The Last American Virgin — The Last American Virgin (Blu Ray)

The Last American Virgin was Cannon Film's stab at the teen sex comedy genre. The early 1980s film is cheap, cheerful, and largely charmingly amusing- sure it’s a little rough ‘n’ ready around the filming edges, and its sexist/ at times downright ridiculous- it’s an entertaining ride. With a soundtrack featuring the likes of Devo, U2, Oingo Boingo, The Commodores, The Waitresses, The Cars, The Plimsouls and REO Speedwagon. Here as part of the MVD Rewind collection is a locked region A release of the film- taking in a new scan of the picture, a good selection of extras, a mini poster, and a slip sleeve.

The Last American Virgin appeared in the year 1981. It was filmed in and around LA, as well as California backlots. The film was written and directed by Tel Aviv, Israel-born Boaz Davidson- between the early ’70s and late 90’s he had twenty-four features to his name. These went from musical come semi-doc Shablul (1970), Italian comedy/drama The Long Night (1975), hospital set slasher Xray (1981) comedy adventure set in Africa Going Bananas (1987), and sci-fi action film Lunacop (1995).

The film was set in the then present-day LA, with its lead character being Gary- played by  Lawrence Monoson, who will be known to horror genre fans as Crispin Glover’s buddy Ted in Friday 13th- The Final Chapter. He’s a high school senior, works part-time as a pizza delivery driver, and is somewhat unlucky in love & between the sheets. He has two buddies he’s always hanging out with- ladies-man Rick(Steve Antin) whose a blue-eyed & blond California teen, and David(Joe Rubbo) whose a little tubby & very randy.

As you’d expect with a teen sex comedy we get a series of comedic/ awkward set-ups. The three take three teen girls they meet in an ice-cream pallor to their house- start trying to get it on, then one of the parents come home. There’s a rather homoerotic erect member measuring scene in the boys locker room. Some shower peeping, the three making it out with an older woman, and the three having sex with a prostitute and then getting crabs from her.

Running through the middle of it all is Gary’s crush/ obsession with the nearly monobrowed brunet Karen(Diane Frankin) who only sees him as a friend. And things get worse for Gary when Rick and her hook up.

The film runs at one hour and thirty-two minutes- and for the most part, is an entertaining, often chuckle-worthy ride. Later on, more serious drama elements are touched on, and the film has a surprisingly downbeat end. Technical the film is a little messy, as we have some odd cutting, and weird jumps here and there- but I guess that adds a sort of haphazard charm to the whole thing.

The cast is largely good to competent- this was Monoson's first feature-length lead and he comes off believable & well as the pizza boy who just can’t get laid. His two buddies Antin & Rubbo are both charming enough too. Frankin as the love interest does come off a little obnoxious, but I guess that’s on par with the character. Other worthwhile mentions come in the form of Brian Peck,  as Victor the bespeckled peeping tom-come guy they mock. All in all The Last American Virgin is a good & worthwhile addition to the 80’s sex teen comedy genre.

Moving onto this region A Blu Ray. The film itself gets an HD presentation, and this as you’d hope for an 80’s film is nicely bold & crisp in its colour pallet. On the extra side, we get four separate on-screen interviews- The First American Remake( 35.06) with director Boaz Davidson. He begins by talking about how he got into filmmaking- studying it in London before returning to Israel to make a mix of features, commercials and music videos. He discusses his first big hit Lemon Popsicle (1978) which was a sex comedy based on his teen years in the 1950s Tel Aviv, and how this introduced him to Golan-Globus, who would later move from Israel to LA to take over Cannon Pictures- which of course became one of the most successful low budgets studios for a time in the ’80s. He talks about the making of  
The Last American Virgin- basically a US remake of Lemon Popsicle- but with some of the jokes/situations changed for the US market and set in the 80s. We find out he auditions a lot of actors for the film including a certain Nicolas Cage, he goes on to talk about scene set-ups, and his general fondness for the film. Next, we have Memories of a Pizza Boy( 26.07)  with male lead Monoson. He talks about how he auditioned for another role but the director thought he was perfect for the lead- so he had to land up creating a fake driving license to get the role, as he had just turned 17- and to get the role he had to be eighteen. He discusses how he was closest to actor Steve Antin on set who played the role of Rick, and talks about certain key scenes. We find out the film was shot in just four weeks on a tiny budget, though the 14-16 hour days were tiring. Next, we have Babe of the Eighties(20.59) with lead actress Diane Frankin. And lastly, there is In Praise of Smaller Movies( 21.10) with the film's cinematographer Adam Greenberg. There’s a photo gallery, and an original trailer.

Though I’ve always enjoyed the US sex comedy genre- been very familiar with the three Porkies films, as well the slew of cheapy 80’s rip-offs. I had never seen The Last American Virgin before this release, and I must say it’s a mighty fine example of the genre. With this MVD Rewind reissue featuring a classy print of the film, and a nice selection of interesting interviews with the cast & crew.