Just One of the Guys

Last updated

Just One of the Guys
Just one of the guys.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Lisa Gottlieb
Screenplay by
Story byDennis Feldman
Produced byAndrew Fogelson
Starring
Cinematography John McPherson
Edited by Lou Lombardo
Music by Tom Scott
Production
companies
  • Summa Entertainment Group
  • Triton
Distributed by Columbia Pictures
Release date
  • April 26, 1985 (1985-04-26)
Running time
100 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$11.5 million [1]

Just One of the Guys is a 1985 American teen comedy film directed by Lisa Gottlieb and co-written by Dennis Feldman and Jeff Franklin. It is a loose adaptation of William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night . [2] [3] The film stars Joyce Hyser, Clayton Rohner, Billy Jacoby, Toni Hudson, and William Zabka.

Contents

In 2015, the film was ranked number 48 on Entertainment Weekly 's list of the "50 Best High School Movies". [4]

Plot

Terri Griffith is an aspiring teenage journalist in Phoenix, Arizona who feels that her teachers do not take her articles seriously because of her good looks. After failing to obtain her dream job as a newspaper intern, she concludes that it is because she is a girl.

Terri decides to remedy the situation with her parents out of town on a two-week Caribbean vacation. She enrolls as a boy ("Terry") at a rival high school, her real identity known only to her sex-obsessed younger brother, Buddy, and her best friend, Denise. On her first day, she meets Rick Morehouse, a socially awkward transfer student whom she finds attractive. Trying to stay close to Rick, Terri helps him through an image makeover and encourages him to start talking to girls.

After many episodes in and out of school, including fending off a group of bullies led by bodybuilder Greg Tolan, dealing with her real college boyfriend Kevin, and being set up on a blind date with a potential new girlfriend named Sandy, Terri manages to be accepted as "one of the guys."

At the senior prom, a jealous Greg picks a fight with Rick, who ultimately trounces the bully in front of the entire class. When Terri's boyfriend shows up unexpectedly and discovers the ruse, Rick assumes that Terri's big secret is that "Terry" is gay. To prove otherwise, Terri opens her shirt and reveals her breasts to Rick. Although she admits to loving him, Rick rejects her, prompting a desperate Terri to kiss him in front of everyone. To placate the awestruck students, Rick derisively announces that Terri "has tits" before leaving the prom and Terri behind.

Heartbroken and humiliated, Terri retreats to her room and writes a lengthy article on what it is like to be a girl in boys' clothing, detailing all of her good and bad experiences.

Terri returns to her school. When her article is printed in the newspaper, she receives high praise and finally earns her dream job there. Nevertheless, she still yearns for Rick, who has not spoken to her since the prom.

One day during the summer, Rick suddenly turns up after reading her article. Realizing their true feelings for each other, they reconcile and plan another date. They decide to go for a drive in Terri's car, but before Buddy can join them, an attractive blonde on a motorcycle rides up and beckons to him with a smile. Buddy then climbs onto the back of her motorcycle, and both couples happily part ways.

Cast

Production

Principal photography began on October 22, 1984, in Phoenix, Arizona, under the working title I Was a Teenage Boy. [5] According to Lisa Gottlieb, she co-wrote six drafts of the screenplay with her writing partner Mitch Giannunzio, but they were denied writing credit by the producers. [6]

Soundtrack

Just One of the Guys
Soundtrack album by
various artists
Released1985
Genre Rock, pop, R&B
Label Elektra
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg
  1. "Just One of the Guys" by Shalamar – 3:55
  2. "Girls Got Something Boys Ain't Got" by Midnight Star – 3:56
  3. "Tonight You're Mine, Baby" by Ronnie Spector – 4:57
  4. "Prove It to You" by Dwight Twilley – 3:20
  5. "Jealous" by Berlin – 4:23
  6. "Way Down" by Billy Burnette – 3:34
  7. "Burning" by Brock/Davis – 4:20
  8. "Thrills" by Greg French – 3:15
  9. "Hard Way" by Brock/Davis – 4:48
  10. "Guy Talk" by Tom Scott – 2:29

The songs and music that were played in the film, not on the soundtrack.

  1. "Trouble" by Lindsey Buckingham
  2. "Down on the Street" by the Stooges
  3. "Turn Out Right" by Private Domain
  4. "Comb My Hair" by Johnny Lyon
  5. "Buns" by Bonedaddys
  6. "Gone Too Far" by Neurotica

Release

Just One of the Guys was released on April 26, 1985. Although the film was not terribly successful in theaters, it was in heavy rotation on HBO and Cinemax for several years thereafter (airing after Sherilynn Fenn had gained stardom on Twin Peaks in 1990).

