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Private Resort

Private Resort is a teen film directed by George Bowers and written by , Ken Segall, and Alan Wenkus. The film stars as Ben, as Jack, and Hector Elizondo as the Maestro, a . It follows two friends on vacation at a luxury resort who pursue women but become entangled in the thief's plot to steal a from a wealthy guest. Released on May 3, 1985, by Tri-Star Pictures, the film was the third in a series of teen comedies produced by R. Ben Efraim, following Private Lessons (1981) and (1983). It grossed $331,816 at the .

Synopsis and cast

Plot

Private Resort follows the misadventures of two teenage friends, Jack () and Ben (), who check into a luxurious Miami Beach resort for a weekend focused on pursuing romantic encounters with women. Eager and inexperienced, the duo spends their time lounging by the pool, ogling bikini-clad guests, and attempting clumsy flirtations that often lead to humorous rejections and mishaps. Running parallel to their escapades is the scheme of the (Hector Elizondo), a sophisticated who arrives at the resort disguised as a wealthy to steal a owned by the elderly Amanda Rawlings (), a surprisingly adept martial artist and chaperone to her granddaughter. The Maestro navigates obstacles including a dim-witted security chief ( Azito) and a brutish local named Curt (), who causes his own share of trouble while chasing after women. The protagonists' paths collide when Ben is mistaken for the resort's barber and gives the Maestro a botched haircut, destroying his toupee and sparking a vengeful pursuit. In a bid to hide, Ben dons women's clothing, leading to further chaos. Jack, meanwhile, fixates on seducing a beautiful , while Ben forms a sincere connection with Patti (Emily Longstreth), a kind-hearted . The film's comedic climax involves frantic chases, accidental interventions, and a showdown that sees the boys unwittingly foil the , rewarding their good intentions amid the resort's opulent backdrop.

Cast

The principal cast of Private Resort includes as Ben, a reserved teenager on vacation with his friend at a resort. portrays Jack, Ben's outgoing and impulsive companion seeking romantic adventures. Emily Longstreth plays Patti, a waitress at the resort who catches the protagonists' attention. Karyn O'Bryan stars as Dana, another resort visitor involved in the central romantic pursuits. appears as The Maestro, a suave posing as a wealthy guest. Supporting actors include as Mrs. Rawlings, the society woman whose necklace is the target of the , and Azito as Reeves, the bumbling head of security. is cast as Bobbie Sue, a resort guest, while plays Shirley, a role in the comedic ensemble of resort guests. Additional performers such as Michael Bowen and contribute to the film's lighthearted, ensemble-driven narrative.

Production

Development

The development of Private Resort originated in December 1983, when producer R. Ben Efraim's Unity Pictures Corp. announced a $14 million commitment to produce three youth-oriented sexploitation comedies targeted at the teen market, including Private Resort, Yearbook, and I Love You, Miss Kristel (the latter contingent on actress Sylvia Kristel starring). This initiative drew criticism from feminist groups for Efraim's reliance on audience taste research to shape content, a approach he had employed in his prior "Private" titled films Private Lessons (1981) and Private School (1983), which established a loose series of teen sex romps. Ultimately, only Private Resort was produced from the planned trilogy, reflecting the era's volatile market for low-budget exploitation comedies. The screenplay was credited to , Ken Segall, and Alan Wenkus, with Mitchell providing the original story based on his background in television writing for shows such as Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., , , and Mork & Mindy. Wenkus served as a , refining the narrative to emphasize comedic elements of romance and mischief at a luxury resort, a process aligned with Efraim's vision for accessible, formulaic entertainment. Efraim, who had successfully navigated similar projects with modest budgets, took on producing duties alongside Don Enright, securing Tri-Star Pictures for distribution and aiming for a quick turnaround to capitalize on the comedy trend. The project exemplified an efficient, no-frills approach during . Director George Bowers, known for lighthearted features like The Main Event (1979), was attached early to helm the film, bringing a focus on ensemble dynamics and visual humor suited to the script's resort setting. emphasized casting unknowns to keep expenses down while appealing to young audiences, setting the stage for in early 1985.

