Film:  The Good Humor Man
Studio:    M-80 Films; Grammnet Productions; Showtime
Director:  Tenney Fairchild
Principal Actors:  Nathan Stevens; Jorge Garcia; Cameron Richardson
Release:  2005; On DVD released February 19, 2008
Film length: 112 minutes
Rating: R (for pervasive language, substance abuse, sexual content and some violence)

3 ½ Stars

Reviewer:  Deborah Ground Buckner

The Good Humor Man is a coming of age in the 1970s film examining the familiar themes of insiders vs. outsiders, jocks vs. greasers, adolescents vs. authority figures, etc.  Written and directed by Tenney Fairchild and produced by Kelsey Grammer (who also gives an effective performance as the father of Nathan Stevens' character), The Good Humor Man was first released in 2005 and is now re-released on dvd, no doubt capitalizing on Jorge Garcia's stint on Lost.

As one who actually was a teenager in the 1970s, I have to make an initial comment that I hope future screenwriters will note.  It is true that certain phrases were part of our vocabulary in those days, words such as "narc", "foxy," and the universal greeting of "Hey, man!"  These phrases did, in fact, appear in conversation.  But it seems Fairchild came up with a list of these catchphrases, and,just as Dr. Seuss limited himself to a brief vocabulary list in writing The Cat in the Hat, has allowed the characters to speak only in catchphrases.  In 1976, we would have laughed at anyone who talked only in such terms.

Jay (Nathan Stevens) hangs with a gang of socially inept misfits, all with clever monikers which Jay has bestowed upon them.  Mt. Rushmore, aka John Cermak (Jorge Garcia) is Jay's best friend.  Their buddies include Junebug, Hambone, Barfetta, and a 25-year-old ex-con called Smelly Bob.  Jay is also a member of his school hockey team, placing him on a precipice between two worlds.  Jay's parents (Kelsey Grammer and Elise Robertson) strongly hint which world Jay should land in, suggesting his friends are going in the "wrong direction and dragging you with them."

When the gang crashes a wedding, Jay encounters Wendy (Cameron Richardson), immediately labeled a "jockette" by his friends.  There is a definite attraction, but that is put on hold as a fight ensues, with obligatory shots of the destruction of the wedding cake and gift table.  Unfortunately, the fight goes too far, and a young man, Richie, is seriously injured and ultimately dies.

Jay, having seen his best friend, John, fighting with Richie, refuses to tell his parents or the police.  One would never "narc" on his best friend.  John wrestles with his own guilt feelings about the outcome of the fight.

Meanwhile, Jay draws closer to Wendy, who explains "Maybe I think you're different from your friends."  Stevens and Richardson play their roles very well, with all the emotion and teen-aged angst necessary for this difficult developing relationship.

As the story unfolds, with several tragic turns, perhaps Jay learns a few lessons about friendship and being a real friend, and maybe even a thing or two about parents wanting to be there to help their children.  I say perhaps, because, in the end, it isn't entirely clear exactly what Jay has learned.  Maybe that doesn't matter.  Maybe, it is enough if the viewers who witness Jay's experiences benefit from the lessons of his life.