Paradise Motel

This movie is much better than it has any right to be. Looking at the packaging and plot description you would expect it to be another of the endless series of teen sex comedies that flooded the shelves of video stores in the '80s.

It isn't. For one thing, it's really more of a drama than a comedy, although it has some genuinely funny moments (unlike 99% of those that truly call themselves comedies!) The likes of Porky's, Hot Moves, Going' All the Way, etc., were truly never really about anything other than horny teenagers doing whatever they could to get laid. The source of humour was usually the ridiculous situations they got themselves into while working toward that event. And these movies were like cartoons: nothing ever went so wrong that you heard about it in the next scene.

Paradise Motel, on the other hand, has multiple serious themes that it handles well considering the constraints of the budget. It deals with issues such as how far we'll go in order the fit in, the limits of male friendship, and features a touching and funny father-son relationship. The main character, for once, has more than sex on his mind, and this is a breath of fresh air for someone who believes that not all teenage boys are as simple as the movies portray them to be.

There is some nudity, some laughs, and some touching moments.

I say check it out.

I love this movie when it first came out. You get more from it, if judging it by it's cover. What you have is a comedy and drama with heart, that balances well. Plus you have the likable Hershberger, an awkward type character here, the different end of the cue to the more confident and cocky one he played in Free Ride. He's just moved into sunny California, with his parents who've just bought a motel. Unfortunately, he sleeps in a room, where every night above him, he hears the constant rocking and squeaking of lovers humping it. Quickly befriended at his new school by a couple of guys, with obvious underlying intentions, the hot studs they are, he is soon renting out his rooms, free card, to his new circle of friends, where Papa eventually catches on. They shout Sam (Hershberger) video games, free sodas, whatever, as long as they get, you know what. There are some really funny incidents in this fresh 80's comedy, one I'll never forget where Sam and his friend, (JJ Cohen-The Principal) bragging about his member, sneak into a strip club, and clash with the bouncer. Sam has also caught the eye of a delicious blonde beauty, who happens to be going out with the deceitful head of his circle of amigos, who's apparently into almost every girl. That confrontational scene, with Hershberger delivering that warranted line of attack, before he punched the head friend out, after catching him with the beauty, had me cracking up, rewinding, continually, it even had me acting it out. In my own way, I was silently rooting for Hershberger. PM has some great music too, it's movie track "One Track Mind", rocks. This movie is tasty entertainment all the way. Movie's like this made the eighties unforgettable. The dinner scene with Hershberger awkwardly, politely swallowing down sushi while alone with the beauty at her house, is something most of us could relate with. Lucky, Hershberger options to take his date to the bowling alley for coke and fries. Stay for the end credits, as some clips are repeated, as the names of our mains are introduced.

Just judging by the title and the cover illustrations, I thought Paradise Motel was an 80's beach romp, something on the order of 'Private Resort.' But actually, I was only half right.

Paradise Motel is a coming-of-age 80s teen romp. The main character, Sam, is the new guy in town. He lives at the Paradise Motel, which his father owns. Desperate to make new friends, and vulnerable to a bunch of trash talking cool guys from his high school, Sam gets cozy with Mick, Danny, and Shooter, three of the horniest guys I've probably ever seen in an 80s teen movie (including Porky's). Mick, a coniving sneak who claims to be Sam's friend, bargains with Sam to let the guys use the honeymoon suite to entertain their many girlfriends (ala 'The Apartment'), so long as they keep Sam's dad from finding out. Meanwhile, Sam's trying to work out his own girl problems, hoping to get the attention of the formidable Laura, who is currently involved on her own. Amidst the occurrences with the hotel and the ritual teen hijinks, you have your typical 80s teen movie. It's somewhat reminscint of Martha Coolige's "The Joy of Sex," except minus the stupid humor. If this is the genre you typically search for, you'll probably be pleased.

I have only seen this movie once when it came out back in 1985 at the movie theatre. It's not really memorable, but the plot is cute. A teenage guy whose father owns a motel makes friends at his new high school by offering the honeymoon suite for them to get busy in! Only in the '80s could a movie like this be pulled off! It's light entertainment, and is actually entertaining. It's not one of the better '80s teen flicks, but it's not offensive either. It's just a cute little flick that just sort of came and went, but largely has been forgotten.

We first rented this at Blockbuster - original release - while looking for a good teen flick. Despite it featuring no big name stars, it is an EXCELLENT teen movie. Actor Gary Hersherger (his title changed later in adult life to Garrison Hershberger) is wonderful as hapless Sam, struggling to cope with his family's constant moving around, to finally settle into high school life with REAL friends for a change.

Robert Krantz is absolutely delicious as conniving sexter, Nick Thurster, who at first appears to successfully manipulate Sam over Sam's fathers motel 'Paradise Motel', for use of the honeymoon suite for all of his not-so-secret sex romps. He kind of reminds me of actor William Zabka through character persona; bullish, conniving, and heartless. The way Kranz maneuvers his unsuspecting harem is downright delightful. What guy in HS DIDN'T we know as a self-proclaimed Don Juan/Romeo? And Jonna Lee Stack (Laura) is the perfect squeaky clean prom queen all the guys adore. Her screen chemistry with Hershberger is dead-on.

J.J. Cohen, and Rick Gibbs are equally tasty as Nick's hapless hucksters. I remember Cohen quite well. This film is actually one in several odd/eclectic teen movies that he costarred during the 80's. Often confused with Jeffrey J. Cohen of "The Goonies" fame, he obviously switched to name initials only, to avoid further confusion. I always liked Cohen. And he plays his role very well here; very believable as the teen-virgin (quite opposite movie snucks he's usually portrayed).

If planning a movie night complete with popcorn and a group of friends - this is the one to watch. A real keeper :)