She's Out of Control (1989)

She's Out of Control Poster

A Los Angeles radio-station manager's girlfriend shows his teenage daughter how to be sexy.

Film Overview
"She's Out of Control" is a traditional 1989 American funny film directed by Stan Dragoti and written by Seth Winston and Michael J. Nathanson. It starred Tony Danza, Catherine Hicks, Wallace Shawn, and Ami Dolenz. The movie revolves around the story of an overprotective single dad having a hard time to deal with his teenage daughter's independence, particularly concerning her blossoming romantic life. It's a comical take on teenage disobedience, father-daughter relationships, and the chaotic shift into adulthood.

Plot Summary
Tony Micelli, played by Tony Danza, is a single daddy of two daughters, the elder being Katie, portrayed by Ami Dolenz, and Bonnie, the more youthful one. The plot begins when Tony's sweetheart, Janet, played by Catherine Hicks, offers Katie a transformation. Tony is stunned at the transformation of his when geeky daughter into a beautiful young woman. The subsequent interest Katie gets from boys presses Tony, an old-fashioned and protective dad, to the brink of fear.

Katie starts drawing in numerous boys, turning from a shy, introverted lady into a positive girl. She becomes popular at school and starts dating, triggering Tony a lot of anxiety. As Tony's fixation with his daughter's love life grows, he seeks advice from psychologist Dr. Fishbinder, played by Wallace Shawn, who convinces Tony that his daughter has actually become sexually active.

Dispute and Resolution
Tony's fear reaches its peak when he discovers a box of prophylactics in Katie's space. In a pursuit of control, he carries out stringent rules, and tries to spy on and daunt Katie's partners, resulting in many comical moments. His habits pressures his relationship with Janet and Bonnie due to his fixation just on Katie's activities.

In in the middle of the mayhem, Tony's youngest child, Bonnie, quietly shows signs of emotional maturity beyond her years. She serves as the voice of reason in the over-dramatized craze and helps Tony understand his overprotection stunt is pushing Katie away. This triggers Tony to alter his approach.

Climax and Ending
In the climax, Tony meets Katie's sweetheart's (Joey) moms and dads and discovers that Joey is not thinking about a sexual relationship with Katie, busting Dr. Fishbinder's theory, and understanding his fear was unproven.

Finally accepting truth, Tony accepts his children' coming of age. He apologizes to Katie, confessing his errors and fears, which helps restore their strained relationship. At the same time, Tony fixes his relationship with Janet by proposing, marking his psychological growth. The film ends on a positive note, showing the family coming together, having browsed the hard journey of teenage self-reliance.

Last Remarks
"She's Out Control" is an entertaining movie filled with many laughs, which also provides a grounded point of view on parenting teenage children. The humor lies in Tony's desperate efforts to maintain control and his ultimate realization that his children should mature. Throughout its absurdity and comedy, the movie highlights the universal themes of parental love, approval, and the challenges of raising teenagers.

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