LUCAS
US, 1986, 100 minutes, Colour.
Corey Haim, Kerri Green, Charlie Sheen, Winona Ryder.
Directed by David Seltzer.
Lucas is a pleasing film about young adolescents, on holidays, at school, their emotional ups and downs, decisions. It was written and directed by David Seltzer, the author of The Omen, writer and director of the Tom Hanks, Sally Field comedy Punchline. He has a sensitivity towards the children of this age and gets an excellent performance from Corey Haim (Murphy's Romance, The Lost Boys, Licensed to Drive) as the precocious Lucas. There is also an engaging performance from Charlie Sheen as the sports minded youngster who takes Lucas's side, as well as from Kerri Greene as the young girl.
The film has a lot of familiar material but somehow or other the strength of the characterisations, the charm of many of the situations as well as the humour, makes this a much more insightful film into young adolescents. There is an attractive musical score by Dave Grusin. (Charlie Sheen was to move from this film to Platoon and Wall Street, Corey Haim was to make a transition into a young adult star, Winona Ryder was soon to appear in Square-dance and Heathers.)
1.The appeal of the film? Picture of youth, emotions, relationships?
2.The small town, its environment, the school? The range of songs?
3.The prologue and the insect, the cocoon, shedding the cocoon, the new insect and its ability to fly, to become beautiful? As applied to Lucas and Maggie, Rena, Cappie? And the later incidents with the bugs, Lucas's explanations, the youngsters killing them?
4.The portrait of Lucas: with the bugs, seeing Maggie on the tennis court, his nervousness, watching her, talking with her, their becoming friends and sharing, in the parks, at the concert in the sewers? Being dropped off at his house? Stories about his parents? The opening of school, seeing Maggie, talking with Rena, the various versions of the suicide of the boy? The footballers going on stage and taking him, his comedy routine? Maggie's response? Going to see The Fly, the fat boy in the foyer, the footballers and their taunts, Cappie and his standing up for Lucas, the bond between them? Seeing Cappie and Alise kissing in the cinema? The car ride, the crash, the sequence with the bug and the youngsters killing it? Seeing Maggie more attracted to Cappie, playing in the band, talking to Rena, the dance and his getting the clothes, coming on the bike, finding Cappie and Maggie together, their going to eat pizza, his angers, talking to Rena by the water? Going to the football tryout, talking with Cappie and Cappie saying that they were friends, his demands to play and his explanations to the coach, his talking with Maggie and his angers and regrets, his moodiness, going to play football, the comic routines on the field, knocked out, in hospital? Maggie talking to him in the hospital, his return to school, the class giving him the jacket and the final cheer? The truth about his family? Intelligent, precocious, his philosophy of openness, creativity?
5.Maggie, playing tennis, attractive, her age, interested in Lucas, his opening up the world to her, her reaction to him on the stage, sharing so much, attracted towards Cappie, going to be a cheerleader, clash with Lucas about superficiality, the cooking class, washing Cappie's shirt, attracted towards him, not going to the dance but going out with him, her going to the hospital, sharing with Lucas at the end?
6.Cappie, attractive young man, footballer, standing up for Lucas in the cinema, his relationship with Alise, driving the car, friendship with Maggie, the cooking, the washing, the break-up with Alise, the episode after the dance, talking to Lucas in the shower room, declaring that Maggie and Lucas were only friends, the football field?
7.Rena, her wanting a date with Lucas, talking with him, the talk about the bugs, attractive friendship?
8.The fat boy, his taking videos, the insults in the cinema? Standing up for himself?
9.The footballers, their tough actions, lording it over others?
10.Alise, her place in the school, the cheerleaders? With Cappie, the break-up? Clash with Maggie?
11.The atmosphere of the school, classroom, the teachers, the supervisor and the discussion about Lucas playing football, the football coach and Lucas being harsh on him, the place of sport, the school bullies, friendships?
12.Themes of relationships, puppy love, hurts and affirmation?
