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IMDb > Pinball Summer (1980)

Pinball Summer (1980) More at IMDbPro »


Overview

User Rating:
4.4/10   133 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 26% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writer:
Richard Zelniker (writer)
Contact:
View company contact information for Pick-up Summer on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
March 1981 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
School's out and everything's in! more
Plot:
It's a summer of fun for two teenaged boys who spend their time chasing two sisters, annoying a biker gang, and basically getting into typical sophomoric hijinks whenever they can. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
User Reviews:
Let's play some pinball, eh? more (9 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Michael Zelniker ... Greg

Carl Marotte ... Steve
Karen Stephen ... Donna

Helene Udy ... Suzy
Thomas Kovacs ... Bert (as Tom Kovacs)
Joey McNamara ... Whimpy
Joy Boushel ... Sally (as Joy Boushell)
J. Robert Maze ... Pete
Matthew Stevens ... Rod
Sue Ronne ... Pam
Bob King ... Biker #1
Rob Stein ... Biker #2
Rob Ferguson ... Biker #3
Roland Nincheri ... Counsellor Frank Jelnick
Lyn Jackson ... Mrs. Jelnick
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
L'Arcade des cinglés (Canada: French title)
Pick-up Summer (USA)
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Runtime:
99 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Filming Locations:

Fun Stuff

Movie Connections:
References Easy Rider (1969) more
Soundtrack:
Evil Woman more

FAQ

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2 out of 3 people found the following review useful.
Let's play some pinball, eh?, 10 January 2008
Author: lazarillo

This movie alternately called "Pinball Summer" or "Pick-up Summer" (since the pinball craze had long since ended by the time it hit American drive-ins) is basically a Canadian version of the 1970's American teen exploitation (or "sexploitation") drive-in flicks, which means that despite the thick Canadian accents it is virtually indistinguishable from contemporary American teen comedies like "The Pom-Pom Girls", "The Van", "Malibu Beach" and so forth. There is no real plot, for instance, just a lot pranks and zany hijinks revolving around a pinball tournament and a trophy that keeps getting lost or stolen. The male protagonists are two over-aged high school students who are much more obnoxious and somewhat less funny than actual teenagers. Their enemies are a sorry motorcycle gang who look like north-of-the border rejects from "Grease" or the Frankie and Annette beach movies, and a snooty rich couple who the protagonists seem to torment for no other reason than because they're rich and snooty.

Of course, the main reason to see any of these movies is the girls. The two protagonists are chasing around two sisters played by a couple of very attractive actresses (Karin Stephens and Helene Udy). The two wear various outfits that are never more than ridiculously skimpy, but have only very brief nude scenes. Most of the nudity is provided by the voluptuous Joy Boushel, who later became a minor Canadian scream queen appearing in "Humongous" and "The Fly". She leaves an indelible impression of boobs and freckles here, especially in the big "strip pinball" scene. Unfortunately, her character "Sally" also has her own theme song ("Sally Joy/you ain't no boy. . ."). Which brings me to the music: imagine the worst kind of sappy music from the late 1970's--now imagine something much, much worse and you're starting to get an idea of the godawful soundtrack to this movie.

So all things considered would I recommend this? Well, it could have used a little more nudity and a LOT less music, but it's really no worse than the American teen movies of the time, so if you like those. . . And the director, George Mihalka, would go on to make one of the better Canadian "slash-for-cash" horror movies "My Bloody Valentine" (if only some psycho in a miner's helmet would have put all the male hosers in THIS movie out of my misery, but oh well. . .).

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Pinball Summer (1980)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
WOW!! What a crappy flick cjorissen-1
check this site wesjcarr
Pinball Summer Theme Song! theroberthawleyexperienc
thomas kovacs/bert wesjcarr
Doesn't anyone think that the ending is truly surreal? tammyj100
where are they now? wesjcarr
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