Mischief

R

1985

1h 37m

Comedy

List

57%

7 Reviews

Tomatometer

66%

2,500+ Ratings

Audience Score

Jonathan (Doug McKeon) is a nerd -- until a rebellious new kid, greaser and womanizer Gene (Chris Nash), moves in next door and starts teaching him how to land his crush, the popular Marilyn McCauley (Kelly Preston). But as Gene helps out Jonathan, he develops his own crush on Bunny Miller (Catherine Mary Stewart), even though she's dating one of the high school's star athletes. Gene rethinks his philosophy on women, and Jonathan realizes that dream girls are better off remaining dreams.

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Paul Attanasio

Washington Post

"Mischief," in other words, is echt teen sex comedy, hitting its marks in the way a skilled carpenter drives home his millionth nail.

Jan 4, 2018

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

It's immediately amusing that the filmmakers are attempting to make a raunchy sex comedy set in the '50s.

Rated: 7/10

Sep 6, 2020

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Michael Szymanski

Zap2it.com

Rated: 2/5

Sep 25, 2005

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Kevin Carr

7M Pictures

A must-see for Kelly Preston fans.

Rated: 3/5

May 24, 2005

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...Mischief's characters are likeable and engaging enough to ensure that the movie's raunchier moments feel organic.

Rated: 2.5/4

May 16, 2005

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Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat

Spirituality & Practice

An unremarkable exploration of adolescence.

Rated: 2/5

Aug 21, 2004

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Audience Member

Very retro and refreshing it doesn't get points for new storytelling elements but it feels good and very relaxing taking place in the 1950's era it feels very authentic with the music, the costumes and the atmosphere Kelly Preston is a joy to watch along with some other unknown actors young actors playing likeable teenage high schoolers they face everything you can imagine while being young from popularity to rebellion to crushes to first dates to sex and coming-of-age the humor works very well when it comes to the raunchy material but it's not in-your-face thank goodness it's very sweet and very honest

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/10/24

Full Review

Audience Member

A forgotten time capsule piece from the 80's that no one ever talks about,and it really is a shame.A must see for anyone who likes teen comedies that take place in a different time.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/29/23

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Audience Member

The funniest Kelly Preston movie, LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/28/23

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Audience Member

Mel Damski mainly did TV — episodic and movie — but man, this movie, he hit it out of the park for every teenage male in 1985, who all probably taped it off Cinemax. The number of folks I know that had a copy of this and know about this movie is pretty astounding. It was written by Noel Black, who directed the classic Pretty Poison as well as the not as much of a classic Private School. The reason for all the attention to this movie was, well, we didn't have the internet and the love making scene with Jonathan Bellah (Doug McKeon) finally hooks up with his crush Marilyn McCauley (Kelly Preston) was like a bolt from heaven. I'm not proud of it, but porn magazines didn't always just turn up in the woods in those days. But some days, they totally did. His friend, Gene Harbrough, is in love with their friend Bunny (Catherine Mary Stewart), who already has a man in Kenny Brubaker (D. W. Brown). Plus, Jami Gertz is in this, as is Terry O'Quinn as Jonathan's father. We had not yet arrived where the thought of O'Quinn as a father was a terrifying concept. There's a great soundtrack as well with so much of the music of the time, like Fats Domino, Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, Gene Vincent, The Platters, Bill Haley and the Comets, The Skyliners, Elvis Presley, Little Richard and more. When you watch this movie in 2021, you realize that the hero is pretty much a jerk, not understanding that no means no, that women aren't just objects to be grabbed, that if a date agrees to sleep with you that you're responsible for birth control and if you agree on the pull out method, actually pull out. I kind of hate him, to be perfectly frank.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/06/23

Full Review

andrey k

If you like movies set in the 50's, don't miss out this one. It's cool and entertaining with great rock-and-roll soundtrack of the time and many cultural references of the period. Did I miss to mention Kelly Preston?

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Audience Member

Wonderful movie, classic teenage coming of age flick.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/01/19

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Mel Damski

Director

Doug McKeon

Jonathan Bellah

Chris Nash

Gene Harbrough

Kelly Preston

Marilyn McCauley

Catherine Mary Stewart

Bunny Miller

D.W. Brown

Kenny

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Synopsis

Jonathan (Doug McKeon) is a nerd -- until a rebellious new kid, greaser and womanizer Gene (Chris Nash), moves in next door and starts teaching him how to land his crush, the popular Marilyn McCauley (Kelly Preston). But as Gene helps out Jonathan, he develops his own crush on Bunny Miller (Catherine Mary Stewart), even though she's dating one of the high school's star athletes. Gene rethinks his philosophy on women, and Jonathan realizes that dream girls are better off remaining dreams.

Director: Mel Damski
Production Co: Twentieth Century Fox
Rating: R
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 30, 2016
Runtime: 1h 37m