A Great film unfortunately ignored during its time, mired in controversy now

“Lucas” may be one of the Top 5 most regrettable movies of the 80’s. It’s not bad, in fact quite the opposite. It's so good at establishing a personal connection with the audience it’s aimed at that it’s a shame that audience ignored the film back in the day because of, what looked like, a shitty marketing campaign. Corey Haim shows great talent here in the lead role of a plucky and intelligently-gifted (yet small and awkward) kid who falls in love with the new girl (Kerri Green) in town but finds himself trapped in a natural selection nightmare when she winds up falling for his Jock-friend (Charlie Sheen). The movie is never better than in how relatable it is to how teenagers act, react, and interact. The hormonal becomes more important than the reasonable, taking part in the superficial becomes a much better avenue to success than the rational. Do we know a friend who’s stabbed us in the back over a girl but still wanted to remain a friend? Even if you don’t, you’ve probably heard about it. Are you a person whose ever tried to win someone's affections by doing things you never even cared about a week ago? Even better question. Have you spent so much time trying to fit in that you were oblivious to the person standing right in front of you? Every time “Lucas” starts seeming like an After-School special aimed at preventing bullying and teenage suicide, it instead writes its way into a surprising (and heartbreaking) amount of truth about being a kid and finding your way through the world and your own hormones. That extends to the performers, who also include a great Winona Ryder in her first role. “Lucas” may sugar-coat its ending, a lot, and it’s sentimental as hell, but this produces a kind of “funny/cringy/feels”-feeling that could only come from a movie that earns its truths.

Grade: 3.5 out of 4

*Part of a film series i'm doing on 1986, which is part of a larger review/ranking series on the 80's

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