One of my favorite movies.
I saw this movie not long after it first came out on video back in the early 1990s.
I thought it was a really good movie and have watched it 2 or 3 more times since then.
One of the things that makes this a good movie is that it contains a diverse variety of personalities that clash and mold together throughout the movie.
I thought the acting was very good by such actors as Tim Quill, Amanda Peterson, Roy Scheider and a number of other personalities.
Some criticize Kirk Cameron's acting but I feel it was good for the part he was playing. I'm sure he likely delivered the effect that the director was going for.
Kirk Cameron actually had a lot of the charm that carried over from his time on "Growing Pains", which was a sitcom series I enjoyed in the 1980s. So if you liked him there, you'll like him in this movie. Kirk acts with his similar trademark personality in another good movie, "Like Father, Like Son (1987)" http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093418
One other point in defending this 1980s drama: those who criticize this movie based on it not technically adhering to 'formal academic debating protocol' miss the point; that being the most important element of a movie is it's story. I akin it to criticizing Batman because that's not how things work in the real world.
This is a movie that is about respecting people from diverse backgrounds, growing up and maturing as adults, understanding hidden roadblocks to love, partaking in cooperative and competitive teamwork. "Listen To Me" was like a mini soap opera where each of the characters had their issues to contend with. The scene of the enamored boy dancing with the wheelchair girl was very endearing!
To mention another point about the quality of acting, you need to put into perspective the era. I recently watched "The Final Countdown (1980)" http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080736 with legends Martin Sheen and Kirk Douglas, and quite frankly, the acting is pretty cheezy compared with today's standards. But I saw through it to let my imagination capture the story.
Compare another classic movie with Jamie Gertz, "Crossroads (1986)". http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090888 It could be said that the acting is pretty lame, but just consider the era the movie was made in, and appreciate the wonderful story that a movie is trying to portray.
For those who are fans of the movie, "Listen To Me", I typed out the script for 'The Last Debate' section of the movie.
I hope you enjoy it.
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