DVD Release
Reform School Girl (1994)
R1 / NTSC DVD
Dimension Home Video / 2005
Director: Jonathan Kaplan
Writers: Bruce Meade, Edward Bernds
Cast: Aimee Graham, Matt LeBlanc, Teresa DiSpina & Marissa Ribisi
Review by James Garfield
Donna (Aimee Graham) lives with her younger sister and lecherous uncle. One night, out on a date with her greaser boyfriend Vince (Matt LeBlanc), Donna watches with horror as he accidentally hits and kills an old man with his stolen car, then flees the scene of the crime. The police are right nearby and blame Donna for the incident; it’s off to reform school with her. On the inside, she begins running track in hopes of earning early release, and has a lesbian affair with fellow inmate Carmen (Teresa DiSpina). She also tries to help her little sister, who faces molestation by both Vince and her uncle.
Reform School Girl is part of “Rebel Highway”, an early 1990s made-for-Showtime series of remakes of 1950s AIP juvenile delinquent films. The general approach of the series modernizes the old films with campy humor and the increased freedom to show more exploitative elements. Here the self-aware recreation of the 50s includes ironic jabs at Cold War paranoia, and gives us a medium-sized dose of casual nudity, as well as one of the best lesbian scenes I’ve ever witnessed. Gorgeous Aimee Graham (Heather Graham’s younger sister), in a rare starring role, does a fine job, and those who remember Matt LeBlanc as amiable dimwit Joey on “Friends” will be amused by his attempt to portray a tough guy here. The supporting characters lend some charming moments, and Hummie Mann’s jazzy score is another plus.
This film is pleasant but hardly earth-shaking; still, the DVD treatment it received is highly disappointing, from the ugly packaging to the lack of extras. A commentary track with Graham and director Jonathan Kaplan would have been terrific. Some will also feel let down by the film’s lack of sleaze relative to most other movies in the “women in prison” genre, and I feel their pain.