Home media

The film was released on Blu-ray Disc under Sony Pictures on April 28, 2020. Special features include filmmaker and cast commentary and theatrical trailer. [7]

Reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 57% based on 14 reviews, with an average rating of 4.8/10. [8] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 57 based on 6 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews. [9]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Zabka</span> American actor (born 1965)

William Michael Zabka is an American actor. He portrayed Johnny Lawrence in The Karate Kid (1984), The Karate Kid Part II (1986) and the TV series Cobra Kai (2018–present).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sherilyn Fenn</span> American actress (born 1965)

Sherilyn Fenn is an American actress. She played Audrey Horne on the television series Twin Peaks for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award and an Emmy Award.

<i>The Gift</i> (2000 film) 2000 American supernatural thriller film

The Gift is a 2000 American supernatural thriller film directed by Sam Raimi, and starring Cate Blanchett, Keanu Reeves, Giovanni Ribisi, Hilary Swank, Katie Holmes, and Greg Kinnear. It centers on a single mother in rural Georgia who becomes involved in a local missing person case after she experiences a psychic vision. The screenplay was written by Billy Bob Thornton and Tom Epperson based on the alleged psychic experiences of Thornton's mother.

Clayton Montague Rohner is an American actor. He made his film debut in the comedy Just One of the Guys (1985), and had subsequent roles in the horror films April Fool's Day (1986), Bat 21 (1988), I, Madman (1989), and The Relic (1997). He had a recurring role on the television series Murder One (1996–1997) and Day Break (2006–2007). In 2017, Rohner guest-starred on the series Ozark.

One of the Guys may refer to:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Jacoby (actor)</span> American actor (born 1969)

William Jayne, known professionally as Billy Jayne and previously Billy Jacoby, is an American actor, known for his roles in the teen comedy film Just One of the Guys (1985) and in the teen sitcom Parker Lewis Can't Lose (1990–1993). His siblings, Robert Jayne, Susan Jayne, Laura Jacoby, as well as his half-brother Scott Jacoby are also actors.

<i>Factory Girl</i> (2006 film) 2006 film by George Hickenlooper

Factory Girl is a 2006 American biographical film directed by George Hickenlooper. It is based on the rapid rise and fall of 1960s underground film star and socialite Edie Sedgwick, known for her association with the artist Andy Warhol.

Joyce Hyser is an American former actress. She is best known for her role in the 1985 cult classic Just One of the Guys and for her recurring role in L.A. Law. In 2012, Hyser turned her focus to writing and producing screenplays, and her last screen role was in 2014's The Wedding Pact.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joyce Van Patten</span> American actress (born 1934)

Joyce Van Patten is an American film and stage actress. She is best known for her roles in films like The Bad News Bears (1976), St. Elmo's Fire (1985), and as Gloria Noonan in Grown Ups (2010).

<i>Bates Motel</i> (film) 1987 made-for-television film directed by Richard Rothstein

Bates Motel is a 1987 American made-for-television supernatural horror film and a spin-off of the Psycho franchise written and directed by Richard Rothstein, starring Bud Cort, Lori Petty, Moses Gunn, Gregg Henry, Jason Bateman, and Kerrie Keane. Outside of the 1998 remake, this is the only installment not to feature Anthony Perkins as Norman Bates as Kurt Paul portrays the character. The film premiered on July 5, 1987. It is a direct sequel to Psycho, ignoring the other sequels.

<i>Carrie</i> (1976 film) Film by Brian De Palma

Carrie is a 1976 American supernatural horror film directed by Brian De Palma from a screenplay written by Lawrence D. Cohen, adapted from Stephen King's 1974 epistolary novel of the same name. The film stars Sissy Spacek as Carrie White, a shy teenage girl who is constantly mocked and bullied at her school. She later develops the power of telekinesis and uses it to wreak vengeance on her tormentors. The film also features Piper Laurie, Amy Irving, Nancy Allen, William Katt, P. J. Soles, Betty Buckley, and John Travolta in supporting roles. It is the first film in the Carrie franchise.

<i>Hello Mary Lou: Prom Night II</i> 1987 film by Bruce Pittman

Hello Mary Lou: Prom Night II is a 1987 Canadian supernatural slasher film directed by Bruce Pittman, written by Ron Oliver, and starring Michael Ironside, Wendy Lyon, Louis Ferreira, and Lisa Schrage. It follows a high school student who becomes possessed by Mary Lou Maloney, a student who died at her high school prom in 1957. A sequel to the slasher film Prom Night (1980), it was originally intended to be a standalone film titled The Haunting of Hamilton High, but was retitled in order to capitalize on the success of the original Prom Night. The only story connection between the two films is that they are set at the same high school. However, both films were executive produced by Peter R. Simpson.

<i>Carrie</i> (musical) 1988 musical

Carrie is a musical with a book by Lawrence D. Cohen, lyrics by Dean Pitchford, and music by Michael Gore. It is based on Stephen King's horror novel of the same name, and integrates elements from the 1976 film adaptation.

<i>Carrie</i> (2002 film) 2002 film by David Carson

Carrie is a 2002 supernatural horror television film, based on the 1974 novel of the same name by Stephen King. It is the second film adaptation and a re-imagining of the novel, and the third film in the Carrie franchise. The film was written by Bryan Fuller, directed by David Carson, and stars Angela Bettis in the leading role. In the story, Carrie White, a shy girl who is harassed by her schoolmates, disappears and a series of flashbacks reveal what has happened to her.

