“Firstborn” (1984)

   

At the start of the film, “Firstborn,” Wendy, portrayed by Oscar nominee Terri Garr (Tootsie), is hoping to have a reconciliation with Alan (Richard Brandon), her ex-husband. Unfortunately for Wendy, he is not interested. In fact, Alan and his girlfriend, Joanne (Gayle Harbor), are getting married. Wendy is left, in their New Jersey home, to raise their two sons. Jake is played by Christopher Collet (The Manhattan Project), and the role of Brian, in his screen debut, is Corey Haim (The Lost Boys). It’s not as if Wendy hasn’t tried to date, but she hasn’t met the right man, until she believes she has, when Sam enters her life.              

The part of Sam is portrayed by Oscar nominee, Peter Weller (Partners). He comes across, at first, as a seemingly nice guy, as he attempts to befriend Wendy’s sons. Sam is the sort of person who talks a great deal about plans for the future. One moment, he and Wendy are going to open a home security service, the next a restaurant. He just needs to get his hands on startup money. Jake pegs Sam as a con man, who is nothing but talk. He resents the fact that Sam is unemployed, and stays in the house all day sleeping and watching television. When her sons complain about Sam, Wendy, perhaps out of a fear of loneliness, ignores them. Further complicating matters, Sam has gotten Wendy into using cocaine. (As an aside: Peter Weller replaced Emmy and Golden Globe winner, Tom Berenger (Hatfields & McCoys), in the film. Berenger had been in an automobile accident, and couldn’t work).

Jake loves his mother, but isn’t interested in the drama Sam brings to the family. He wants to concentrate on school, where he is an excellent student, and do his best on the field as a member of the lacrosse team. Jake loves spending time with his girlfriend, Lisa, played by four time Golden Globe winner, Sarah Jessica Parker (Sex and the City), and socializing with his best friend, Lee, a role acted by Oscar winner, Robert Downey Jr. (Oppenheimer). Hampering Jake’s enjoyment of the aforementioned, and compounding the other problems he has with Sam, is that his mother’s lover has a temper.

His abuse toward Wendy and the boys, at first, starts off slowly. There are threats made, as well as, a hard slap on the back for Jake, but Sam’s behavior escalates to much worse over time. Sam puts mother and sons in further danger, when he concocts a scheme to sell drugs, with money Wendy gave him to start a business. What peril will Sam’s criminal decisions put the family in?    

“Firstborn” was directed by three time BAFTA winner, Michael Apted (35). Three time Emmy nominee, Ron Koslow (Beauty and the Beast) wrote the screenplay. The film was released to American theaters on October 26, 1984. Parts drama and thriller, the movie has a runtime of 103 minutes. (As an aside: “Firstborn” had the unfortunate luck of opening on the same day as “The Terminator,” (1984). 

                                                    

In closing, Collet and Haim have good chemistry, and are believable as brothers. It was fun to see Sarah Jessica Parker and Robert Downey Jr., as younger performers, years before their respective stardom and the accolades they’ve each received. The best performance given is by Weller. His villain is nuanced, and not unhinged. Instead, it is a portrayal of an everyday con man, the type who unfortunately, like Weller’s character, talks their way into situations where they take advantage from the outset. It is, overall, an entertaining, but often times overlooked film. As of the writing of this post, “Firstborn” is streaming on Netflix.