'Porky's' forever!

It is difficult to convey the seismic impact Porky’s had on audiences – especially teenagers – when it was released in 1982. If you happened to be an adolescent at the time and managed to sneak in to see the incredibly raunchy, R-rated film, I bet you can still remember the experience clearly: The shock of the rampant nudity on display, the gales of laughter that drowned out the dialogue during the funniest scenes, the sheer brazenness of an exploitation comedy that went further – much, much further – than any that came before it. Comparing Porky’s to, say, American Pie, doesn’t do justice to the way the movie impacted the popular culture of its time.

Porky’s hasn’t aged particularly well. I watched it again recently for nostalgia’s sake and found it mostly crude, amateurish and tinged with subtle racism, although a couple of sequences still crack me up. But the film’s place in cinematic history as a B-movie classic that broke through to the mainstream cannot be denied.

Porky’s was shot in various locations around South Florida, and as part of the celebration of its 25th anniversary this year, the Fort Lauderdale International Festival is hosting a Porky’s Cast and Crew Class Reunion at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Cinema Paradiso, 503 SE Sixth St., Fort Lauderdale. Anyone who had a hand in the film’s production in any capacity – from extras to grips – is invited to attend the screening and afterparty to share their memories of the making of the movie. Tickets are $7 for the general public, $5 for festival members and free for Porky’s veterans (proof of ID required; call ahead to reserve a seat). For more info, visit www.fliff.com or call 954-525-3456.

Also as part of the 75th anniversary celebration of 20th Century Fox, the studio that released Porky’s, a dedication ceremony will be held Thursday at 2 p.m. at McGowan’s Lounge and Restaurant, 298 Arizona Street, Hollywood, where scenes from Porky’s were films. The studio will conmemorate the eatery as a Hometown Hollywood location. The event is free and open to the public. Discounted tickets for Saturday’s screening will also be sold at the restaurant for $5.

This story was originally published September 1, 2010 at 1:09 AM.