My review was written in November 1984 after a mall screening in Boca Raton, Florida.
"Gimme an 'F'" unsuccessfully converts the once-popular cheerleaders exploitation film format ("The Cheerleaders" and "The Pom Pom GIrls" a decade or so ago) into an intended dance-oriented romp. Pic is unlikely to warrant a national release following its current regional bookings by distrib 20th Century Fox, and should play better on pay-cable.
Debuting feature director Paul Justman, who displays solid technical skills, has a meager premise to work with in Jim Hart's script. Story revolves around an annual clinic and competition for school cheerleading teams, held at Camp Beaver View, run by Bucky Berkshire, a/k/a Dr. Spirit" (John Karlen, hamming it up in the principal older-generation role). Berkshire, who is working on obtaining Japanese financial backing for a chain of boutiques, bets his top instructor Tom Hamilton (Stephen Shellen) $10,000 that he can't get the Moline Ducks squad to win over the powerhouse Fudge High Falcons. If he loses, Hamilton must work another five years for Berkshire.
Teen antics and sexcapades at the camp are extremely mild, with film erring in offering almost no nudity for its target youthful/drive-in audience. In keeping with the recent hit "Footloose", there is an interesting role reversal, in which lead Shellen dances sexily in his underwear in a shower while femme cat secretly watch voyeuristically.
Dance numbers are overproduced, with the Ducks' predictable blossoming from awkward, mousy types to sexpots on stage coming off as unbelievable. Also, the use of dance doubles for several of the lead players is obvious. Thesping is adequate in context and musical score serviceable.
"Gimme an 'F'" unsuccessfully converts the once-popular cheerleaders exploitation film format ("The Cheerleaders" and "The Pom Pom GIrls" a decade or so ago) into an intended dance-oriented romp. Pic is unlikely to warrant a national release following its current regional bookings by distrib 20th Century Fox, and should play better on pay-cable.
Debuting feature director Paul Justman, who displays solid technical skills, has a meager premise to work with in Jim Hart's script. Story revolves around an annual clinic and competition for school cheerleading teams, held at Camp Beaver View, run by Bucky Berkshire, a/k/a Dr. Spirit" (John Karlen, hamming it up in the principal older-generation role). Berkshire, who is working on obtaining Japanese financial backing for a chain of boutiques, bets his top instructor Tom Hamilton (Stephen Shellen) $10,000 that he can't get the Moline Ducks squad to win over the powerhouse Fudge High Falcons. If he loses, Hamilton must work another five years for Berkshire.
Teen antics and sexcapades at the camp are extremely mild, with film erring in offering almost no nudity for its target youthful/drive-in audience. In keeping with the recent hit "Footloose", there is an interesting role reversal, in which lead Shellen dances sexily in his underwear in a shower while femme cat secretly watch voyeuristically.
Dance numbers are overproduced, with the Ducks' predictable blossoming from awkward, mousy types to sexpots on stage coming off as unbelievable. Also, the use of dance doubles for several of the lead players is obvious. Thesping is adequate in context and musical score serviceable.