Teen Wolf ** (1985, Michael J Fox, James Hampton, Susan Ursitti) – Classic Movie Review 9470

Director Rod Daniel’s 1985 comedy Teen Wolf stars Eighties teen idol Michael J Fox, who is reasonably winsome as Scott Howard, the hairy hero of this surprisingly big-hit comedy about a high school student who gets everything he wants – success, girls, winning at sport – when he transforms into a werewolf.

There is a lot of basketball action, as well as dancing on car roofs to ‘Surfin’ USA’, plus a pleasant if unoriginal message about being yourself and a warm-hearted performance from eternal teenager Fox, who was 24 at the time.

The film gets by, mainly thanks to Fox, but the screenplay by Joseph Loeb III [Jeph Loeb] and Matthew Weisman and the handling by Rod Daniel are perilously skimpy.

Also in the cast are James Hampton, Scott Paulin, Susan Ursitti, Jerry Levine, Matt Adler, Lorie Griffin, Mark Arnold, Jay Tarses, Mark Holton, Doug Savant and James MacKrell [Jim MacKrell].

Its plot runs along similar lines to the earlier Full Moon High (1981).

Teen Wolf Too followed in 1987 without Fox but with Jason Bateman starring instead as his cousin, and with James Hampton and Mark Holton playing Harold Howard and Chubby as the only actors returning.

Michael J Fox won four Golden Globes, three for Spin City (1996) and one shared for Family Ties (1982).

Teen Wolf is directed by Rod Daniel, runs 91 minutes, is made by Wolfkill Productions, is released by Atlantic Releasing Corporation (1985) (US) and Entertainment Film Distributors (1985) (UK), is written by Joseph Loeb III [Jeph Loeb] and Matthew Weisman, is shot by Tim Suhrstedt, is produced by Mark Levinson and Scott Rosenfelt, and is scored by Miles Goodman.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 9470

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