Mugsy's Girls

"Mugsy's Girls", also known as "Delta Pi", is an offbeat comedy film from 1984, directed by Roger Duchowny. Despite not having garnered a cult following nor achieving blockbuster status, this comical motion picture, characterized by its lighthearted pranks and eccentric characters, may possibly lure purposeful seekers of charmingly forgotten cinematic nostalgia.

The film stars the legendary Ruth Gordon, who, while most known for her brilliant performance in "Rosemary's Baby," brings her unique charisma and theatrical prowess to the part of Mugsy, a compulsive gambler who happens to be a college sorority's housemother. Surrounded by an ensemble of actresses like Laura Branigan, Joanna Dierck, and a supporting cast that embellishes this offbeat movie with youthful energy and humor, Ruth Gordon's performance stands out, even when she shares her screen time with the talents of Robert Alda and Eddie Deezen.

The storyline centers around the sorority house of Delta Pi, where Mugsy lives with her girls. Her gambling tendencies soon land her in hot water; she amasses a disastrous amount of debt under the relentless scrutiny of mobsters. Faced with the foreboding pressure of debt collectors breathing down her neck, Mugsy turns towards a unique way to solve her problems: a Las Vegas mud-wrestling competition offering a juicy cash prize at risk.

The girls from Delta Pi, primarily played by Laura Branigan, a popular 80's pop singer making her feature film debut, and Joanna Dierck, lend a hand to outwit the mafia and earn money to pay off Mugsy's debts. In doing so, the girls navigate a series of unpredictable comedic situations, filled with misadventures and hilarious predicaments, making it a noteworthy representation of 80s comedy about unprepared youth heading straight into an adult world full of chaos and uncertainty.

Despite operating within the conventional parameters of collegiate farce genres, "Mugsy's Girls" takes the unconventional route by focusing on the housemother's predicaments rather than the predictable pranks, parties, and romances that traditionally dominate such genres. Ruth Gordon's portrayal of a grandmotherly figure experiencing various comedic misadventures directly contrasts the image of the overbearing, stern housemother. Her dilemma and the way she seeks help from her sorority girls to face her misfortunes offer a wacky, yet refreshing take on an otherwise familiar storyline, succeeding in bringing both engaging hilarity and a flicker of heartfelt cohesion amongst the girls.

The film is not just a voyage of sandy desert roads leading to the glitzy city of casinos. It also sees the girls of Delta Pi evolve from their sheltered life in a sorority house to gathering the strength to face violent heavies and jumping headfirst into the muddy encounter of an uproarious wrestling match, all in an improvised attempt to rescue Mugsy.

Cinematically, the film does not push many boundaries but enhances its simple premise by offering larger-than-life scenes and characters. The Las Vegas setting has an unrealistic sheen to it, offering a suitable backdrop to the comic chaos. While the humor is undeniably rowdy and often slapstick, many moments might bring a grin or even a chuckle to viewers who appreciate the 80s college humor.

"Mugsy's Girls" is best approached as an example of 80s pop culture and college life, with its madcaps, zany characters, and off-track plot. For those who appreciate films brimming with all the hallmarks of 80s cinema, "Mugsy’s Girls" promises a throwback ride through this vivacious time period, providing an opportunity to relish a forgotten comedy surrounded by mobsters, mud-wrestling matches, and an eccentric sorority housemother named Mugsy.