Bachelor Party (1984) **

“Bachelor Party” is only Tom Hank's second movie, coming out the same year as “Splash.” This was way before he became “Tom Hanks” the legend, but even in these early days you can see he is something special. He is definitely the best thing about “Bachelor Party.”

Hanks plays Rick, a laid-back bus driver with arrested development who has somehow gotten engaged to marry sweet, rich Debbie (Tawny Kitaen). Debbie's rich dad (George Grizzard) can't stand Rick, and schemes to get her back with the preppy, typical 80's villain, Cole. When Rick's hard-partying buddies decide to throw him an epic bachelor party, Cole sees his chance to break them up. Debbie makes it clear that she isn't interested in getting sloppy seconds from some prostitute. Will the well-intentioned Rick make it through the night without being unfaithful? Will Debbie's mom suffer a sausage-induced heart-attack at Debbie's bachelorette party? Will anyone be trampled by the donkey? You'll have to watch the movie and find out.

Or not. “Bachelor Party”is just barely entertaining enough to watch, and that's mostly due to Tom Hanks. Otherwise, the movie is very of its time. It's a completely typical 80's sex comedy, complete with stereotypical 80's villains. Tawny Kitaen's name and hair are so 80's that they probably helped tear down the Berlin Wall. The jokes are sophomoric and broadcast well in advance.

This is one of those movies, like “Porky's”, that I didn't manage to see back in the'80's when it might have better fit my sense of humor. It hearkens back to a simpler time, when nudity in movies meant titties, rather than knob-and-bollocks. There's also an innocence to the film, which, despite the boobs and the donkey show, really promotes traditional monogamy. It adheres to the age-old view of men as immature, promiscuous horn-dogs who need to be tamed by a good woman, which may be the one part they got right.

2 stars out of 5