WHERE THE BOYS ARE

US, 1984, 94 minutes, Colour.
Lorna Luft, Lisa Hartman, Lynn Holly Johnson.
Directed by Hy Averback.

Where The Boys are is based on a novel by Glendon Swarthout (The Shootist, Bless the Beasts and Children, They Came to Cordura). It is not immediately evident from this film that it is based on the work of such an insightful author.

A film was directed by Henry Levin in 1960 - but made a popular entertainment with some of the young stars of the time. The same intention holds for this version - although the leads are much less well-known.

The film was produced by Alan Carr (Grease, Can't Stop the Music). Influenced by such youth-oriented films as Porky's, the film emphasises the styles of teenagers and young adults (allegedly) in their spring vacation. This film is for extroverts anonymous. The music and the atmosphere are very loud; there are wet shirt competitions, and muscle competitions giving opportunity for a fair amount of nudity; there are romances and broken romances and plenty of sex jokes. In fact, the film is so geared to a popular audience that it simply becomes a fairly brash and colourful cheap entertainment.

Direction is by Hy Averback whose directorial intentions have been much stronger than his achievements (I Love You Alice B. Toklas, The Great Bank Robbery, Where Were You When the Lights Want Out?). The strength of the film comes from Judy Garland's daughter, Lorna Luft and her comic performance. Skater Lynn
Holly Johnson and TV's Lisa Hartman are the main leads. Alana Stewart also appears. There is a selection from popular youth songs of the '70s and '80s.

Just another of its kind.