I have to admit, this movie was a fun, light movie when it first came out in 1991. I enjoyed it when I was in college. The reminiscing about lost loves and what-might-have-beens burn in all of us. I bought it again this week so I could watch it today when I'd reached the middle-age of the protagonist at the beginning of the movie. What I discovered is it did not age well as a story. I also realized how many holes in the story existed. Also, the lessons learned are not something any self-respecting parent/big brother would ever teach youngsters.SPOILER ALERTS COMING...This is a story of Jack Twiller, a newly-divorced, successful writer who gets a phone call from a friend about an old flame from high school he might want to contact. He opens an old yearbook and memories come flooding back. In flashback, Jack is a senior who moves to a new high school in 1956. He is befriended by Crutch, the neighbor kid who longs to be popular but can't ever seem to get a break. Jack and Crutch immediately cross paths with the local bully who just happens to be dating the cutest girl in school - and Jack's crush - and also happens to be the older brother to the cute, tough chick, Gina, who has a crush on Jack. The rest of the story is how Jack and his nerd-like gang of nice-guys create silliness and follies at every turn while Jack tries to be James Dean-cool and win the girl of his dreams. All the while, Jack doesn't realize she's a snob who only uses Jack to make her bully boyfriend jealous. Yes, you have seen this before. Here's the part you haven't seen before... Jack's little brother, Peanut, is a super-hero wannabe who watches his trusted older brother not only stick him in a washing machine (again) during the big party scene, but then proceeds to give the kid a beer (he's 9 btw) and takes him to a carnival strip show and leaves him there unescorted to basically drool at the striptease like any red-blooded 9yo pre-pubescent will do. No kidding. Where were the censors on this scene? And btw, I'm not a prude in any way about movies. But this scene was inappropriate on every level. With the exception of Jack's ridiculously caricatured '50s June Cleaver-esque mother, parents are pretty much non-existent. It's like the kids are set loose on the earth with few rules and no supervision. No wonder the bullies are able to chain a kid to his cot, put a candle in his butt, and sing him "Happy Birthday" before blowing out the candle at Ranger Camp. Again, yes, that is an actual scene. Truly not a family-friendly romp you'd expect for a 1950s nostalgia flick.If it all kind of seems formulaic, you are right. There isn't much new territory in this teenage romp about popularity, first loves, cars, and losing one's virginity on Prom Night. I thought it was fun - even funny at times - years ago. Today, it seemed slow, forced, and fairly boring actually. It just feels kinda hollow now. The only character I really liked this time around was the bully's younger sister, Gina. Finding out the guy chose a different girl after a memorable Prom Night with the right girl makes me wonder if the protagonist was paying attention to his real life -- or just day-dreaming past the best parts of his relationship. Please understand I like Chris Young, Keith Coogan, Michael McKean and some of the other actors in this movie. I just don't think this is a story I will watch again. My understanding is this movie is adapted from a book I've never read. From the reviews on this site, the book and movie are nothing alike. I would have to believe those reviews. If this movie was a book, I wouldn't waste my time when there are much more realistic and well-written stories from the 1950s I'd rather read/watch. To be honest, I'm saddened to feel the same about this movie today when I genuinely enjoyed it in 1991. Sad how times change. Even sadder knowing my joyful memories of this movie faded as well with this re-watching. I will be getting rid of this movie at the next garage sale.

A Bob Shaye film that has very little enlightenment to absorb. No hidden message to ponder. BOOK OF LOVE is fun to watch and that's about it. A divorced Jack Twiller(Michael McKean)receives a message from a former high school girlfriend which causes him to pick up his 1956 yearbook...then the memories of adventures and misadventures of puberty, love, sex and his school pals begin to roll. The teenage Jack(Chris Young)moves to a new town and immediately is befriended by Crutch(Keith Coogan). He is smitten with the class bombshell Lily(Josie Bissett), but she is busy being squired by Mr. Hotshot Angelo Gabooch(Beau Dremann). Oh. the trials and tribulations of a sex-driven teen. With Lily being untouchable, Jack makes a last minute date to the prom with Angelo's little sister Gina(Tricia Leigh Fisher).Sounds of the era keeps things rolling; tunes by the likes of: The Platters, The Diamonds, Little Richard, The Moonglows and The Wrens. Also in the cast: Danny Nucci, Aeryk Egan, Jill Jaress and John Cameron Mitchell. BOOK OF LOVE is pretty pale next to other coming-of-age flicks like say...DINER. Good watching though. Prop your feet up and grab a tall cool one...then enjoy.

"Book of Love" is a great movie to sit down with on a Saturday afternoon or on a rainy day. It's one of those movies that's considered "cute." The movie is told from teenager Jack's point of view. It's about his life. It's really fun to look back at the 50's and see how different things are now...even if you're not from that generation. The hairdos, the clothes, the cars? All authentic...or at least very realistic. This movie is a definite must-see if you're in the mood to see a good movie and you're just not sure what you want to see.

Deep down I really hoped this would be good. But unfortunately I was disappointed once again. This movie was just like every other 80's/early 90's teen flick, boring and predictable. The only difference here was that it was based in the 1950's (which in my opinion, makes it worse).If you're into those same-old-thing teen flicks, you may like this. But if you're into modern teen flicks (like me), you'll probably hate it.