Morgan Stewart's Coming Home is a 1987 American comedy film starring Jon Cryer, Viveka Davis, Paul Gleason, Nicholas Pryor and Lynn Redgrave. The screenplay was written by Ken Hixon and David N. Titcher. The film was also released as Home Front and Homefront Riviera in some countries. The film was directed by Paul Aaron and Terry Winsor, but upon release the director was listed as "Alan Smithee", a name often used when directors ask to remove their names from a picture.

Plot

Morgan Stewart is the son of a Republican senator from Virginia who has spent most of his life away at boarding school. While disappointed he cannot spend Thanksgiving with his parents, it does not faze him. He pulls off a major prank with three of his friends only to be busted by the Headmaster. Coincidentally, Morgan is told to he is going home when his mother calls the school and is ready for him to finally return.

Morgan is brought home to help with his father's campaign for re-election as Senator with family being the notion he sets to bring. However, Morgan's mother expects him to be conservative while his father tends to be more open to the fact that Morgan is growing up. Along the way, Morgan butts heads with both his mother and Jay, the campaign manager. Morgan decides to start doing what it takes for the family to be together, including doing chores like waxing the floors. When Morgan goes to a book signing for his idol George A. Romero, he meets fellow horror film fan Emily and the two soon begin a relationship. When Morgan "borrows" the car to go on a date with Emily, he is busted when Emily's little brother calls the police and reports the car as stolen which results in Morgan getting grounded.

Morgan soon learns that his mother has placed cameras in his room. When Morgan learns he and his father have a lot more in common than he imagined, he still faces the wrath of his mother. This comes when Emily learns that Morgan had lied about his parents but when Morgan finally loses it after losing her, he is threatened with military school by Jay. Morgan escapes using a chainsaw signed by The Texas Chain Saw Massacres Tobe Hooper. He finally comes clean to Emily, who forgives him and the two decide to open Morgan's coin collection that his late aunt left him (after he pickpocketed Jay to get the key). They learn that Jay has been embezzling campaign funds with the safety deposit box with the coin collection also containing evidence of the embezzlement. When Jay learns what has happened, he tries but ultimately fails to stop Morgan.

The end result would be Senator Stewart getting re-elected. Morgan's mother finally decides to give up her vegetarian lifestyle and eat meat. Jay serves prison time. The family butler, Ivan, becomes a real estate tycoon and leaves wife Francheska for a younger woman. Francheska returns home to Russia happily single and back on her farm with her keeping in touch with Morgan. Emily is accepted by Morgan's parents and Morgan is finally happy he has a family once again.

Production

The film was made in 1985 under the title Home Front directed by Terry Winsor. Four weeks after filming started, Winsor was fired.

Notes

References

  • New York Times review