18 Again! (1988)

After a car accident, 81-year-old businessman Jack Watson (played by 92-year-old George Burns) finds his birthday wish to be young again comes true, and his mind switches into the body of his 18-year-old grandson, David (Charlie Schlatter).

Gloriously released from his arthritic state, Jack-in-David’s-Body cavorts, flirts with ladies and smokes non-stop cigars while unleashing a heapin’ helpin’ of that patented old-man charm.

The modern age of 1988 holds many untapped mysteries for Jack, including nude life drawing classes and men with earrings, but the most significant generation clash comes when he takes his burgeoning ladyfriend to a Dickies concert.

The band blasts out a raw, blistering version of their early hit You Drive Me Ape (You Big Gorilla) with singer Leonard Phillips performing in a monkey mask while LA’s goofiest punk extras do their thing.

Burns did the majority of his best work on stage, radio and TV with his wife, Gracie Allen. However, most viewers will remember him as a mischievous old man in films like The Sunshine Boys and Oh, God! (1977).

Either of these would have better showcased the talents of the veteran trouper who died shortly after his 100th birthday, as he’s given little screen time in this non-starting body-swap comedy that crept in at the end of the cycle that began with Big (1988) and Vice Versa.

Anita Morris is good as Madelyn, the bubble-headed gold digger. She and Burns are a perfect match from the bedroom to the birthday party.

Jack Watson
George Burns
David Watson
Charlie Schlatter
Arnold
Tony Roberts
Madelyn
Anita Morris
Betty
Miriam Flynn
Robin
Jennifer Runyon
Charlie
Red Buttons
Coach
George DiCenzo
Horton
Bernard Fox
Professor Swivert
Kenneth Tigar

Director
Paul Flaherty

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