Porky's Revenge

 (1985)

by Tuna

Porky's Revenge has never been available on DVD until now. It is included in a set titled "Porky's: The Ultimate Collection," which includes the original, still my favorite raunchy teen comedy of all time, Porky's II: The Next Day and Porky's Revenge. The three-film set is affordable, making it a real entertainment bargain, due for release May 22nd.

First, a word about the original Porky's, with some insight from the feature length commentary and special features from writer/director Bob Clark. He wrote the script over a period of 15 years, based on his own High School and College experiences, legends at his High School, and a few stunts that others told him about. He encountered nothing but resistance in getting it made. Even after Fox greenlighted it, they pulled funding. Clark didn't give up, and convinced them to go ahead. Fox balked at releasing the finished film, but agreed to a test screening. When that was a huge success, they still didn't believe it, and held several other test screenings. The results were not merely encouraging. Audiences were rolling in the aisles. They finally had to accept that, raunch and all, they had a huge hit on their hands. Over half the funding was Canadian, and the film remains the all-time leader among Canadian films at the international box office. I was gratified to hear Bob Clark say that the scene in the principal's office was the best comedy scene ever shot. I have contended that since the first time I saw it. It is one continuous 4.5 minute shot, was brilliantly written and perfectly acted.

Clark did Porky's II: The Next Day, but it was a much lesser film, and much of the raunch was cut to present seriosu social issues. In his 15 years of development, Bob Clark had loaded the original with all his best material, and was at the bottom of the well.

Porky's Revenge, the third and last in the Porky's franchise, used much of the original cast, but Bob Clark had nothing to do with the project. This time, the coach is into Porky for serious gambling debts, and the the team is on the way to the state championships. They decide to help the coach, but plans, as Robert Burns said "gang aft agley." They end up promising to throw the game, Meat meets a girl with a great figure and a face that would stop a truck, who turns out to be Porky's daughter, and a Biology teacher tries to make Meat ineligible to play due to grades.

The new team got it partly right. They set it at Angel Beach High with many of the same characters, and pitted them against Porky. They also continued the theme of making the girls the smart ones, and having the boys the brunt of most of the gags. Unfortunately they put entirely too much plot into it, and didn't leave enough room for the humor. Further, the cast was getting a little long in the tooth. Only Kaki Hunter still looked believable as a high schooler.

Objectively this film would have to be considered quite poor if measured solely on its own merit, without reference to its predecessors, but fans of the franchise will probably enjoy spending a little more time with Wendy, Meat, Schwartz, Mrs Ballbricker, and the rest of the Angel Beach pussies.

 

Uncle Scoopy's notes:

Porky's Revenge was the only theatrical film ever directed by TV legend James Komack, who was probably most closely associated with the show "The Courtship of Eddie's Father," for which he was Mr. Everything: producer, actor, director, and writer! He also wrote, directed, or produced such 70s classics as "Welcome Back, Kotter" and "Chico and the Man."

DVD INFO

* widescreen anamorphic

* Special features (all for the first film only)

  • Full-Length Commentary by Director Bob Clark

  • Porky's Through The Peephole: Bob Clark Looks Back

  • Porky's: A Comedy Classic Featurette

  • Porky's Video Game Sales Pitch

THE CRITICS AND ACADEMIES

No major print reviews online.

   
   
   
   
   

THE PEOPLE

   
3.7 IMDB summary (of 10)
   

THE BOX OFFICE

Box Office Mojo. Porky's Revenge grossed $20 million in about 1400 theaters. It was not a complete failure, opening #2 in its week. The original grossed $111 million, the sequel took in $33 million.

NUDITY REPORT

  • Breasts from Rose McVeigh, Kim Evenson, Wendy Feign, and one unknown

Google
 

Our Grade:

If you are not familiar with our grading system, you need to read the explanation, because the grading is not linear. For example, by our definition, a C is solid and a C+ is a VERY good movie. There are very few Bs and As. Based on our descriptive system, this film is a:

D

Not worth a watch except in the context of the series.