Zapped!
| Company type | Film |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment |
| Founded | 1982 |
| Founder | Robert J. Rosenthal, Bruce Rubin |
| Products | Teen sex comedy film |
Zapped! is a 1982 American teen sex comedy directed by Robert J. Rosenthal, who co-wrote the screenplay with Bruce Rubin. The film features Scott Baio portraying a high schooler who acquires telekinetic abilities.
Plot
At Ralph Waldo Emerson High School, Barney Springboro, an academically inclined student, conducts experiments involving genetically altered orchids and laboratory mice. After accidentally inhaling an unusual smoke, he gains the power of telekinesis. His friend Peyton Nichols, who works as a yearbook photographer, urges Barney to become more socially active, particularly encouraging him to connect with the popular Jane Mitchell.
Barney secretly tests his newfound powers, impressing his friends Bernadette and Peyton while keeping his abilities hidden. He employs telekinesis to influence various situations, such as securing victory in a crucial baseball game by controlling the ball’s trajectory. Bernadette persuades Barney to allow her to write a science article about him for her sister’s college publication.
During a pre-graduation party at an amusement park, Peyton wins a drinking contest and several carnival games against Jane’s boyfriend, Robert Wolcott, with Barney’s covert assistance. Peyton successfully charms Jane, while Barney develops a closer relationship with Bernadette. Jane later regrets her encounter with Peyton and reconciles with Robert.
At a fraternity party featuring a casino theme, Barney attempts to manipulate the roulette wheel using his powers but uncovers that Robert is cheating through electronic means. Barney’s interference causes disorder when he inadvertently levitates the roulette wheel. After a disagreement with Bernadette regarding gambling ethics, Barney apologizes and arranges to meet her at prom.
Meanwhile, Principal Walter Coolidge embarks on a romantic evening arranged by administrator Rose Burnhart. At prom, Peyton and Jane are crowned king and queen; however, Jane rejects Peyton’s romantic advances. When Robert confronts Peyton over the cheating incident, Barney uses his telekinetic abilities to publicly embarrass Robert and Jane by stripping them of their clothes with a gust of wind.
After being knocked unconscious, Barney pretends to have lost his powers but later reveals them by flying through the night sky alongside Bernadette as they leave the school.
Cast
- Scott Baio as Barney Springboro
- Willie Aames as Peyton Nichols
- Felice Schachter as Bernadette
- Heather Thomas as Jane Mitchell
- Robert Mandan as Principal Walter J. Coolidge
- Greg Bradford as Robert Wolcott
- Scatman Crothers as Coach Dexter Jones
- Sue Ane Langdon as Rose Burnhart
- Roger Bowen as Mr. Springboro
- Marya Small as Mrs. Springboro
- Merritt Butrick as Gary Cooter
- Ed Deezen as Sheldon
- LaWanda Page as Mrs. Jones
- Corine Bohrer as Cindy
- Jan Leighton as Albert Einstein
- Bryan O'Byrne as Father Murray
- Ed Bakey as Father Gallagher
Production
To authentically depict the high school environment, filming primarily took place at John Marshall High School in Los Angeles during spring 1981, utilizing actual students as extras. The storyline focuses predominantly on social interactions and college aspirations, featuring significant events such as prom held in the school gymnasium and a senior trip to a nearby amusement park. Among the main cast members, only Felice Schachter was enrolled in high school during production and missed her own prom to participate in filming the movie’s prom scenes.
Heather Thomas declined to perform nude scenes herself and employed a body double instead; controversy ensued when her image was digitally superimposed onto another person’s nude body.
Following this project, Baio and Aames collaborated again on the television series Charles in Charge.
Music
The film's score was created by composers Charles Fox, Miles Goodman, and the duo John M. Keane and Tom Keane from The Keane Brothers. Among the standout tracks were Joe "Bean" Esposito’s rendition of "Updike's Theme" and David Pomeranz’s songs "Got to Believe in Magic" and "King and Queen of Hearts," which became particularly beloved in the Philippines.
Box office
Zapped! initially opened with a limited release on July 23, 1982, generating $823,548 and securing the 17th spot in the domestic box office rankings. It then expanded to a wide release on September 3, 1982, earning $3,012,431 over that weekend and placing fourth behind prominent films such as An Officer and a Gentleman, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, and Fast Times at Ridgemont High. The movie ultimately accumulated a total gross of $16.9 million during its theatrical run.
Critical response
Aimed primarily at teenagers, Zapped! was met with predominantly unfavorable critiques at the time of its release. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a mere 6% approval rating from 16 reviews, with an average score of 2.9 out of 10. Metacritic assigns it a score of 10 out of 100, reflecting "overwhelming dislike."
Vincent Canby of The New York Times dismissed the film as "a half-baked, rather retarded parody of Carrie and other films that drove telekinesis into the ground." The Leader-Post characterized it as "a bad Walt Disney film—with more exposed flesh than all Disney films combined—scalped from box-office hits." The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette questioned whether the writers were even mature enough to write, labeling it "abominable." The Daily Courier called it "puerile and uninspired," while the Montreal Gazette observed Hollywood’s unsuccessful attempt to transform telekinesis into teen comedy. According to the Beaver County Times, it would likely bore Baio’s youthful audience, and the Toledo Blade noted that although the film "has its moments," they "tend not to hang together."
In a 2014 reflection, Scott Baio expressed fondness for the movie: "Great movie. Loved it then. Love it today. I get more people asking about that movie than anything... It made money. And it had Scatman Crothers! Good people. Good crew. Good director."
Accolades
For his performances in both Zapped! and Paradise, Aames received a nomination for Worst Actor at the 3rd Golden Raspberry Awards but lost to Laurence Olivier for Inchon.
Home media
The home media debut of Zapped! occurred in 1983 with releases on VHS, CED videodisc, and LaserDisc by Embassy Pictures. MGM Home Entertainment later reissued the VHS version. The film made its DVD debut on February 12, 2008; subsequently, in June 2008, 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment issued it as part of a double feature alongside Making the Grade.
Sequel
Following robust home video sales of Zapped!, a direct-to-video sequel titled Zapped Again! was released in 1990. Of the original cast, only Sue Ane Langdon reprised her role.