Losin' It (1982)

Losin' It Poster

Set in 1965, four Los Angeles school friends -- Woody, Dave, Spider and Wendell -- go on a series of misadventures when they head to Tijuana, Mexico, for a night of cruisin', causing trouble, and to lose their virginity.

Film Overview
"Losin' It" is an American teenager sex comedy film launched in 1982. Directed by Curtis Hanson and produced by Leonard Kroll, the film is embeded in the backdrop of the cultural shifts and social changes of the 1970s. It revolves around the life of 4 teenage young boys - Woody, Spider, Dave, and Wendell. The story features their efforts at losing their virginity throughout a trip to Tijuana, Mexico, for this reason the title "Losin' It".

Main Characters
"Losin' It" stars a young Tom Cruise as Woody, an introverted high school trainee who appears worried about the whole experience. Spider, played by John Stockwell, is represented as a difficult, confident guy taken in by a desire for vengeance against his ex-girlfriend. Jackie Earle Haley plays the role of the youngest of the crew, Dave, while John P. Navin Jr. plays Wendell, Dave's sneaky and sharp-minded older bro.

Shelley Long includes as Kathy, a significantly unique character who gets away from her unpleasant, managing marriage and faces the kids throughout her escape to Reno for a divorce. Kathy's function stands as a symbol of the growing ladies empowerment motion during that age.

Plot Overview
The teenage crew heads to Tijuana in Spider's automobile, preparing to purchase fireworks, alcohol, and, a lot of significantly, pay for sex. Accompanying them is Wendell, who intends to purchase a big amount of Spanish Fly, incorrectly believing in its powers as an aphrodisiac. They run into Kathy at a bar where she confides in them about her unsuccessful marriage and plans to get a divorce. From there, the part road-trip, part coming-of-age experience ensues.

In Tijuana, each of the boys faces his own share of trials and tribulations. Woody, for instance, gets cold feet and hesitates to consummate with a prostitute. Instead, he discovers increasing comfort in Kathy's company. Spider, on the other hand, gets caught up with a cruel pimp due to a misconception, leading to disorderly effects.

Themes and Reception
"Losin' It" basically checks out styles of adolescent sexuality, relationship, and the transition into their adult years, pitting the naiveté of the kids against the harsh realities of the world. Furthermore, it provides a glance into the countercultural motions, sexual transformations, and wave of feminism in the 1970s.

Upon its release, the film gathered combined evaluations and performed modestly at the box workplace. It is not among Tom Cruise's more notable movies, perhaps due to the risky and potentially offending subject. Nevertheless, the performances by the cast, notably Cruise and Long, were valued. Over time, the film has actually gotten a certain degree of cult status primarily due to the fact that it includes Tom Cruise before his rise as a Hollywood super star.

In conclusion, "Losin' It", regardless of its seemingly juvenile, sex-comedy setup, supplies a comic, yet poignant commentary on the sexual culture of the 1970s, teenage angst, and the complexities of growing up.

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