A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon

Plot

The teen drama A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon is directed by William Richert, who adapted the screenplay from his own semi-autobiographical novel Aren't You Even Going to Kiss Me Goodbye? Set in a wealthy Chicago suburb during the 1960s, middle-class Jimmy Reardon (River Phoenix) hangs out with his upper-class best friend, Fred Roberts (Matthew Perry), and sleeps with Fred's snobby girlfriend, Denise Hunter (Ione Skye). He spends his time writing poetry and drinking coffee while he decides what to do after high school. His parents won't help him pay for tuition unless he attends the same business college as his father did, but Jimmy doesn't want to follow that path. Instead, he focuses on coming up with enough money for a plane ticket to go to Hawaii with his wealthy yet chaste girlfriend, Lisa Bentwright (Meredith Salenger). On the night of a big party, Jimmy is given the task of driving home his mother's divorced friend, Joyce Fickett (Ann Magnuson), who conveniently seduces him. Since he is late picking up Lisa, she goes to the dance with the rich Matthew Hollander (Jason Court) instead. Jimmy then crashes the family car and shares an intimate rapprochement with his father (Paul Koslo). ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi

Review

A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon suffers from taking itself too seriously while lacking the light comic touch of other teen movie classics. However, it does have teen idol River Phoenix as a leading man and a standard romantic plot with a requisite prom-style finale. One major drawback is the historical anachronisms; the setting of the 1960s is almost at odds with the totally '80s plot, characters, and costuming. Some may view Jimmy's confused acts of desperation as selfish and pretentious, but others may appreciate a teen movie that deals with the consequences of random sexual encounters with dramatic possibilities rather than gross-out comedy. Jimmy is written as a lovable rascal, and as played by Phoenix, his attraction is intensified even as his behavior gets worse. Ann Magnuson is well-cast as the fashionable divorcée Joyce Fickett, almost turning the story from a coming-of-age drama to a wish-fulfillment fantasy. The other supporting performances don't fare as well, with future Friends star Matthew Perry completely forgettable as the upper-class teen Fred Roberts. What matters here is River Phoenix, who enjoyed a large and loyal fan base at the time of release (even though he later supposedly regretted making the film). ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi

Cast

• River Phoenix - Jimmy Reardon
• Ann Magnuson - Joyce Fickett
• Meredith Salenger - Lisa Bentwright
• Ione Skye - Denise Hunter
• Louanne - Suzie Middleberg

Paul Koslo - Al Reardon; Matthew Perry - Fred Roberts; Jane Hallaren - Faye Reardon; Jason Court - Mathew Hollander; Marji Banks - Emma Spaulding; James Deuter - Linus Spaulding; Anastasia Fielding - Elaine; Johnny Galecki - Toby Reardon; Kamie Harper - Rosie Reardon; Craig Huston - Waiter; Regan Andreas - Sailor Cap; Kurt Bjorling - Musician; Alan Goldsher - Musician; Jack McLaughlin-Gray - Carnation; E.J. Murray - Alice; Lisa Stodder - Coffee House Girl; Kristin Weithas - Coffee House Girl; Melva Williams - Maid; Mark Winsten - Red Blazer; Margaret Moore - Mrs. Bentwright

Credit

John R. Jensen - Art Director, Elisabeth Leustig - Casting, Bobby Wells - Choreography, Richard H. Prince - Co-producer, Robert de Mora - Costume Designer, Craig Huston - First Assistant Director, William Richert - Director, Suzanne Fenn - Editor, Noel Marshall - Executive Producer, Elmer Bernstein - Composer (Music Score), Bill Conti - Composer (Music Score), Elmer Bernstein - Songwriter, Don Black - Songwriter, Gregory Carroll - Songwriter, Les Cooper - Songwriter, Steve Cropper - Songwriter, Bo Diddley - Songwriter, John Lee Hooker - Songwriter, Alan Jackson, Jr. - Songwriter, Booker T. Jones - Songwriter, Deadric Malone - Songwriter, Doris Payne - Songwriter, Louis Steinberg - Songwriter, Rodger Jacobs - Makeup, Paul Von Brack - Camera Operator, Rick Anderson - Camera Operator, Norman Newberry - Production Designer, John Connor - Cinematographer, Russell Schwartz - Producer, Hilton Rosemarin - Set Designer, Curtiss Smith - Special Effects, Scott D. Smith - Sound Recordist, Rick LeFevour - Stunts, Geof Brewer - Stunts, Stacy Logan - Stunts, William Richert - Screenwriter, Erich Wolfgang Korngold - Featured Music, William Richert - Book Author

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