Zapped!

What's more enjoyable than a harmless, dated 1982 comedy? To see how far movie comedies have come, take a peek at the new Blu-ray "Zapped!" It can be seen as the precursor to many, many other films and rips off both "Porky's" and "Carrie."

Lead actors Scott Baio ("Happy Days") and Willie Aames ("Eight Is Enough") were hot TV stars who tried to transition to the silver screen. "Zapped" was a modest hit and here on a high-definition transfer from MGM, it looks the best it probably ever will. Baio plays Barney, a high school nerd who accidentally takes a chemical mixture that gives him telekinetic powers. Instead of using it for good use, Barney turns his powers into a weapon and exacts revenge on his classmates who've wronged him.

What this means is that Barney uses his mind to rip off blouses and blow up skirts of the many females in his high school. But in typical 1980s fashion, he falls in love along the way and learns a very big lesson; this is all seen through several inevitable music montages.

The vulgarity and nudity are quite tame in "Zapped," although in 1982 it was vilified upon release for its sexual shenanigans. Actress Heather Thomas was also reportedly livid that a female nude double was used in her frequent nude scenes.

So why isn't this tidbit or any other film facts included in the special features section? Well, there is no special feature section to talk of; not even the film's trailer can be watched. Looking at the various actors' current resumes online, it seems they'd have time to film interview segments.

I guess we'll have to wait for "Zapped Again" from 1990, the horrid sequel, to come out on Blu-ray instead.

"Zapped!"
Blu-ray
$29.95
www.olivefilms.com