Plot: What’s it about?
If you’re a fan teen sex comedies, then your collection isn’t complete without Porky’s. The original was a landmark in the genre, paving the path for countless films to follow down. If you’ve seen the movie, then you’ll never forget characters like Pee Wee, Meat, Ms. Ballbuster, and Honeywell. The movie has numerous memorable scenes and while it is risque at times, the movie still retains an obvious innocence. The sequels weren’t as beloved, but they still provide solid entertainment. The second picks up right after the first ends, then the third reunites the characters for one last hurrah. Fox’s Porky’s: The Ultimate Collection includes all three films, plus some all new bonus materials. I can’t recommend the original Porky’s enough and with such a low price involved, this Ultimate Collection gets a thumbs up. I have included a brief synopsis for each movie below.
Porky’s – Pee Wee (Dan Monahan) is a high school male and as such, his mind is overrun with sexual thoughts. He and his friends plot constantly on how to lose their virginity and seduce the females around them, with little success. When their other plans fail, the boys decide to go to Porky’s, an infamous strip club home to some beautiful women. But when they arrive, Porky and his redneck sheriff brother give them an ice cold reception. Now the teens wants to exact some revenge, but can they settle the score or will Porky just humiliate them one more time?
Porky’s II – The Next Day- Angel Beach High is about to produce a stage play that pays tribute to Shakespeare, but some in the town view the work as obscene. Ms. Balbricker leads a charge that includes a well known preacher and some politicians seeking re-election, all looking to shut down the production. Not just that, but because a minority was given a lead role, the local branch of the Ku Klux Klan is trying to sabotage the play as well. While the students could just give in to the pressure, they decide to fight back, but will they come out on top?
Porky’s Revenge! – The Angel Beach crew is about to graduate, but before they leave high school, they want to take home a championship in basketball. While the players are ready and the other students are supportive, the coach finds himself stuck in a tough situation. Porky has re-opened his club and thanks to some bad wagers, the coach owes Porky serious cash. Now Porky wants the coach to throw the game, or face dire consequences. At the same time, a girl falls for Meat and while her body is nice, her face leaves a lot to be desired. And when it turns out to be Porky’s own daughter, he goes to insane lengths to make sure she is happy. Is this is the end of the Angel Beach crew?
Video: How does it look?
All three films are presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen. These movies were made within a three year span, so they all share the same basic properties. I couldn’t tell a world of difference between these transfers and the ones found on the double feature, but these are improved transfers, without question. Still not perfect however, though both look more than decent and while not pristine, they’re solid. The third film follows the same path, a good, but not great treatment. I can’t imagine these looking better on DVD, as I doubt restorations will ever happen.
Audio: How does it sound?
The audio is presented in serviceable stereo soundtracks, which is more than adequate for this material. This isn’t really a dynamic franchise, but the tracks seem solid and never leave the viewer wanting for more. The main presence here comes from the musical soundtracks, which are well presented and make good use of the speakers. Not much to discuss in terms of sound effects, but what is here sound good, if limited at times. The dialogue takes the spotlight in all the tracks and sounds clean, no errors I could find with volume or crispness. Each movie offers different language options, but all have mono soundtracks and English and Spanish subtitles.
Supplements: What are the extras?
Bob Clark, in his final commentary before his death, provides audio comments, but he spends too much time defending the film in very bitter fashion. He seems to think the entire movie business had it out for Porky’s and has some wild ideas, but he does slide in some worthwhile information between rants. Clark returns for a fifteen minute interview, but he repeats a lot of stuff and doesn’t add much new content. This release also includes a look at the pitch for the Porky’s video game, another brief featurette, some television spots, and theatrical trailers for all three films.
