Penny Thoughts ‘12—Screwballs (1983) ½*

R, 82 min.

Director: Rafal Zielinski

Writers: Linda Shayne, Jim Wynorski

Starring: Peter Keleghan, Kent Deuters, Linda Speciale, Alan Deveau, Linda Shayne, Jason Warren, Jim Coburn, Terrea Foster, Donnie Bowes, Kimberly Brooks

I honestly don’t know why I watch movies like this. I tend to do it when I’m tired and I just can’t see myself really processing anything with any sort of complexity. You know like getting from point A to point B. That’s awfully complex for me at the wrong times.

The reason I watched this one was because I couldn’t get to sleep, but I really wanted to sleep. I didn’t want to watch something that I really wanted to watch, because I was hoping to fall asleep. And sometimes, my inner child of the 80s just gets the best of me.

“Screwballs” is a movie I remember seeing for rent in video stores for as long as they existed. You could tell by the cover exactly what it was. The torso of a woman in only her bra and panties is depicted. From the edge of the picture a male arm is reaching out and pulling the back bra strap. Another arm is grabbing for the woman’s buttocks. The male’s leg is also sticking into view as if he is running after her. He appears to be wearing only boxer shorts.

I never watched this movie when I was its target audience—a teenager desperate for any glimpse at the female anatomy. The box pretty much shows you everything you need to see from this movie, however. My unfortunate bout of insomnia confirmed that, once and for all. I can put that suspicion to rest for good now.