# She's Out of Control (1989)

### reviewed by
LARRY MCGILLICUDDY

    She's Out of Control (1989)
    Review by Larry McGillicuddy 1999

    1/2*  (of 4)
    Starring Tony Danza, Catherine Hicks

The 1999 teen comedy She's All That was about a girl with no social life suddenly transformed into a potential prom queen. A full decade earlier, She's Out of Control was released. It was about a girl who, in the midst of puberty, is transformed into a beauty. The way both films approach this idea differs considerably, and is just one of many factors separating the success of both.

Tony Danza stars as a single father who goes away for vacation and when he comes back, his daughter has blossomed into womanhood, thanks to the help of his Henry Higgins inspired girlfriend played by Catherine Hicks. Danza is not pleased to see this, and spends the rest of the movie in screwball situations trying to prevent his daughter from having a social life of her own.

In She's All That, it wasn't entirely about her looks. The main idea was that she finally started to come out of her shell. Her father encourages her to have a social life. The fact that she looks more attractive doesn't even come into play with him. There is something really disturbing about the Danza's characters attitude about his daughter. It seems to be a innate fear of sexuality on behalf of the filmmakers. Or maybe they just thought it would be funny. In the case of the latter, it's even worse.

I'm insulted that these filmmakers would think Tony Danza in a neckbrace is funny. That very thought is as repulsive to me as anything in The Doom Generation. There is not one scene in this film that even approaches humor. It's not as if there are missed opportunities, the film can't even set up situations where a laugh would be possible. Danza's behavior makes him into a complete jerk, so the audience could barely care about his efforts. And the daughter is only seen from Danza's perspective, so there is no way we can warm up to her.

Basically what we are left with is Catherine Hicks almost approaching charm. That would account for the half star. Other than that, it's just watching an old guy ogling his younger daughter and trying to prevent any boys from getting near her. Todd Solondz should've directed this. His approach would've been much more interesting. As it is, She's Out of Control is the worst film of 1989, hands down.

Larry McGillicuddy - The Cinemaniac http://members.xoom.com/lmcgill/movpage.htm

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