Lucas (PG-13, 1986)

This quirky coming-of-age story centers on Lucas (Corey Haim), an "accelerated" (by two grades) 14-year-old boy with a passion for insects. Lucas lucks out when he befriends newcomer Maggie (Kerri Green), and hangs out with her over the summer. To impress her, Lucas lies about his family and pretends to be friends with the popular kids. But when school starts, Lucas is humiliated at the first pep rally. When Maggie falls for the school quarterback (Charlie Sheen), Lucas talks his way onto the team in a last-ditch attempt to get her attention, but he fumbles the big pass and is crushed in a pile-on. However, his bravado wins over even the jocks who had called him a freak. The team gives him a cool jacket; Lucas is ecstatic.

While Lucas takes its time developing, a terrific young cast and understated comic sensibility make this heartwarming mid-80s sleeper a winner. It's an honest portrayal of the highs and lows of adolescent life. While viewers may cringe and even laugh at Lucas's outrageous antics, they will also sympathize with him. That's because no matter how clever Lucas is at covering the pain of being rejected, he is still the outsider who desperately wants to fit in.

 

The supporting characters are impressively complex as well. In most films of this sort, Charlie Sheen's football player would be the obvious villain. Playing against the stereotypical cold-hearted jock, Sheen's character looks out for Lucas, even while he is falling for the girl Lucas loves. The casting is good all around. Excellent early performances from Haim and Sheen, and Winona Rider in her film debut, do much to place this teen angst film a cut above most.

Studio: Fox Searchlight
Director: George C. Seltzer
Cast: Charlie Sheen, Corey Haim, Jeremy Piven, Winona Ryder
Genre: Drama
Run time: 100 minutes
Theatrical release: January 1, 1986
DVD release: March 11, 2003
MPAA Rating: PG-13
MPAA explanation: mature themes and sexuality.