Director – James Beshears
Starring – Joan Collins (American Horror Story, Star Trek), Michael Morgan (The Master Demon, Murder She Wrote), and Shell Kepler (CHiPs, Three’s Company)
Release Date – 1982
Rating – 3/5
Blu Release – 2.5/5
Unearthed Films has released some of the most brutal genre films to ever be conceived onto bluray and DVD over the years. Films like the August Underground trilogy, A Serbian Film, Atroz, and many more have found their home with Stephen Biro and his Unearthed Films banner. That is not UF only focus. In recent years Unearthed has dropped several bombshells on fans and collectors when they started adding several non-horror titles to their catalogues.
Several weeks back Unearthed announced the release of the 1982 sex comedy Homework. This was one I had never heard of before nor was I expecting UF to be releasing it. Regardless, I was very curious about this one so I reached out to my friends over at MVD and they were kind enough to send a review copy over my way. Like always, I want to thank MVD and Unearthed for allowing Horror Society and myself the opportunity to check this one out.
**Spoiler Alert** The film follows a typical high school student with dreams of losing his virginity and becoming the next big rock star. However, it’s impossible to do either of those because of his school work, seductive teachers and their boyfriends, overprotective parents, and women who prefer to swim instead of fooling around with guys. **Spoiler Alert**
I went into Homework knowing very little about it. I knew it was originally completed in the late 70s and not released until 1982 but that was the extent of my knowledge on the film. With that being said, I was surprised by how fun this one was especially considering how it was an 80s comedy that no one talks about. Most fans of cinema are huge champions of 80s films and I’m a bit shocked I had never heard this one tossed out before when discussing 70s and 80s sex comedies.
The acting in this one is awkward most of the time but far from the worst I’ve seen. The cast struggles with feeling sincere with the dialogue and a lot of the scenes feel like the cast is just reading their lines off of poster boards off camera. When you mix this with the cliched characters you get some unintentionally funny moments.
The story for this one is not that original or compelling but it works for what it is. A dude trying to score while trying to form a rock band isn’t that original even for the late 70s when it was originally shot. However, it’s just the type of sleazy fun you would expect and it works. Sure, it’s not a film you can rewatch over and over again like Porky’s but its still a solid film.
Finally, the humor in this one doesn’t really find it’s mark but the acting and cliches do deliver a few unintentional laughs. Overall, Homework may not be for all fans of Unearthed Films. However, fans of 80s comedies will surely enjoy this one but not for the reasons they suspect. I highly recommend snagging this blu from Unearthed Films.
Special Features:
Interview with legendary producer Max Rosenberg
Promotional Gallery
Trailers
