One of the charms of the direct-to-video film is the opportunity it offers to rediscover some of those long-lost figures from your past, those guilty pleasures that allow you to relive your callow youth. Treehouse Hostage boasts Richard Kline. You might remember him as Jack Tripper's best buddy Larry on Three's Company. It also features Debby Boone -- Pat Boone's daughter, whose 1977 schmaltzy blend of love song and spiritual "You Light Up My Life" spent more weeks at number one than any song for over two decades. The latter looks Absolutely Fabulous, while the former has aged so significantly as to be virtually unrecognisable.
The real "Didn't he used to be somebody?" of this video is Jim "Hey Vern!" Varney. After a series of career-debilitating Ernest Goes To... movies, one can be forgiven for thinking that Varney had given up his showbiz career. But here he is in Treehouse Hostage. Unfortunately, it is not likely to resurrect his flagging fortunes in film.
Timmy Taylor is a computer whiz who specialises in avoiding his homework, water gunning the neighbourhood females and humiliating his principal as well as local police officers. In short, he's every kid's secret role model and every parent's white-knuckle fear. Jim Varney plays Carl Banks, an escaped prisoner who stumbles into Timmy's treehouse security system. This is a treehouse to die for, equipped with computers, security system, video camera, winch, stockade, and an unending supply of helium. Banks ends up the prisoner of Timmy and his two treehouse buddies, Stevie and Buddy. Needing a current events project to avoid summer school, Timmy decides to keep convict Carl to use as his project.
The story is clearly aimed at eight to10 year olds, and seems to have been written by some as well. The story has the requisite jokes involving bodily functions, cross-dressing and slapstick mayhem. The real question is not "is this stupid?" because of course it is, but "is this malicious?" and the answer is certainly "no." While it is not a film anybody over 12 could find enjoyable, those in its target range may find enough to keep themselves amused, and there is nothing offensive or cruel in any of the antics or characterisations. In short, Treehouse Hostage is certainly drivel. But at least it is harmless drivel, so I guess we should count our blessings.
