Fans of teen movies (“American Graffiti,” “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”) can go back in time with “Take Me Home Tonight” starring Topher Grace in the type of role played by Matthew Broderick. It’s the eighties when nerdy Matt Franklin (Grace), an intelligent underachiever hasn’t yet found his niche in the world. He’s still sweet on Tori Frederking (Teresa Palmer), a girl from high school, and she unexpectedly comes into the video store where he clerks part-time. To save face, he pretends to really work at a prestigious investment bank and the deception boomerangs. Sporadic amusing moments don’t help the lukewarm rom-com.
Director/co-screenwriter Michael Dowse’s salute to the eighties is run-of-the-mill antics. Not to be pun-ny, but Topher’s the sole saving grace of the film. The coke-addicted friend Barry (Dan Fogler) with off-color jokes has been done and seen before. In supporting roles, Anna Farris and Michael Biehn (“Aliens,” “Terminator”) add little to this take on a past era.
