Homework – Unearthed Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: USA, 1982
Director: James Beshears
Writers: Maurice Peterson, Don Safran
Cast: Joan Collins, Michael Morgan, Shell Kepler, Lanny Horn, Erin Donovan, Renee Harris, Mark Brown, Lee Purcell, Carrie Snodgress, Wings Hauser

Release Date: June 25th, 2024
Approximate Running Time: 89 Minutes 5 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: R
Sound: LPCM Stereo English, Dolby Digital Mono English
Subtitles: English, English SDH
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $34.95

"Homework follows Tommy (Michael Morgan), a young "rock star" who is also a virgin. As he tries to lose his virginity to local high school girls, a classmate's mother (Joan Collins) decides to make a man of him. The story unfolds through the promiscuous, funny, and sometimes touching life of the young high schooler. By the end of Tommy's senior year, he's ready to take on the world." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 3.75/5

Homework comes on a 25 GB single layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 22.6 GB

Feature: 19.8 GB

The source looks very good, but some very minor debris still remains. Colors are nicely saturated, image clarity is strong, black levels fare well, and compression is very good. Also, the image always looks organic; there is a healthy layer of grain.

Audio: 4/5 (LPCM Stereo English), 3.5/5 (Dolby Digital Mono English)

This release comes with two audio options, an LPCM stereo mix in English and a Dolby Digital mono mix in English. Both audio tracks sound clear and balanced. That said, the stereo audio track is noticeably fuller than the mono audio track. Included are removable English subtitles and English SDH.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a photo gallery (advertisements/stills/posters/home video art), a theatrical trailer (1 minute 25 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), an archival interview with legendary producer Max Rosenberg (27 minutes 20 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), and a slipcover (limited to the first pressing).

Other extras include trailers for Full Body Massage, Tokyo Decadence, and Nightwish.

Summary:

Homework was the directorial debut of James Beshears, and to date, it is his only credit as a director. His filmography mostly consists of sound and editorial department credits. Some notable films he’s worked on are Porky’s Revenge, Day of the Dead, and Color of Night.

The narrative revolves around a boy named Tommy who thinks of nothing but sex. He has a girlfriend who is more interested in swimming than spending time with him, and all of his classmates brag about having sex.

In the early to mid-1980s, there were an abundance of sex-themed teen comedies. Some films were produced quickly to capitalize on the popularity of this film genre, and their quality varied greatly. That being said, the best examples of this genre have stood the test of time.

The most impressive aspect of Homework is its cast: Joan Collins (Tales from the Crypt), Carrie Snodgress (The Fury), Lee Purcell (Big Wednesday), and Wings Hauser (Vice Squad).Homework garnered controversy when four prominent cast members, notably Joan Collins, took legal action against the production company. A nude body double was used in place of Joan Collins for a scene she wasn't aware of. The cast also features a topless Michelle Bauer (Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers), who portrays a groupie in one of Tommy’s many daydreams.

Though there is a good foundation laid out, the result is a film that often gets in its own way. The narrative is a mess; it is unfocused, and just when it looks like it might build some momentum, everything comes to a halt. Also, despite having an ample amount of T&A (something 80s teen sex comedies are known for), any attempt at humor misses the mark. That said, teen comedies usually have some kind of message, or at least they make you feel for their characters. Homework has neither of these things.

Homework gets a strong audio/video presentation that comes with an informative interview.

Written by Michael Den Boer