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When it comes to romance, I’m not too interested; it usually just depends on the movie. I do sometimes enjoy them when there’s a bit of horror… as long as it’s good horror. Usually, a good way to do this is with a rom-horror comedy, which is a jumbled term for a movie where two enemies who are in love get together. He’s a monster of some kind and she’s human or vice versa. This scenario has been presented in several movies over the years – some were good and some, well, were pretty questionable. I will say, though, I love a good zombie love story and that is why I loved My Boyfriend’s Back in 1993 – take that, Warm Bodies!
This 1963 movie starring the Angels reminds me of this ‘90sx zombie movie directed by Bob Balaban and produced by Friday the 13th Sean S. Cunningham. For a ‘90s film, it’s not very well known, but according to critics, it is pretty solid. With $3 million at the box office, it’s not an entirely impossible zombie romance story, of which they have many. After 23 years, I still find it cheezy, but charming.
The movie has great characters and funny moments, but it also has a unique story and style, as well as some metaphors we can all connect to.
My Boyfriend’s Back tells the tale of lovebirds – Johnny (Andrew Lowery) and Missy McCloud (Traci Lind). Johnny has been in love with Missy since they were kids, and with each passing day, he wishes that she break up with her deadbeat boyfriend so that he can sweep her off her feet. When Johnny’s chance finally arrives, he comes up with an elaborate plan that is fueled by his desperation and ultimately leads to his demise. He does have one last wish before he kicks the bucket though; to take Missy to prom. In a twist of events, Missy actually agrees to go with him. Now, for a guy who’s willing to do anything to win over his crush, including coming back from the dead, he is left wondering if his limbs are going to stay intact long enough for him to take the girl of his dreams to prom. What I love about this movie is how it approaches the content in a humorously light-hearted way instead of sticking to a deep, dramatic plot. The jokes and puns used in the movie are apt and self-relatable. For instance, the character makes a barren boyfriend even after his body is disintegrating.
The framing is captivating, especially when we see an image and later it morphs into a scene. While the primary plot centers around the zombified romance, the movie has several symbols as well. For instance, Johnny’s appetite for human flesh is likened to a teenager’s sexual desire, and his fear of body decomposition is equated to a teen’s embarrassment of acne and bodily shortcomings. My Boyfriend’s Back is such an interesting movie and one of the reasons is the incredible cast and characters. Andrew Lowery, for instance, portrays a traditional loser who becomes a flesh-eating zombie and does a superb job playing Johnny. Traci Lind was phenomenal as Missy McCloud, but wow, this lady is drop-dead gorgeous. She acted extensively in the 80s and 90s, but I wish she had continued into the 2000s. Other cast members include: Danny Zorn, Edward Herrmann, Mary Beth Hurst, Jay O. Sanders, Austin Pendleton, Paul Dooley, Libby Villari, and Philip Seymour Hoffman.
Although Hoffman had a smaller role, he was entertaining as the dumb jock, Chuck Bronski. Nonetheless, McConaughey and Fox made their film debuts in My Boyfriend’s Back, regardless of how small the parts were.
Another classic section of the film is the large quantity of absurdly, cheesy scenes. Although many of them are dream sequences, they are still cheesy. One particularly funny dream sequence features Johnny falling apart limb by limb. He then wakes up screaming after his balls drop and break on the ground. Another funny scene features his mother kidnapping a little boy to use as a snack for Johnny, only for him to turn out to be Big Chuck’s (Paul Dooley) son. Adding awfulness to the mix is another daydream of Missy McCloud in which she is dressed to the nines and offers Johnny a bite of her.
Even after 23 years, My Boyfriend’s Back is still a very enjoyable light-hearted zombie sequel love story. Do not take this movie too seriously, but for those looking for light romance served with the help of fresh brains, look no further!
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