Pretty fitting to see this movie on its 25th anniversary because I remember all the buzz around the playground back in 1981. Personally, I think Animal House launched the teen-sex-gross-out film trend but Porky’s kept up the momentum and is one of templates many others emulated. Even the shower scene is parodied in contemporary shows such as Family Guy and The Man Show (I didn’t say good shows). Oddly, I never got around to seeing it until now.
When I was in seventh grade, some kids I knew got to see it in the theater and their reports seemed to make it sound funny. Of course they were only re-telling the key scenes (the girls’ shower, the streaking, measuring body parts, etc.) and when you’re 12, tales of naked women automatically have your attention, even if the humor of the scenario was embellished.
It’s hard to believe this movie was ever a hit and had two sequels since its appeal wanes once the audience is over 25 (it had a low budget so it probably made a profit more easily than its competition). The overall story arc involves a bunch of high school students (actors in their 20s) getting even with a nearby strip-club owner, aka Porky. Meanwhile the main plot is held together poorly through intervals of other R-rated hijinks and dramatic interruptions of Fifties anti-semitism or parental abuse. It then culminates with the genre’s expected victory of the underdogs but it’s the helpless over the powerful and corrupt, not the classic slobs defeat snobs.
For those of you who were born after 1985, watch the uncensored versions of the movies that were the bright spots of a very vulgar, yet hiliarious genre:Caddyshack, Animal House and Revenge of the Nerds. Pre-1985 citizens, don’t bother revisiting this flick. Your tastes have evolved and improved, hopefully.