Eugenia Brown Great nostalgic movie that I introduced to my own children years later and they happened to love it just as much as I did when I was a child at their age. Timeless! A great film for girls ages 5-17. The film teaches girls of all ages that popularity isn't everything. That your tries friends are what's most important and that genuine love is al that matters. It teaches that the only people you need in life are the ones that want to be there, not the ones you have to force. Great film, funny, interested with a moral plot. The plot was a typical teenage plot with the heartthrob and the googly eyed girl vying for his attention, but with a magical twist. This movie easily qualifies as a classic.

hnt_dnl My personal favorite decade never fails to amaze me! Just when I think I've exhausted the time capsule, yet another 80s treasure surfaces. For the first time, I recently saw Teen Witch (1989), contender for one of the most odd cult classics ever! An amalgamation of teen comedy, the supernatural, musical, and coming-of-age, this is just another one of those 80s confections that just plain works! An box office failure, I actually remember this flick from back in the day and it was just one of those I never had a desire to watch. It seemed cheesy, lame, and unwatchable. Honestly, it kind of is none of those things. It's just odd, but in a GOOD way, a true so-bad-it's-good experience! Teen Witch appeared to try to capitalize on the success of the decade's earlier surprise hit Teen Wolf and draws somewhat on that story. Here, a dour, shy, bookworm and soon-to-be 16-year old girl Louise (played with great charm and ease by then-newcomer Robyn Lively) learns from a local fortune-teller (iconic Zelda Rubenstein from Poltergeist fame) that she is destined to gain witch powers on her 16th birthday. Cut to her 16th birthday...You get the idea! Louise begins to see her newfound powers at work, as she inadvertently controls the actions of her snarky little brother (scene-stealing Joshua Miller), her shallow peers, and her mean-spirited teacher (wonderfully played by Shelley Berman).The main object of Louise's powers is her snaring of her crush, the school football hero Brad Powell (refreshingly played by Dan Gauthier). I've got to say, Lively and Gauthier have AMAZING chemistry in this! It's hard to believe that Lively was actually 16 years old in real life, because she has an amazing maturity in this. Hard to believe, but Gauthier was 26 years old (10 years Lively's senior!) and she comes across just as mature as him! There are several intense scenes between them that I doubt would get past censors today! The big pull in this flick for me is the infectious soundtrack, a series of memorable 80s original songs interspersed throughout the movie in the form of dance sequences and mini-music videos. Both the opening "Never Gonna Be" and closing "Finest Hour" dance numbers (performed by Lively and Gauthier and sung by the sadly forgotten 80s singer Cindy Valentine) are keepers as well as pretty much all the songs in between, including the joyous "I Like Boys" girls' locker room dance number (led by cast member Megan Gallivan, who plays Kiki) and the dueling male-female rap number "Top That" performed by cast members Noah Blake (who plays the rapping wannabe Rhet) and Mandy Ingber (who plays Louise's best friend Polly). If a person didn't know any better, they'd think it was a musical! But it's really not.Strangely enough, even though this movie's premise is rather odd, the occult aspects don't seem that silly to me and the witchcraft scenes between Louise and Zelda kind of draw me in; I really like their mentor-student friendship bond. Also, even though it's obvious that Louise has powers, there are also moments that make one think she's doing a lot of this herself just by having more confidence and transforming her appearance and attitude. The ending speaks to that. I must also note that Louise's parents are played by Dick Sargent (the 2nd Darrin from Bewitched, obvious stunt casting there!) and 80s TV and B-movie stalwart Caryn Kaye (from the 83 sex comedy My Tutor!).The movie appears to combine elements and themes of several more popular mainstream 80s hit teen movies, such as Sixteen Candles (unpopular girl turns 16 to little or no fanfare and has major crush on school's mos popular guy) and Pretty in Pink (odd-dressing girl looked down upon by the more popular girl cliques). Yet it has the added bonus of the supernatural element and the infusion of 80s music video scenes.Teen Witch, odd as it is, has so many appealing elements that make it work: an immensely appealing lead who has great chemistry with her male counterpart, memorable supporting characters, fun musical numbers, and a great soundtrack. 80s all the way!

TxMike I was expecting a bit more, from the reviews I read. My public library recently got this on DVD, a pretty good transfer for an old (1989) movie, with only one extra, the trailer for this movie.Robyn Lively is the lead actor in the role of Louise Miller, who we quickly find out is a sort of geek, having skipped a grade and now a senior. She secretly longs for Brad Powell (Dan Gauthier), star football player who is dating the school's most popular girl. A very familiar premise in teen movies.This one has a twist when Louise finds out from a little old fortune teller that she has latent powers and at her 16th birthday, just a couple of days away, her powers will be manifest. (Lively really was 16 during filming, although Gauthier was in his mid-20s.) Anyway, Louise gains the ability to work magic. In one episode she gets back at her mean English teacher with a voo-doo doll. In another she turns her bothersome brother into a small dog, but he changes back when she dunks him in the bathwater. But her best trick is to arrange it so that everyone likes her, and she becomes the most popular girl at school. Alas, she realizes that this only brings temporary gratification, and in the long run, it is better just to be yourself.Somewhat entertaining, but it could have been so much better. It is interesting that none of the young actors, 17 years later, are recognizable. A few had ongoing careers in TV supporting roles. It just illustrates how difficult it is to become a movie star.

yesfan2004 OK. i was driving with my sister in Seattle ( capitol Hill) and on the marquee of the Egyptian theatre was "teen witch" for midnight movie on fri and sat nite the 11/ 11 and 11/ 12 2005. I almost drove off the road. I love this movie. its cheesy, campy 80's fabulousness makes me watch it every time its on TV. So I had to see it on the big screen. I was tired , and thought i might skip it.. but something told me to go.. so me my sister and friend went. As I was walking into the theatre, I swear the star of the movie, Robyn Lively, was standing right next to me. but i brushed it off and said it couldn't be her. Was I wrong!!! the writer of the music in the movie comes out and tells us Robyn was there ready to talk about the movie and take pix and sign autographs!! She really was a sweetheart!! she talked about the movie.. " I enjoyed making out with the Tom cruise wanna be, brad" and talked about the DVD and how the studio didn't want to have her add commentary, because they didn't want to put the money into it. what a shame!! she is a pretty lady and so nice. she took pics with everyone and signed autos.. there were a lot of fans there and it was one of the most fun midnight movies ever!!! I'm SO GLAD i went. the audience totally participated in the film and it was a laugh riot. go buy the DVD if u don't love this movie you suck its fun and i love the characters ( especially the brother) and the music is hilarious ( love Shana)