"Michael J. Fox's Other Notable Success of the Summer '85: A Retrospective Look at 'Teen Wolf'"
Forty years ago, on the weekend of August 23, 1984, the film "Teen Wolf" graced the silver screen. Directed by Rod Daniel, this charming comedy-drama, starring the talented Michael J. Fox, still resonates with audiences today.
The movie, while not formally connected to the early-'80s werewolf boom, carries a spirit reminiscent of the era. With its light-hearted approach and throwaway style, "Teen Wolf" has become a beloved cult classic.
Michael J. Fox, fresh from his successful film "Back to the Future," stars as Scott Howard, a high school basketball player who transforms into a werewolf. The make-up for Scott's werewolf features, such as his hair and claws, is agreeably cheap-looking but not actor-smothering, adding to the film's endearing charm.
Scott's powers in "Teen Wolf" are slapdash, but they include some unique abilities like excelling at basketball, bowling, balancing on top of a moving van, and breakdancing. The movie feints toward an early version of a Spider-Man-style story, with Scott's dad paraphrasing the famous line, "with great power comes great responsibility."
However, Scott's responsibility in "Teen Wolf" seems to be more about not hurting or inconveniencing people rather than helping them. This theme is somewhat muddy, and the movie's message about teamwork is equally unclear.
Coach Finstock, played by Jay Tarses, provides the movie's funniest character with lines such as, "It doesn't matter how you play the game, it's whether you win or lose." His background is as a TV writer, which shines through in the movie's humourous dialogue.
One of the most notable scenes in "Teen Wolf" is when Scott, played by Michael J. Fox, runs down a hallway, slips, slides, and skids around a corner, a moment expertly captured by director Rod Daniel. This was one of Fox's early acting roles, and his performance is both energetic and endearing.
While "Teen Wolf" is less hardcore than some werewolf films, such as the 1957 "I Was a Teenage Werewolf" and more recent "Goosebumps" movies, it remains a mild charmer with some big if intermittent laughs. Forty years on, "Teen Wolf" remains a delightful watch for fans of Michael J. Fox or "wolf"-themed movies.
