Lucas (1986) 20th Century Fox

Written and Directed by David Seltzer Starring: Corey Haim, Keri Green, Charlie Sheen, Courtney Thorne-Smith, Wynona Ryder, Guy Boyd

Corey is an eclectic young man with a wide range of hobbies and interests. He`s a little goofy and a couple of grades ahead in school for his age, but is far too engaging and energetic to be called a nerd. However, his disdain for 'superficial' (aka popular) activities and his weirdness limit his social circle to the Band/AV crowd. Our boy meets cute newcomer Keri while on a bug collecting trip in a local park, and an instant chemistry is apparent as they innocently frollick in various scenes all summer long.

School begins and both undergo changes as he quits his beloved band and ignores old friend Wynona, who has a secret crush on him, while Keri pursues popular activities such as cheerleading, which may help her meet new people.

Charlie, football team captain and the one jock who likes Corey, along with girlfriend Courtney, introduce the weirdo and the new girl to some of the fashionable crowd in school. But alas, they have never been a couple, despite Corey`s wishes, and Keri soon falls in mutual love with the athletic hero.

Corey decides to go 'superficial' himself by trying out for the football team. He is humiliated in practice by the regular players, but fights for what he wants: respect. Charlie tries to protect him out of friendship, but can`t.

The C-man cons his way into the last quarter of a hopelessly lost game for a few moments of glory, but plays horribly and seems to be set for yet another embarrassment. Charlie and cheerleaders Keri and Courtney, along with the entire student body watch as our inept hero fumbles, trips and fouls up. But then he aggressively tackles opponents 80 pounds heavier and runs all over the field in a brave, but ineffective attempt to help his school and team. He is badly injured and must be taken to the hospital on a stretcher.

The new friends of Corey look up the address of their secretive bud to notify his parents, but find out that he`s not from a well-off family as he`d claimed: he lives in a trashy trailer with an absent, alcoholic father. Our boy has already fought much more fierce battles in life than he`s allowed to be known or shown in school, or on the football field...

Weeks later, Corey returns to school and goes to his locker under the close watch of most of the student body. He opens it, but instead of his books he finds a letterman`s jacket with his name on it! His grit on the field of dreams has won over even the most hardened jocks, and he has become a major hero to all. Charlie and Keri stay together, but Wynona is now more devoted to Corey than ever before!

The jacket doesn`t fit our scrawny, undersized hero-but the mantle of honor he`s earned is just his size. Fade to black as all the kids applaud and their new hero thrusts his right arm into the air in a gesture of victory...

(One can almost feel the smiling, beneficent face of Ferris Himself at this moment...)

Trivia: Jeremy Priven (Swingers, One Crazy Summer, PCU, Ellen`s second roommate) appears as a kindly jock friend of Charlie`s.

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