Review of Take Me Home Tonight (2011) by Dan H — 07 Dec 2011

I'm going to have to disagree about the general consensus about Take Me Home Tonight and say that I highly enjoyed this movie from beginning to end. The formulaic "loser boy gets hot girl" storyline has been done plenty of times before, but something about the way it was done here makes it enjoyable to me.

Maybe it was the relatable character of Matt Franklin(played by Topher Grace in the only kind of role he was born to play), who has yet to make a decision in his life out of fear of failure and rejection.

Or maybe it was the surprisingly funny Dan Fogler, who, after getting fired from his job by Saul Goodman from Breaking Bad, opens his mind to the wonders of cocaine and having sex while being watched by a laughing old man.

Or maybe it was the always beautiful Teresa Palmer, who, after seeing her as a badass chick in I am Number Four, proves to me she has range in her acting ability beyond what is expected of her. Some scenes were shot and choreographed wonderfully, like a slow motion shot of Topher's disappointment in a crowd of ravingly ecstatic people.

Whatever it was that made me enjoy every second of Take Me Home Tonight, I do not mind seeing in other films like this one. I like a little more depth and interpretation in my films just as much as the next movie buff that comes on here, but I can also enjoy the simple things in the film business if they are done right.

Take Me Home Tonight is done right. I laughed enough to make it a comedy, and smiled enough to make it a romance. It works as both in my opinion. 8/10.