Main Cast: Sarah Jessica Parker, Lee Montgomery, Morgan Woodward, Jonathan Silverman, Helen Hunt, Holly Gagnier, Ed Lauter
Release Year: 1985
Country: US
Run Time: 90 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
Plot
On her first day at an all-girls Catholic High School in Chicago, shy and reserved Janey Glenn (Sarah Jessica Parker) meets the wild and wacky Lynne Sands (Helen Hunt). Even though her oppressive dad, Col. Glenn (Ed Lauter), won't let her go, Lynne talks her into sneaking out to try out for a spot on the beloved show Dance TV. Janey wows the judges with her gymnastic ability and makes first cuts, conveniently assigned to a cute dance partner: blue-collar bad boy Jeff Malene (Lee H. Montgomery). They compete against the bratty rich girl Natalie Sands (Holly Gagnier), who sabotages them because she wants Jeff and the contest for herself. Janey and Lynne get revenge by inviting punks and street kids to crash her debutante ball. Natalie then resorts to making her wealthy industrialist dad, J.P. Sands (Morgan Woodward), threaten Jeff; If he doesn't let Natalie win, his dad (Biff Yeager) could lose his job at the factory. It all leads up to the live television broadcast of the Dance TV contest, right when Janey's dad races to the studio to stop her. Also starring Shannen Doherty as Jeff's little sister, Maggie. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
Review
Several young stars made breakthrough performances in the 1985 teen movie Girls Just Want to Have Fun. Seemingly made to cash in on the popularity of MTV and music videos with a ripoff version of the Cyndi Lauper title song, this fun and frivolous movie contains the total package of preteen girl wish fulfillment. Though it seems like a strange casting decision in retrospect, Sarah Jessica Parker is the good girl and Helen Hunt is her uninhibited and helpful friend. Both give decent performances that are totally appropriate to the laughable lines they deliver, although Hunt does get to do the famous scene where she makes a blow torch out of a lighter and aerosol can of hair spray. Parker and Montgomery enjoy a silly romance and the logistics of the dance contest drop to hilarious levels. Destined for TV stardom, Shannen Doherty brings her bratty energy to the role of the little girl who just wants to be grown up, while comic relief Jonathan Silverman adds just enough perverted quirks to make this tame story into a real teen movie. The whole thing is just an excuse for endless dance sequences to the tune of generic pop-rock to dance along with, most likely on home video during sleepovers. Upon release it was instant gratification for the most base forms of girly desires, and it remains solidly entertaining as nostalgia for the fashion, music, and strangely absurd values of the '80s. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
Shannen Doherty - Maggie Malene; Biff Yeager - Mr. Malene; Ian Giatti - Zachary Glenn; Margaret Howell - Mrs. Glenn; Terry McGovern - Ira; Richard Blade - DTV Host; Robin Antin - Dancer; Mark Caso - Wolf; Charene Cathleen - Patty; Scott Coffey - Dancer; Candice Daly - Girl in Hallway; Stuart Fratkin - Sam; Larry Gelman - Tailor; Cynthia Gibb; Kirk Hansen - Dancer; Steve La Chance - Ben Wolpert; Annie Livingstone - Dancer; Phineas Newborn III - Quarterback Dancer; Tita Omeze - Dancer; Regan Patno - Dancer; J.W. Smith - Police Officer; Kristi Somers - Rikki; Zoe Trilling - Dancer; Paris Vaughan - Dancer; Lee Arnone - Mrs. Lemsky; Alison Brown - Featured Dancer-Gymnast; Shaun Bryant - Dave; Deanna Claire - Tiffany; Olive Dunbar - Sister Kathleen; Valerie Grear - Sister Immaculata; Noreen Hennessy - Carol; Mika - School Girl; John Moore - Dancer; Jim Ruttman - Dancer; Sharon Shayne - Choir Sister; Mark Slama - Dancer; Cecilie A. Stuart - Featured Dancer; Susan Styles - Sally; Linda Talcott - Dancer; Amelia Kinkade - Dancer; Michael Higgins - Featured Dancer
Credit
Christopher Amy - Art Director, Otis Sallid - Choreography, Janis Hirsch - Consultant/advisor, Betty Pecha Madden - Costume Designer, Alan Metter - Director, Lorenzo de Stefano - Editor, David Rawlins - Editor, Stuart Cornfeld - Executive Producer, Thomas Newman - Composer (Music Score), Don Perry - Musical Direction/Supervision, Marti Sharron - Songwriter, Richard Arrington - Makeup, Sarina Rotstein - Production Designer, Jeff Staggs - Production Designer, Thomas E. Ackerman - Cinematographer, Chuck Russell - Producer, Gregory Melton - Set Designer, Adams Calvert - Special Effects, Robert Calvert - Special Effects, Al Jones - Stunts, Amy Spies - Screenwriter, Marti Sharron - Musical Performer, Robert Hazard - Featured Music
Janey (Sarah Jessica Parker) is an army brat who is thrilled when her father (and the rest of the family) are transferred to Chicago, the home of her favorite dance show Dance TV. She and new friend Lynne (Helen Hunt) are excited when the show announces an audition for new talent. Defying her strict and conservative dad, Janey auditions and gets into the finals. She finds herself paired up with dreamboat Jeff (Lee Montgomery) who unfortunately catches the eye of rich girl, Natalie (Holly Gagnier). Jeff on the other hand reluctantly auditions because of the opportunity presented by his entrepreneurial best friend Drew (Jonathan Silverman). Despite her father's objections, and Natalie's manipulations, Janey is determined to win the spot.
A young Shannen Doherty co-stars in this film as Jeff's bratty younger sister. An uncredited Gina Gershon appears as a dancer at the Dance TV auditions, along with actor Scott Coffey.
Cyndi Lauper's version of "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" does not play in this film. Instead a cover of the song by unknowns Deborah Galli, Tami Holbrook, and Meredith Marshall is featured.
