears a suit and bow tie to a punk rock club. Another bonus, he doesn’t complain about the loud music like Kirk Cameron in that other body-switch movie. He’s cool about it even incorporating a few old school moves when dancing with Robin. I also like the bit where he teaches his frat brothers a few costly lessons in the art of poker playing. And the scene in David’s art class when the female model disrobes, LOL! David/Jack’s reaction is priceless. It’s obvious Schlatter is having a lot of fun here. Be warned though, it’s infectious. It might make you smile.
Morris specializes in gold-digger roles. Didn’t she do the same in Ruthless People and Blue City? Here she looks like a middle-aged version of Jessica Rabbit except her character isn’t as lovable as the average femme fatale. I just love Runyon. She’s talented and beautiful. She’s great as Robin, the nice girl destined to break up with Russ after finally figuring out he’s a jerk. Also, Bernard Fox (Yellowbeard) has some funny scenes as Jack’s quietly witty butler. In addition, 18 Again features one of Pauly Shore’s (Encino Man) first screen appearances as David’s best friend. This was before he became PAULY SHORE.
I’ll grant that 18 Again contains its fair share of clichés from the father-son plotlines to the 20s-themed frat party to the big race in the finale where David (as himself) competes with Russ. So what if it’s predictable? I didn’t really expect any big plot surprises. In some ways, it’s like Back to School. I don’t mind because it ultimately gave me what I wanted. It made me laugh and I got see Burns act again. It would be his next-to-last movie role. Before he died in ’96, he made a brief appearance in the flop 1994 comedy Radioland Murders.
In any event, I whole-heartedly believe 18 Again deserves more credit than it gets. It’s funny, sweet and easy to take. Directed by Paul Flaherty (Who’s Harry Crumb?), it tickles the funny bone instead of beating the viewer over the head. It’s the bee’s knees and the cat’s pajamas!
