A stunningly beautiful woman and gifted actress (especially in comedy,) Teri Garr rocked the 70's and 80's like no other.
Here we present a Paramount feature from 1984 where Garr plays a divorcee who starts dating a fast-talking charmer (Peter Weller) with a questionable character. He leads Garr into a druggy lifestyle which forces her older son (Christopher Collett, a couple years post-Sleepaway Camp and hands down his best ever performance here) to become the appropriate evictor of this bad man who has wormed his way into their house and life.
This is a complete dramatic role for Garr, not much comedy here, I think it's a great pick to show another side of her talents. As far as the rest of the cast, I wouldn't even know where to begin - everyone is great here, especially a very young Sarah Jessica Parker, Corey Heim's debut and a very early Robert Downey, Jr , just a couple years before he would really break with Back To School and Less Than Zero. Weller would go on to Robocop fame just a few years after as well.
Firstborn was big on the late-night cable circuit in the years following it's release. This is how most people were first exposed to the film. In contrast to our B-Movie Of The Month, Firstborn doesn't try to deliver any messages about the dangers of drug use and the lifestyle - act three shifts up to action mode between Collett and Weller. Some reviewers gave the film low marks because of this but I like the way this film just sticks to the suspense, acting and darkness of subject matter to drive it to it's happy if not 80's predictable ending.
Rest in peace, Teri Garr. Streams on VOD only right now but trust me, this is worth seeking out, whatever format you watch in it. 3.5 stars/5
