Class
As rites-of-passage films featuring a young man's sexual initiation in  the arms of a beautiful woman go,Class(1983) has plenty going for it,  not least its attractive cast: Andrew McCarthy as Jonathan, Rob Lowe as  Gatsbyish best friend Skip, and Jacqueline Bisset as the beautiful woman who's  old enough to know better and just happens to be Skip's mother.Lewis John Carlino's film has moments of insight, taking a few well-aimed shots  at the vaguely sinister network of private-school life. In the first reel it  neatly subverts the bullying scenario that threatens when the geeky Jonathan  arrives at the school, while offering the briefly intriguing sight of Lowe in  scarlet bra and pants. And there's a subplot of deceit and complicity that both  strengthens and threatens the friendship that rapidly forms between Skip and  Jonathan. In many ways, though, the most interesting element of the  picture--Skip's relationship with his dysfunctional family--is left unexplored.  Jonathan's deflowering and subsequent interludes are merely titillating. And  Bisset's Ellen, a desperately sad character, becomes superfluous once the  revelation that she's the "teacher" sets the boys' friendship on the path to  fraternal solidarity.--Piers Ford