Review: Take Me Home Tonight

Grade: A

Matt Franklin recently graduated from MIT and is currently working at Suncoast Video until he figures out what he wants to do with his life. Suddenly, one day, his high school crush, Tori Frederking, walks into the store, in order to impress her he tells her that he is a banker at Goldman-Sachs. It works and she invites him to a big Labor Day party that a fellow former classmate is throwing. Along with his twin sister Wendy, who is in a serious relationship with the party’s host, and their mutual best friend Barry, who just lost his job as a car salesman, the three set out to have the night of their lives. Matt goes on a wild ride for the pursuit of the girl of his dreams, the brilliant Wendy becomes engaged to her vapid boyfriend and Barry gets into some drugs to try to relax.

Take Me Home Tonight is a great and funny movie about 20-somethings who aren’t quite sure what to do with their lives. I just found out that this movie was shot almost 4 years ago and it has taken this long for it to be released. I honestly don’t get why, the movie is genuinely funny and enjoyable and there aren’t enough movies out there like this. Topher Grace did a fantastic job coming up with the story for this movie. I love movies like this because I relate to them and can connect with them on more of a personal level and I know that there are many other people out there like me. Also, instead of parodying the 80’s in the way that Austin Powers parodies the 60’s, Take Me Home Tonight is a wonderful love note to the 80’s and everything about them, especially the music. The soundtrack to this movie is one of the best soundtracks of any movie. With songs like Motley Crue’s “Kickstart My Heart”, Men With Hats’ “The Safety Dance”, INSX’s “What You Need” and many more, it is great to just listen and sing along. My only complaint about this movie is that it is titled Take Me Home Tonight but yet the Eddie Money song is nowhere to be heard throughout, oh well.

Topher Grace (Predators, Spiderman 3) plays the lead role of Matt Franklin, a recent MIT graduate with no direction in life. Grace was absolutely great in this movie. I like him a lot and I keep hoping he does more but he is extremely enjoyable in this movie. He has perfect delivery of his lines, he is hilarious and just plain fun to watch in this movie. Teresa Palmer (Sorcerer’s Apprentice, I Am Number Four) plays the role of Tori Frederking, Matt’s dream girl. While she hasn’t done much yet, I have enjoyed everything I’ve seen Palmer in so far, I really think that her career will take off soon and this movie proves it. She is great in this and can be really funny too. Anna Faris (Observe and Report, Just Friends) plays Wendy, Matt’s twin sister. Faris is always funny and enjoyable and this movie is no exception. Dan Fogler (Fanboys, Taking Woodstock) plays Barry, the mutual best friend of Matt and Wendy. Fogler is great and extremely funny in this movie, especially during his “dance off” scene. The movie also features performances by Michael Biehn, Chris Pratt, Michelle Trachtenberg, Demetri Martin, Lucy Punch, Michael Ian Black, Bob Odenkirk and many others.

I absolutely loved this movie and can’t wait to watch it again someday. It has a great storyline, great characters and is really really funny. The music is fantastic and seriously, who doesn’t love the 80’s. I can’t recommend this movie enough, it is an extremely enjoyable movie and one of the best comedies to come out in a while. The movie’s tagline is very accurate Best. Night. Ever.

Also, if you haven’t seen the Atomic Tom “Don’t You Want Me” music video made for this movie, do yourself a favor and click here.