Comedies are probably the most popular film genre, especially when the comedy is intended for the consumption of teenagers, which today constitutes the largest part of the movie audience. If one looks at the recent success of American Pie and its sequels, anyone will realize that the teen comedy is as popular as ever. Of course, this type of movie is hardly original, as it is safe to say that each generation has supported, at one point or the other, these types of movies.
The Last American Virgin belongs to the wave of teen comedies that tried to cash in on the enormous success of Fox’s Porky’s, released in 1982. The film is a remake of the Israeli movie Lemon Popsicle and its sequels, which were dubbed and later released in the USA (unfortunately, these films are hard to find) in America). It tells the story of three kids and their after school rowdy activities, and even though it is not nearly as good as the original Israeli version, the movie is quite amusing and entertaining.
This is my second viewing of the film in almost two decades, and I’m either getting too old for this kind of film, or the movie has lost some of its original appeal. I did enjoy the movie to some extent, but I think the problem is that I’m no longer interested in these kinds of movies – as a 1980s’ teen, nostalgia played a big part on my enjoyment of the movie. To be honest, I’m not sure how young people nowadays would react to the movie, but I do know this: in direct comparison to a movie like American Pie, The Last American Virgin holds up pretty well. I found myself laughing more often than what I am willing to admit, and the film’s excellent 1980s soundtrack of popular songs is in my book a big plus.
