Revenge of the Cheerleaders

Directed by: Richard Lerner

Starring: Jeri Woods, Rainbeaux Smith, David Hasselhoff

Perhaps no decade in history brought males' fantasies to life like the 1970s. The sexual revolution - combined with loosening social mores and a bevy of opportunistic, low-budget filmmakers willing to cash in on both - paved the way for a golden era in exploitation cinema filled with swinging stewardesses, tantalizing teachers, and nubile nurses. But no icon titillated audiences more than the high school cheerleader.

In the years between 1973 and 1979, low-budget filmmakers released no less than six straight-to-drive-in productions honoring the venerable cheerleader, and gave audiences enough eye-candy to satisfy the urges of every red blooded American male who ever considered trying out for the varsity football squad. But even among such salacious offerings as The Swinging Cheerleaders (1974), Satan's Cheerleaders (1977) and Cheerleaders Wild Weekend (1979), one film universally reigns supreme as king of the wild and wacky '70s cheerleader genre. That film is Revenge of the Cheerleaders.

Critics as well as fans rarely speak of "plot" when referring to Revenge of the Cheerleaders; that's because, essentially, there is none. (An obligatory capsule summary included with the film's recent DVD re-release reads, "When the girls discover a plot by evil developers to condemn their beloved school, they strike back with a plan that includes high-protein breakfasts, drug-laden lunches, locker room orgies, giant dinosaurs and a secret weapon for winning the big game," which - despite its lengthy word count - is little more than a tantalizing way of saying nothing at all.) But what Revenge of the Cheerleaders lacks in story, it more than makes up for in sex appeal, presenting scene after scene of voluptuous and horny cheerleaders (two of whom conspicuously disappear after the film's opening credits) shedding clothing, popping pills (after all, this was the '70s), and engaging in enough carnal extra-curricular activities to make even porn mogul Larry Flynt blush.

If all this isn't enough to earn Revenge of the Cheerleaders a star on the B-movie walk of fame (or shame, depending on your cinematic preferences), the film also marks the big-screen debut of the one-and-only David "Knight Rider" Hasselhoff as high-school ladies' man, Boner, who in one of the film's more notorious scenes (and that's covering some ground) is revived to consciousness by sniffing his girlfriend's panties. (The ear-to-ear grin on Hasselhoff's face when he awakens is worth the cost of the movie rental alone!) Not surprisingly, Hasselhoff has since called the role the most embarrassing of his Hollywood career - Yikes, that's really covering some ground! - and despite the movie's underground popularity, refuses to mention it in his official film biography.

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