Main Cast: Mary Tyler Moore, Christine Lahti, Ted Danson, Sam Waterston, Salome Jens
Release Year: 1986
Country: US
Run Time: 120 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG13
Plot
A timid aerobics instructor learns that her new best friend is also her husband's mistress in this domestic drama starring Mary Tyler Moore. Suffering from a bit of empty-nest syndrome as her children pass through adolescence, indecisive homemaker Holly Davis (Moore) reluctantly accepts a part-time gig teaching exercise classes for frazzled gym owner Helga (Salome Jens). There, she meets struggling, independent-minded broadcast journalist Sandy Dunlap (Christine Lahti) and they quickly become thick as thieves. As it turns out, though, Sandy is actually an adulteress -- she's engaged in a clandestine affair with Chip (Ted Danson), Holly's seismologist husband. Chip loves both women and wants to continue seeing Sandy, but she breaks things off with him now that she knows his wife. When Chip dies suddenly, Sandy helps Holly cope and finances Phase Two of her life as the new owner of Helga's aerobics center. Unfortunately, though, evidence of Chip's infidelity lies around just waiting to be discovered. In the end, it's up to Chip's friend Harry Crandall (Sam Waterson) -- who's been nursing a crush on Holly for years -- to help a pregnant Sandy and a heartbroken Holly come to terms with their complicated friendship. Just Between Friends marked the directorial debut of screenwriter Allan Burns. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
Review
Although it features appealing leads and stabs at feminist empowerment, this made-for-cable melodrama layers on too many implausibilities and mixed messages to transcend its TV-movie origins. Despite her almost superhuman likability, Mary Tyler Moore fails to drag her housewife character out of the kitchen. Uncertain of herself and incapable of taking charge, Moore's Holly Davis is more June Cleaver than Laura Petrie, let alone Mary Richards. Christine Lahti does invest her hardworking career woman with sardonic grit, but the character's self-sabatoging romantic tendencies and standard-issue career pitfalls reflect the script's deep ambivalence about women's roles. The subplot involving Holly and Sandy's decision to open a business together seems to herald some sort of definitive statement, but the focus then suddenly shifts into unexpected pregnancy and unlikely romance. Ted Danson and Sam Waterson are more than capable of doing what little is required of them. But as the title suggests, this is really the story of two star-crossed best girlfriends -- a duo whose story, although rich in dishy plot details, proves unsatisfying both emotionally and politically. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
Jane Greer - Ruth Chadwick; Susan Rinell - Kim Davis; Timothy Gibbs - Jeff Davis; Diane Stilwell - Carla; James MacKrell - Bill; Andra Akers - Andrea; Lewis Arquette - TV Station Guard; Mark Blum - George Margolin; Darwyn Carson - Janet; Chet Collins - Stage Manager; Jeannie Elias - Marci; Castulo Guerra - Sportscaster; Terri Hanauer - Woman in Shower; Joshua Harris - Boy with Runny Nose; Robert Kino - Mr. Hasegawa; Christina Kokubo - Nurse; Read Morgan - Charlie; Julie Payne - Karen; Gary Riley - Clerk in Ice Cream Shop; Robert Rothwell - Bill; Beverly Sanders - Judy; George D. Wallace - Bob Chadwick; Lisle Wilson - Newswriter; Helene Winston - Woman in Ice Cream Shop; John Terry Bell - Minister; Brigette Desper - Heather; Tiffany Desper - Heather; Dorothy Francis - Herself; Leslie Ann Rieder - Candy Striper; Leda Siskind - Coffee Shop Waitress; Suzanne Wishner - Receptionist at Gym
Credit
Cynthia Bales - Costume Designer, Allan Burns - Director, Anne Goursaud - Editor, Patrick Williams - Composer (Music Score), Patrick Williams - Musical Direction/Supervision, Richard Blair - Makeup, Hallie Smith-Simmons - Makeup, Sydney Z. Litwack - Production Designer, Jordan S. Cronenweth - Cinematographer, Allan Burns - Producer, Edward Teets - Producer, Chris A. Butler - Set Designer, Bruce Weintraub - Set Designer, Eric Rylander - Special Effects, Allan Burns - Screenwriter
Holly Davis is a wife and mother, happily married to Dr. Chip Davis, a seismologist. She isn't aware that Chip is having an affair with Sandy Dunlap, a television news reporter who interviewed him after a quake.
Sandy is career-minded, trying to become an anchorwoman at the station run by George Margolin. One day at work, a news bulletin reveals the death of Dr. Davis in a plane crash.
Holly is devastated. On top of that, she and Sandy have become friends, Sandy unaware that Chip was her husband. Holly's children like Sandy as well.
Holly begins teaching aerobics part-time at a gym. She also is consoled by Chip's best friend, Harry Crandall, who perhaps has secretly been in love with her.
The truth is revealed to Holly's shock one day as she clears out her husband's desk at work. She learns of his affair with Sandy and angrily ends their friendship.
Sandy begs for forgiveness, while Harry begins to demonstrate his interest in Holly.
