The Last American Virgin may have been one of the first (if not the first) R-rated films I had ever seen. It was kind of like a forbidden treat, with adult language and nudity and a coming-of-age moment. Needless to say, this film will always mean something to me, and viewing it now, it still holds up as a comedy-drama.
Gary (Lawrence Monoson) is your average, everyday kid who works as a pizza delivery boy who is always with his two best friends, the lady’s man Rick (Steve Antin), and David (Joseph Rubbo), the obese, confident one. These three guys are horny, and all they want to do is have sex. They find themselves in numerous situations where the opportunity arises, but only David and Rick ever seal the deal. Karen (Diane Franklin) is the new girl in town and quickly becomes the object of Gary’s affection. She catches Rick’s eye as well, but he’s only interested in having sex with her. A love triangle develops between the three of them, and it turns into a really messy situation.
It’s such a weird thing watching ’80s sex comedies in the present. Films like these will never be made again. There was a certain sense of humor that, in today’s climate, just doesn’t exist anymore, and The Last American Virgin is a perfect example. The situations these guys find themselves in are so ridiculous and funny, even if laughing seems wrong now.
I’ve always really enjoyed this cast together, and the soundtrack of ’80s pop classics is pretty stellar. I know I shouldn’t worry about spoilers for a film over forty years old, but the finale of this film still really hits hard. It’s a depressing gut punch that will never be forgotten. It went places most films like it would have never dared, and the film is better for it.
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The Last American Virgin is a remake of the 1978 Israeli film Lemon Popsicle by writer/director Boaz Davidson who also made Virgin. There were nine sequels to Lemon Popsicle, and there was supposed to be a The Last American series of films as well, but they never happened.
The MVD Rewind Collection brings the Cannon Films classic to Blu-ray with a really solid set of bonus features, including an interview with director Boaz Davidson, an interview with Lawrence Monoson, an interview with Diane Franklin, and more. The slipcase is designed to look like the original MGM big box VHS that was once the standard for their releases.
The Last American Virgin will always stand out among the pack of sex comedies from that time period by capturing the humor we expected but also going to a very dark place. A true classic of the genre and a must-own for fans.
