Directed by newcomer P.J. Pesce, BODY WAVES is a predictable, slow-moving comedy which futilely resorts to tacky humor for laughs.
Rich Matthews (Bill Calvert) works for his father (Dick Miller) in an anal/rectal cream factory. Unhappy with his current career choice, Rick tells his father he wants to leave the company. Confounded by his son's decision, Rick's Dad challenges him to make $3,000 in three weeks. If Rick can do
this, he has his freedom. Not wasting a minute, Rick goes into business with his enterprising friend Donner (Jim Wise) selling suntan lotion on the beach. But after awhile, the two can't give the stuff away. Although Rick is having difficulty selling the lotion he has no trouble attracting
bikini-clad females. Rick's mastery of flirting with the opposite sex is witnessed by three local nerds--Joe (John Crane), Larry (Marc Grapey) and Squirrely (Michael James McDonald). Desperate to get laid, they offer Rick--surprise!--$3,000 to give them "cool lessons."
Meanwhile, evil politician Himmel (Larry Linville, of TV's "M*A*S*H" fame) is trying to shut down radio station KOOL where Rick's girlfriend Stacy Curtis (Leah Lail) works. After about a week of "cool lessons," Rick sends his students out on a trial run to pick up babes. Not surprisingly, none of
them are successful. With the clock ticking, Rick makes up some special cologne and tells the nerds that it will drive the chicks crazy. This also fails to work. As a last resort, Larry, Joe and Squirrely ask their computer, "Clorisha," what to do. She tells them to become rappers. Calling
themselves the Goo Boys, they somehow know how to rap, dance and gesticulate, and of course, become overnight successes. Rick gets his money, the nerds get laid and radio station KOOL is saved.
There are a few genuinely funny moments in BODY WAVES, but otherwise it fails as a comedy. The storyline (Pesce and Bo Zenga wrote the screenplay) is sophomoric, the physical humor doesn't work and the dialogue is often ridiculous. At one point Donner says: "We don't get the fundage unless those
geeks get some pump action." This pretty much sums up the tone of the movie, dude. (Profanity, partial nudity, sexual situations.) leave a comment