Filming

for Private Resort commenced in October 1984. The majority of filming occurred at the Ocean Reef Club, located at 35 Ocean Reef Drive in , standing in for a luxurious resort. This private, upscale community provided the opulent poolside, beach, and interior settings central to the film's narrative of youthful antics and romantic pursuits. The low-budget production wrapped efficiently, reflecting the era's trend toward quick-turnaround comedies exploiting themes. Behind the scenes, lead actors Johnny Depp (then 21) and Rob Morrow expressed significant discomfort with the script's risqué elements, later joking about a pact to destroy all copies of the finished film due to its embarrassing tone.

Release

Theatrical release

Private Resort received a limited theatrical release in the United States on May 3, 1985, distributed by Tri-Star Pictures. The film was rated R by the Motion Picture Association of America and runs for 82 minutes. The premiere occurred citywide in Atlanta, Georgia, screening at multiple venues such as the National Theatre, 12 Oaks, and others, marking a token theatrical rollout ahead of its primary home video distribution. No wide national or international theatrical releases followed, with subsequent availability in other countries limited to video formats.

Home media

The film Private Resort was first made available on home video in the mid-1980s through VHS releases distributed by RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video, following its limited theatrical run. These VHS editions, including an R-rated version, were marketed as part of the era's teen comedy catalog and featured the original 82-minute runtime in full frame format. A closed-captioned VHS edition was later issued in 1993, providing accessibility options for hearing-impaired viewers. In 2006, released Private Resort on DVD in a edition, preserving the film's 1.85:1 and offering audio. This single-disc release, which hit shelves on June 27, included no bonus features and targeted fans of early works, with a runtime of 82 minutes . The DVD emphasized the movie's lighthearted elements without additional commentary or extras. A Blu-ray edition arrived in from Mill Creek Entertainment as part of a "Spring Break Double Feature" set paired with (1984), marking the film's upgrade to high-definition. Encoded in with MPEG-4 AVC at 28.61 Mbps and English 2.0 audio, the release lacked subtitles or special features, focusing on the core 82-minute feature in its original 1.85:1 . This edition catered to collectors of cult comedies but received mixed reviews for its basic transfer quality.

Reception

Critical response

Upon its release, Private Resort received predominantly negative reviews from critics, who often dismissed it as a formulaic and uninspired teen typical of mid-1980s fare. The film holds a 14% approval rating on , based on seven critic reviews, with no official articulated. Similarly, assigns it a score of 34 out of 100, derived from four reviews, indicating generally unfavorable reception, with one positive and three negative assessments. Critics frequently highlighted the film's lack of humor and reliance on clichéd tropes, such as relentless pursuit of women and mishaps. Dennis Schwartz of Ozus' World Movie Reviews described it as "an unfunny lowbrow comedy," criticizing its predictable plot involving two teens entangled with a at a resort, and awarded it a C+ grade. Scott Weinberg, writing for , labeled it "one of the very worst" examples of 1980s teen-sex romps, faulting its aggressive obnoxiousness and absence of laughs despite the presence of a young . Some reviewers acknowledged minor strengths, particularly in the early portions and performances. David Nusair of Reel Film Reviews noted that the movie "fares best in its lighthearted and freewheeling first half," praising the charismatic turns by Depp, , and supporting players like Hector Elizondo, though it devolved into erratic, plotless misadventures; he rated it 2 out of 4 stars. Todd Gilchrist of echoed this mixed view, calling it a "lifeless " but appreciating the early glimpses of Depp and Morrow's on-screen chemistry, ultimately scoring it 5 out of 10. Overall, the consensus positioned Private Resort as a forgettable entry in its genre, redeemable only for nostalgic value or as a curiosity for Depp's film debut.

Box office performance

Private Resort, released in the United States on May 3, 1985, by , opened in limited release and earned $163,704 during its debut weekend of May 5. This figure represented approximately 49.3% of the film's total domestic gross, with a theatrical run multiplier of 2.03 times the opening weekend. The film ultimately grossed $331,816 in , which comprised its entire worldwide performance, as no international earnings were reported. In the context of 1985 releases, this placed Private Resort at 177th out of 191 domestic films that year, underscoring its commercial underperformance. Critics and industry observers have described the movie as a , with its meager returns highlighting the challenges faced by low-budget comedies during that period.

References

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