<i>The War Between Men and Women</i> 1972 film by Melville Shavelson

The War Between Men and Women is a 1972 American comedy-drama film directed by Melville Shavelson and starring Jack Lemmon, Barbara Harris, and Jason Robards. The film is based on the writings of humorist James Thurber, and was released by Cinema Center Films. It features animated cartoons interspersed in the story based on Thurber's works. Shavelson was creator of the 1969 Thurber-based television series My World and Welcome to It. The screenplay is by Shavelson and by Danny Arnold, who also worked on the 1969 series. Lisa Gerritsen, who plays Linda Kozlenko in the film, previously co-starred in My World and Welcome to It as Lydia Monroe.

<i>Fear City</i> 1984 film by Abel Ferrara

Fear City is a 1984 American neo-noir erotic thriller film directed by Abel Ferrara and starring Tom Berenger, Billy Dee Williams, Jack Scalia, and Melanie Griffith. The screenplay was written by longtime Ferrara collaborator Nicholas St. John.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joyce Jameson</span> American actress (1927–1987)

Joyce Jameson was an American actress, known for many television roles, including recurring guest appearances as Skippy, one of the "fun girls" in the 1960s television series The Andy Griffith Show as well as "the Blonde" in the Academy Award-winning The Apartment (1960).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gladys Egan</span> American actress (1900–1985)

Gladys Egan was an early 20th-century American child actress, who between 1907 and 1914 performed professionally in theatre productions as well as in scores of silent films. She began her brief entertainment career appearing on the New York stage as well as in plays presented across the country by traveling companies. By 1908 she also started working in the film industry, where for six years she acted almost exclusively in motion pictures for the Biograph Company of New York. The vast majority of her screen roles during that period were in shorts directed by D. W. Griffith, who cast her in over 90 of his releases. While most of Egan's films were produced by Biograph, she did work for other motion-picture companies between 1911 and 1914, such as the Reliance Film Company and Independent Moving Pictures. By 1916, Egan's acting career appears to have ended, and she no longer was being mentioned in major trade journals or included in published studio personnel directories as a regularly employed actor. Although she may have performed as an extra or in some bit parts after 1914, no available filmographies or entertainment publications from the period cite Egan in any screen or stage role after that year.

<i>Tween Academy: Class of 2012</i> 2011 Filipino film

Tween Academy: Class of 2012 is a 2011 Filipino teen comedy film directed by Mark A. Reyes V. It was produced by GMA Pictures and SM Development Corporation. The film was based on the series Tween Hearts, and stars Joshua Dionisio, Barbie Forteza, Jake Vargas, Bea Binene, Joyce Ching, Kristofer Martin, Lexi Fernandez, Derrick Monasterio and Louise delos Reyes, all in different roles, with Alden Richards and Elmo Magalona joining the cast. The film was released August 24, 2011.

<i>Carrie</i> (2013 film) 2013 film by Kimberly Peirce

Carrie is a 2013 American supernatural horror film directed by Kimberly Peirce. It is the third film adaptation and a remake of the 1976 adaptation of Stephen King's 1974 novel of the same name and the fourth film in the Carrie franchise. The film was produced by Kevin Misher, with a screenplay by Lawrence D. Cohen and Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa. The film stars Chloë Grace Moretz as the titular character Carrie White, alongside Julianne Moore as Margaret White. The cast also features Judy Greer, Portia Doubleday, Gabriella Wilde, Ansel Elgort and Alex Russell. The film is a modern re-imagining of King's novel about a shy girl outcast by her peers and sheltered by her deeply religious mother, who uses her telekinetic powers with devastating effect after falling victim to a cruel prank at her senior prom.

References

  1. "Just One of the Guys (1985)". Box Office Mojo . Retrieved April 1, 2024.
  2. Wong, Aaron (January 4, 2013). "Fifty Most Iconic Gender Benders of All Time – Joyce Hyser in Just One of the Guys (1985)" . The Cut . Archived from the original on March 30, 2014. Retrieved March 8, 2014.
  3. Lewsen, Simon (June 3, 2013). "Shakespeare Helps Us Fumble Through Life". Hazlitt . Archived from the original on December 29, 2013. Retrieved March 8, 2014.
  4. "50 best high school movies". Entertainment Weekly . August 28, 2015.
  5. "Just One of the Guys (1985)". AFI Catalog of Feature Films . Retrieved April 1, 2024.
  6. Wood, Jennifer M. (May 26, 2014). "18 Things You Might Not Know About Just One of the Guys". Mental Floss . Retrieved December 20, 2018.
  7. "Just one of the guys (1985) Blu-ray USA". Blu-ray.com. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  8. "Just One of the Guys". Rotten Tomatoes .
  9. "Just One of the Guys". Metacritic .