Now and Then (1995)

In 1970, four friends pledge a pact to always be there for each other. 25 years later, they meet up and reminisce on the summer that brought them together. Everyone is terribly cast as the adults, although the biggest injustice to me is that they predicted that Christina Ricci would grow up to be Rosie O'Donnell. Thankfully, we spend the bulk of the story back in the past, centering around the friendship between 12-year-old girls who are obsessed with looks, boys and boob size, which isn't particularly deep. It's basically Stand By Me aimed towards girls, which is perfectly fine with me, although it lacks the gravitas associated with the former. The stakes are lower, but the sentiment is real.

3 friendship bracelets out of 5

Gold Diggers: The Secret of Bear Mountain (1995)

These days, the only thing that powers me through each miserable day after another is nostalgia. The endless search to hold onto what makes me feel most like myself. That's all that means anything anymore in my broken little brain. I have no sense of objectivity left at this point, but who gives a shit?

This is a coming of age adventure tale which feels like Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer transposed to modern times. Set in 1980, a city girl moves out to the sticks where she befriends a tomboy and they set off in search of mythic treasure. Two kids going off on an adventure together; what could be better? 

As a kid, I wanted nothing more than for Anna Chlumsky and Christina Ricci to be my friends. No, it never happened, and the film is not quite as amazing as I remember, but it does capture that feeling of youth and innocence long past.

3 reflections out of 5

The Man in the Moon (1991)

Dani is a 14-year-old farm girl growing up in the 1950s who is obsessed with Elvis and jealous of her sister's burgeoning transition into womanhood, as she experiences her own growing pains. An auspicious debut performance from Reese Witherspoon who embodies the spirit of that age. I love the setting of this movie, the way it's shot and the lessons it imparts. It's a bit schmaltzy at times, but it has a quiet, relaxed pace which transports you to another time. There are scenes in this film that have stuck around in my mind for decades.

3½ tractors out of 5

Flirting (1991)

It's 1965, and Danny is now a moody teenager stuck in an all-male boarding school across the lake from a female boarding school. He has his eyes on an exotic student, and as respective outcasts of their institutions, they form a bond while avoiding the all-seeing eye of the strict headmasters and other jealous students. This was the second film in John Duigan's planned The Year My Voice Broke trilogy based on his life, which sadly remains incomplete.

3½ canings out of 5

The Year My Voice Broke (1987)

Danny is an Aussie boy in love with his childhood friend Freya, but she's keen on his douchebag friend Trevor instead. Meh. I can still feel those same pangs of jealousy, clear as day. The unrequited yearning of never getting what you truly want. The ache and longing are part and parcel of growing up. This is a very good movie, but it always makes me sad for a long time afterward, which I guess means it's effective in its messaging. The pain of first love never goes away. Even as the memories distance themselves, it stays with you forever.

4½ telepathic messages out of 5

Say Anything... (1989)

Cameron Crowe's debut feature is a classic romantic comedy/drama about an underachiever who falls for a valedictorian, and the class struggles that ensue as they court romance within their disparate social groups. It's a charming film full of memorable performances that only seem to get better with age, even though it's filled with tropes that have been overused for the past 40 years.

3½ boomboxes outside your window out of 5

One Crazy Summer (1986)

Savage Steve Holland's follow-up to Better Off Dead had similar quirky comic sensibilities, but leans a bit too far in the direction of absurdity to thoroughly recommend. Regardless, I still choose to revisit it often because there are just enough memorable scenes that make me laugh. The plot is entirely secondary here; it's just a series of oddball misadventures set on the island of Nantucket.

2½ Godzilla suits out of 5

Better Off Dead (1985)

After being dumped by his girlfriend, Lane Myer is depressed and suicidal, as his efforts to either kill himself or win her back both fail miserably. Despite the dark subject matter, this is a very fun and whimsical comedy with creative flights of fancy and surrealism that was destined to become a cult classic.

3½ persistent paperboys out of 5

The Sure Thing (1985)

A down-on-his-luck college student is seduced by the promise of a "sure thing" waiting for him in California, as he makes his way cross-country with a reluctant passenger by his side. This rom-com might seem dated by modern standards, but it's full of charming performances that stand the test of time.

3 hitchhikers out of 5

Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)

Everyone remembers this film for stoner slacker Spicoli (Sean Penn), although he's very much the secondary character to all the ensemble drama around him.

Amy Heckerling's first film, based on the non-fiction book by Cameron Crowe (in which he posed as a high school senior for inspiration), is never quite as perfect as my memory of it purports to be, but it certainly captures the wild zeitgeist of American culture in the '80s. It's an iconic coming-of-age comedy with mammorable performances from Jennifer Jason Leigh and Phoebe Cates.

4 fapus interruptus out of 5

The Last American Virgin (1982)

Boaz Davidson remakes his own popular Israeli film for American audiences. Transposing the action to the '80s, the subject matter hasn't changed much. Gary is a teenager obsessed with losing his virginity, but he has his eyes on the beautiful Karen, who doesn't see him the same way. It's taken me almost three decades to finally come to terms that this is probably the superior film with deeper character development, although it's still a toss-up which has the better soundtrack. It's both crude and nuanced, but it's the last act of each film that elevates it from the usual teen fodder and will stay with me forever.

4 cases of crabs out of 5

Lemon Popsicle (1978)

AKA: Eskimo Limon

American rock 'n' roll music and nubile young women. What could be better? Being the guy who winds up with the girl, of course. Set in late '50s Tel Aviv, Benji and his horny friends are consumed with women and whose humorous misadventures in pursuit of sex usually end up blowing up in their faces, when Benji falls for new girl Nikki and feelings gradually become more complicated.

Inspired by coming-of-age films like American Graffiti and Summer of '42, this classic teen sex comedy then went on to influence the likes of Porky's, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Revenge of the Nerds and American Pie. As Israel's highest-grossing film of all time, it spawned a huge franchise numbering 9 or 10 entries. I've always meant to watch them all, but have yet to find quality subtitled versions. Looks like I'll have to put it off for yet another year...

4 dick measuring contests out of 5

Chocolate Strawberry Vanilla (2013)

Warren is a lonely, timid ice cream man having a rough go of it. Constantly harangued by the dregs of society, he passes his time by watching old VHS copies of his favorite soap opera starring his crush, Katey George. His life is devoid, meaningless, and in need of a major shake up. Retreating further and further from reality in order to cope, it's only so long before a man is pushed too far. It goes without saying that I'm biased, but I love this dark little indie.

4 furious faps out of 5

Ice Cream Man (2026)

No relation. Eli Roth takes on the domestic horror of suburbia. After being seduced by the ice cream man's sweet serenade, the neighborhood kids go on a rampage against the adults. It's a little bit Children of the Corn and Beware! Children at Play, yet all I could think about was Halloween III: Season of the Witch. Any which way you slice it, it's pretty cheesy, but strangely irresistible.

1½ lactose intolerances out of 5

Note: The film was accompanied by a fake grindhouse trailer, Don't Go in That House, Bitch!, which may or may not actually be its own upcoming movie.

Ice Cream Man (1995)

Ahh, the sweet allure of the ice cream man. Nothing says nostalgia like a hot summer's day and that familiar jingle. Little do you know, he might be a serial killer working out of his truck who chops up small children and serves them up as ingredients in his special recipe. This one is an oldie but a crappy; a cheesy classic which I was never quite fond of, despite the presence of cult favorite Clint Howard at his most repugnant. It's very basic but has the charm of cheapy '90s direct-to-video nasties. It scratches an itch, but not a very deep one.

1½ brain freezes out of 5