Hardbodies

Hardbodies
Hardbodies
	Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Mark Griffiths
Written by	Eric Alter; Steve Greene; Mark Griffiths
Story by	Eric Alter; Steve Greene
Produced by	Jeff Begun; Ken Dalton
Starring	Grant Cramer; Teal Roberts; Gary Wood; Michael Rapport; Roberta Collins; Sorrells Pickard;
Cinematography	Tom Richmond
Edited by	Andy Blumenthal
Music by	Vic Caesar
Production; company	Chroma III Productions
Distributed by	Columbia Pictures
Release date	May 4, 1984 (Los Angeles);
Running time	88 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	less than $2 million or $1 million
Box office	$7.1 million

Hardbodies is a 1984 American sex comedy film about three middle-aged men who hire a younger man to help them pick up women at the beach. The film was directed by Mark Griffiths, and stars Grant Cramer, Courtney Gains and Gary Wood. It was followed by a 1986 sequel entitled Hardbodies 2.

The movie was partly financed by Roger Corman and features Roberta Collins in a suppot role.

The movie is notable for the early appearance of the all-female rock band Vixen (then featuring Steve Vai's wife Pia) on the soundtrack and on-screen as the band Diaper Rash, five years before Vixen released their gold selling debut album and toured the world with the likes of Scorpions and Deep Purple.

Plot

Scotty, a con man who does whatever he can to get along, is evicted from his apartment for non-payment of rent. He soon finds three older divorced men who have a lot of money, however they do not have a trait that Scotty possesses: talent with women. They agree to let Scotty stay with them at their beach house (and pay him $600 a month), if he returns the favor by teaching them how to pick up women.

Scotty shows them how to "dialogue" women by giving them a dose of the old BBD (Bigger and Better Deal). Along this journey, Scotty loses his playboy ways and falls in love with acquaintance Kristi. Kristi, knowing Scotty's playboy past, puts up with his ups and downs early on in the movie but later insists that he change his ways. Scotty recognizes that Kristi is ultimately more important than the empty life he has led up until now and changes his ways.

Cast

Grant Cramer as Scotty Palmer
Teal Roberts as Kristi
Courtney Gains as 'Rag'
Gary Wood as Hunter
Darcy DeMoss as Dede
Cindy Silver as Kimberly
Sorrells Pickard as Ashby
Kristi Somers as Michelle
Michael Rapport as 'Rounder'
Roberta Collins as Lana
Crystal Shaw Martell as Candy
Kathleen Kinmont as Pretty Skater
Janet Gardner as Diaper Rash Vocalist
Jan Kuehnemund as Diaper Rash Lead Guitarist
Tamara Ivanov as Diaper Rash Rhythm Guitarist
Pia Maiocco as Diaper Rash Bassist
Laurie Hedlund as Diaper Rash Drummer

Production

The film was produced by Ken Dalton, a former actor, and Jeff Begun, who had previously made four films for Roger Corman, including Saturday the 14th. Corman provided seed money for their production company, Chroma III, to make the film independently, serving as an uncredited producer.^[2]

The movie was based on an article in Penthouse.^[2]

An initial plan to sell the film for broadcast on the Playboy Channel fell through when, according to Begun, the network found it "too soft." Instead, Columbia picked it up for theatrical distribution.^[4]

Release

Hardbodies was released in Los Angeles on May 4, 1984 and was followed by a New York release on May 12, 1984.^[5]

Chroma later made School Spirit for Corman.^[2]

Reception

On Metacritic the film has a score of 1 out of 100 based on reviews from four critics, indicating "overwhelming dislike".^[6]

References

^ London, Michael. (Mar 2, 1984). "Film Clips: 'Zelig' Gives Willis Shot at an Oscar". Los Angeles Times. p. h1.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Virginian found good weather, life in films". The Roanoke Times. 4 May 1984. p. 27.
^ Hardbodies at Box Office Mojo
^ "Film clips". The Los Angeles Times. 2 March 1984. p. 97.
^ "Hardbodies". American Film Institute. Retrieved June 5, 2020.
^ "Hardbodies". Metacritic. Retrieved 2020-05-04.