The First Turn-On!

The First Turn-On! is a 1983 teen sex comedy directed by Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz, marking the third installment in Troma Entertainment's series of raunchy comedies. This outrageously cheeky film combines elements of satire, risqué humor, and lighthearted campiness, pushing boundaries and breaking taboos as only an 80s movie can. Stylized with energetic performances, vivacious storytelling, and an uncensored comedic viewpoint, this film offers an unabashedly liberating and nostalgic portrayal of youth and sexual exploration.

The central narrative revolves around four teenage campers and their camp counselor who find themselves trapped in a cave at the Camp Big Tee-Pee following a freak accident during a playful expedition. The campers, while seemingly unconnected at first, are Georgia Harrell, Michael Sanville, Googy Gress along with others. Harrell plays the role of the smoking hot yet somewhat prudish counselor who tries her level best to maintain order and dignity amidst the teenage hullabaloo. Sanville and Gress, among others, are the hormone-driven teenage campers with varying degrees of mischievousness and naivety.

As the group waits for rescue, they move past their initial panic and begin sharing anecdotes of their "first time", an eponymous "turn-on". The stories are hilariously titillating, teetering between the embarrassing and fantastic, blending reality and adolescent imagination. The narrative style of the flashbacks adds a layer of depth to the characters, revealing their insecurities, desires, and their intrinsic need to belong and be understood.

The film successfully brings to life the adolescent angst and confusion regarding their burgeoning sexuality. The outrageousness of the scenes, amplified by the comic timing of the actors, successfully communicates the comedy inherent in the uncomfortable process of coming to terms with one's awakening desires and the often ridiculous lengths one is willing to go to satiate them. The film is as much a commentary on teenage sex as it is an exploration of peer pressure, societal norms, and the effect of adult attitudes toward sex on teens.

The performances in The First Turn-On! are energetically spirited. Georgia Harrell is endearing as the beleaguered and baffled camp counselor, effectively capturing the essence of a grownup tossed into the whirlpool of teenage hormones. Michael Sanville and Googy Gress, along with the other actors, pull off their characters with engaging charm and amiable quirkiness, delivering a necessary component to the comedic appeal of the film. Even though their characters are often outrageous and even cartoonish at times, they manage to imbue them with a peculiar type of authenticity that reflects naive, unbridled youth.

Despite tackling subject matter that could easily have been offensive or excessively crude, Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz managed to strike an entertaining balance of ribald humor and empathy for their characters' plights. This empathy is a significant attribute of the film, allowing it to laugh with the characters rather than at them, resulting in a more enjoyable and less alienating viewing experience. The co-directors capitalize on their understanding of comedy's fundamentals and nostalgic representation of the awkwardness of young love and first-time experiences.

Upon its release, The First Turn-On! was met with varying degrees of reception. It was, at its core, an ‘80s teen sex romp, a genre that tended to polarize audience opinions. While some critics dismissed the film for its crude humor and viewed it as juvenile, others admired its audaciousness, its energetic performances, and its unusual, often surreal sense of humor.

As with many teen comedies from its era, The First Turn-On! might not be everyone's cup of tea. Still, for those audiences who have a taste for '80s comedies and a tolerance for absurd and raunchy humor, it provides a hilarious, occasionally insightful, and nostalgically entertaining experience.

With its slapstick humor, endearing characters, and lighthearted examination of the complexities of adolescent sexuality, The First Turn-On! remains worth checking out for fans of early Troma films and for those who appreciate the unabashedly confrontational humor explicit in '80s sex comedies. A rollicking, raunchy ride, it sure makes for a memorable watch!