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The Last American Virgin
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Wikipedia article
'The Last American Virgin' is a 1982 American sex comedy film written and directed by Boaz Davidson. It is a remake of Davidson's 1978 Israeli film 'Eskimo Limon (Lemon Popsicle)'.
After the success of the original film and its sequels in Israel, Davidson re-teamed with producers Golan-Globus to attempt to recreate the same success in the United States. Though the film's plot and characters remained largely the same, the setting was updated from 1950s Israel to then-present day suburban Los Angeles. The soundtrack, a major facet of both films, was also updated from the original's golden oldies to more contemporary new wave rock.
Plot
The plot closely follows the original Israeli film 'Eskimo Limon' ('Lemon Popsicle'), and revolves around protagonist Gary, a typical high school student and pizza delivery boy, and his friends Rickthe slick talking ladies' manand David.
Most of the plot involves their numerous attempts to have sex, which are usually successful for Rick and David, but never for Gary. Early in the film, the three boys pick up three girls with the promise of cocaine (instead they use Sweet'n Low). They go over to Gary's house where he gets stuck with the homely and overweight Millie, a friend of the other two more attractive girls. But their party is interrupted when Gary's parents return home and pandemonium ensues.
A love triangle develops between Gary, Rick and Karen, a beautiful transfer student to their school who is a virgin that Rick is determined to have sex with. Gary first sees her one night at a party, and asks David to find out where she lives. The next morning, in an attempt to get closer to her, he punctures her bike tires and entices her to ride to school with him. During and after the ride, he makes multiple attempts to woo her, much to her indifference.
One day Gary delivers pizza to Carmela, a woman whose sailor boyfriend is never home, and she tells him she wants more than just pizza. Being too afraid to follow up on it, he goes away and convinces his friends to go along with him. She promptly fornicates with Rick and David, but her boyfriend Paco returns home just as Gary is about to have his turn, prompting them to flee.
Eventually, Rick gets Karen pregnant after they have sex only once, and he leaves her. Gary decides to help Karen pay for her abortion by selling most of his possessions and borrowing money from his boss. After the abortion, Gary and Karen spend the remainder of the weekend alone together in Gary's grandmother's house. While nursing her back to health, Gary tells Karen that he sincerely loves her. Karen appears to reciprocate and they both share a tender kiss. Karen invites Gary to her 18th birthday party the following week. Gary scrapes up a few more dollars and buys Karen a gold locket for her birthday.
When Gary arrives at the party, his dreams of a lasting romance with Karen are shattered when he sees Karen making out with Rick. Despite what Rick had put Karen through, and despite Gary's devotion and support, she dumps Gary for the slick talking ladies' man. Gary sadly leaves the party without saying a word to either of them, taking Karen's gift with him. Tears streaming down his face, Gary drives home alone, emotionally broken and defeated.
Cast
Home media
VHS, CED Videodisc
The film was released on VHS and CED Videodisc by Cannon Films, November 30, 1983.LaserDisc
The film was released by Guild Home Video on LaserDisc with a digital stereo soundtrack in 1984.DVD
The Region 1 DVD was first released in 2002 by MGM Home Entertainment. The only audio option is a 2.0 stereo mix in either English or French. The film was released on Blu-ray in 2015 by Olive Films.Soundtrack
Additional songs in the film include:
* "In the Flesh" - Blondie
* "Oh No" - The Commodores
* "Open Arms" - Journey
* "Keep on Loving You" - REO Speedwagon
* "Just Once" - Quincy Jones feat. James Ingram
* "That's the Way (I Like It)" - KC and the Sunshine Band
* "Love Action (I Believe in Love)" - The Human League
* "Shake It Up" - The Cars
* "Besame Mucho & Granada"- Los Fabulosos 3 Paraguayos
* "It Aint Easy Comin' Down" - Charlene
* "Zero Hour" - The Plimsouls
* "Espaa Cani" - The Dancing Brass
The 1982 Japanese release of the soundtrack (Polydor 28MM 0206) replaced the Tommy Tutone track with The Human League's recording of "Love Action (I Believe in Love)". While "Just Once", which featured prominently over the final scene, was not included on the soundtrack album, Ingram was nominated for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance at the 1982 Grammy Awards.
On all DVD and Blu-ray releases, at request of the band themselves, Love Action has been omitted and replaced with a repeated use of Whip It by DEVO in one scene. The original MGM VHS tape has the original song intact though.
Reception
Responding to criticism dismissing 'The Last American Virgin' as distasteful, critic Noel Murray of 'The A.V. Club' commented "Really, the film's frankness makes it more honest than its dreamy-eyed descendants; even the shallow treatment of girls captures the point of view of a luckless teenage boy."
In an essay written a quarter-century later, critic Andy Selsberg noted that, unlike the other teen sex comedies of the 1980s, 'The Last American Virgin' was the only one truthful enough to have a "main character... left longing for his dream girl", whereas all the others were "acheless".
References
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