For an American teen sex comedy of the 1980s, THE LAST American VIRGIN is surprisingly strong viewing. It features a cast of characters who are both likable and more importantly realistic; a fast-moving plot with plenty of laughs and incident to keep it moving; and a surprisingly deep and dramatic final half hour which transcends the usual boundaries of the sex comedy genre to become something more, perhaps a work of social drama.This is invigorating stuff, with lively direction from Boaz Davidson, here basically remaking his own Israeli film LEMON POPSICLE. Most of the cast were unknown to me but do well in their various parts: Lawrence Monoson as the lovesick lead (we've all been there), Steve Antin as the jock, AMITYVILLE II: THE POSSESSION's Diane Franklin as the object of Monoson's obsession. There's plenty of nudity here and the usual encounters we expect from high school comedies, such as spying on the girl's changing room, a visit to a hooker, and plenty more.One stand-out supporting role comes from Louisa Moritz playing what would today be described as a 'cougar' who the boys end up visiting. What follows is pretty much unforgettable and must have been for all the teenage boys who saw this film back in the day. The love triangle aspect of the film isn't funny at all, but rather awkward and, yes, tragic. It's as though the comedy slips away as the running time progresses, leaving something deep and meaningful behind it. The ending has the same impact as being dunked in an ice-cold river, rounding off what is certainly an above-average movie.

What starts out as a teen gross-out comedy, a spiritual prequel of sorts to the American Pie franchise, evolves into an unexpectedly tender, timeless and lifelike story of coming of age, men and women, desire and betrayal. Good boy falls for the girl; girl picks the bad boy; good boy gets hurt - a classic Turgenev plot. The acting is top-notch. In particular, Lawrence Monoson as Gary gives an incredibly touching and nuanced performance, masterfully inhabiting that awkward 'boy to man' space. Yet the somber moments unfold side by side with laugh- out-loud, lusty comedy - not an easy balance to achieve. This film will stay with you, and not just as a trip down the memory lane for those of us who were fortune enough to go through our teenage years under the flashing neon lights of the 1980s.

Having heard about this movie for years, I finally rented it last week and got to watch it for the first time. I'm still not sure what to think about The Last American Virgin, because it seems like two different films duking it out for dominance. I got the impression that the writer wasn't sure which story to tell, so he just mashed them up and told them both. The basic story threads are: Main plot #1. Averagehigh schooler Gary and his two friends are typical horny teenagers whowant nothing more than to "get laid". They start the film trying topick up other high school girls and bring them back to Gary's house while his parents are out. Highjinks ensue, with every bad boob-jiggling cliché in the book. The three friends get involved in other sexcapades that include more clichéd moments, such as the nymphomaniac older lady who seduces the pizza delivery boy's friends and a disastrous first visit to a prostitute. Let's just say they have mixed success accomplishing their goal.Main Plot #2. Gary sees the new girl Karen one night and instantly falls in love. He plots continually to get her to notice him so that he can ask her out. This is the more serious underlying thread to this film in an otherwise raunchy comedy; Gary portrays the insecure and awkward adolescent perfectly and honestly. Karen (portrayed by the ever-charming but one-note actress Diane Franklin)is like the ultimate model of purity and teenage loveliness, and she's totally out of Gary's league. Not surprisingly, she doesn't seem to notice average "nice guy" Gary, but instantly latches on to his jock friend Rick. Eventually this plot point takes a darker turn that I won't spoil for you, but involves a real-world consequence of being sexually active that's totally at odds with Movie Plot #1.In its favor, TLAV is also a decent nostalgia trip back to early '80s fashions and pop culture. Regardless of what is happening at any given time in the film, the soundtrack is popping away loudly over all the action with peppy hits from Devo and other '80s icons..at times completely in keeping with the light tone of Movie Plot #1, and weirdly jarring when playing alongside scenes from Movie Plot #2. It is this that makes me wonder if there isn't some kind of pop culture satire at work in the director's twisted mind...? Or maybe that's ascribing too much intelligence to this film? Hmmmm.None of these teen actors went on to do much after this film, except Diane Franklin; frankly, none of them (aside from maybe Gary) are very good actors. Opinion seems divided on the meaning of the ending, and I say that the final expressions on the faces of these actors says it all: blank and wooden, in what should have been a powerful, dramatic moment. You can easily interpret the motives and feelings of the characters in any way you wish because the actors playing Karen and Rick are just that awful! It's such low standards as this in the acting, directing, and writing that has created what is now this confusing mess of a film that doesn't know what it wants to be when it grows up.This movie is too stupid to be truly funny and the more serious subplot ruins the raunchy fun. I would have given this film 4 stars but I'm adding in one more for the music; IMO, the soundtrack is the best part of TLAV. You could save yourself some time and just buy the music... Otherwise, I don't see the point to watching TLAV at all.

I only recently got to see this movie after all these years and i have to say the original this is based on is much better. I suppose you either have to be American to like this more or maybe see this before you see the original.Lemon Popsicle beats this in every way, the characters are funnier, better, and more believable in Popsicle, the music is generally better in Popsicle and seems to make the movie more fun to watch.The storyline in Popsicle is totally ripped off by this movie, completely, with small changes here and there, basically if you have seen Lemon Popsicle you have seen Last American Virgin and its not worth watching again with dreary dull actors and acting.Give it a miss if you have seen Lemon Popsicle, you wont be missing anything, just a lot of dull acting, although the music tracks are half decent... the rest fails.