Jackie Earle Haley | 80's Movie Guide

Taglines: The last word about the first time. Losin' It movie storyline. Teen sex comedy set in 1965 which follows four Los Angeles school friends, Woody, Dave, Spider, Wendell and the series of misadventures they get into when they travel south of the border to Tijuana, Mexico for a night of cruisin', causing trouble, and to settle a pact to lose their virginity before the night is over, while a young woman, named Kathy, accompanies them for different reasons: to arrange a quick divorce from her husband. Losin' It is a 1983 American-Canadian comedy film directed by Curtis Hanson and starring Tom Cruise, Shelley Long, Jackie Earle Haley, and John Stockwell. The plot concerns four teenagers trying to lose their virginity. Losin' It was filmed largely in Calexico, California. Review for Losin' It GUESS what they're losing in ''Losin' It,'' which opens today at Loews State and other theaters? Here are some hints: They're losing it in a bordello, and they're losing it in Tijuana. This is the story of four fun-loving American teen-agers who head south of the border for a little excitement, traveling in a fancy red convertible. The locals don't seem to like these gringos much, pointing out, ''You come to Mexico to do things you wouldn't do in your own country.'' They have a point, though it's one that the movie doesn't work overtime to pursue. ''Losin' It,'' which was directed by Curtis Hanson, isn't without its likable moments, but it isn't overloaded with them, either. At first, it seems a mindlessly upbeat boys-will-be-boys film, with one of the four a sex-crazed, gnomish fellow trying to dress like a Frank Sinatra album cover (the time is the mid-1960's), and another a Jerry Mather look-alike who'd rather spend his money on illegal firecrackers than on fast women. The film would have had a certain unity if it had remained on the opening note of uncomplicated foolishness. By the story's end, though, there have been torture scenes, barroom brawls, jailhouse quarrels and plenty of other unwelcome mishaps. The screenplay, by B.W.L. Norton (co-author of the story with Bryan Gindoff), has to strain to the breaking point to work a character named Kathy into it. The boys meet her when they stop at a grocery store to buy some Twinkies for the road; Kathy is fighting with her husband, and she impetuously hitches a ride with the boys, who are much younger than she. If you believe that, then you'll probably have no trouble with such subsequent developments as Kathy's deciding to get a divorce in Tijuana and her wandering around, blithely and without an escort, through this city of sin. Actually, the movie's Tijuana looks like a nice clean movie set, so there's no reason to think she's in any danger. Kathy isn't much of a character, but she is played charmingly by Shelley Long, who looks like a very pretty scarecrow and who demonstrates impressive talents as a physical comedienne. She's the best thing in the movie, although John P. Navin Jr. is also fairly funny as the fireworks tycoon. The Sinatra fan is played by Jackie Earle Haley with an avidity that borders on the alarming, but the performance has its moments. Like almost everyone else in the cast, Mr. Haley gives the impression that he might fare much better in a different movie. Losin' It (1983) Directed by: Curtis Hanson Starring: Tom Cruise, Shelley Long, Jackie Earle Haley, John Stockwell, Henry Darrow, Daniel Faraldo, Hector Elias, Daniel Faraldo Screenplay by: Bill Norton Production Design by: Robb Wilson King Cinematography by: Gilbert Taylor Film Editing by: Richard Halsey Set Decoration by: Lynda Burbank Art Direction by: Vance Lorenzini Music by: Kenneth Wannberg Distributed by: Embassy Pictures Release Date: April 8, 1983

Tag: Jackie Earle Haley

Losin’ It (1983)

Breaking Away (1979)