I always enjoyed Anthony Michael Hall in the numerous John
Hughes movies he was involved in. He may not have held center stage but he came
across as an actor that melded into the group picture being presented in such a
way that he actually helped everyone else on screen with him. When he stepped
out of the supporting roles and took on the lead something happened, and not in
a good way.
An early outing as the lead for Hall was JOHNNY BE GOOD, a
comedy that revolved around his being the football hero of a high school being
scouted out by various colleges around the country. I understand that we need
to suspend belief when watching films but after years of playing the weak dork
in movies to suddenly become the high school stud just felt too quick and too
forced.
The problems Johnny faces all revolve around his talents and
those that want to take advantage of them. His coach (Paul Gleason) wants him
to go to a particular school because he’ll get rewarded with a coaching job
there as well, and he’ll do anything he can to make sure Johnny goes there. His
family wants him to get a good education. His girlfriend (Uma Thurman) wants
him to follow her to State so the two of them can stay together. Something
tells me before the film ends he’ll make the right decision.
Along the way each of the colleges that want Johnny court
him in every way imaginable. The offers of money, of an easy schooling, of
wine, women and song are all tossed his way. It’s as if the movie wants to be
an indictment of the way colleges try to recruit talent for their sports teams
but never enough to take on the topic seriously when there’s a way to toss in a
gross out joke or a topless coed instead.
While watching this new to blu-ray release I remembered watching
it back when it was first released. Even then I felt that it was the usual teen
fodder that seemed to follow in Hughes huge footsteps, movies that though the
teen movie craze was all about the most predictable laughs and where kids
always seemed smarter than any adult found on screen. Perhaps that’s the reason
why nearly 30 years later it is Hughes movies that we continue to talk about
and remember more fondly.
All of that being said I can’t actually hate this film.
Sure, it’s not up to the standard set in those classic movies but it does offer
a chance to see starts like Hall, Gleason and Robert Downey Jr. (as Johnny’s
friend) reunited in another movie. It also provides some mindless fun if you’re
looking for something to watch. And it’s also a must have for collectors of
everything made by any of the actors involved. Just know walking in that it’s
not the greatest thing since sliced bread. It’s just a fun movie that might
remind more than one viewer of those days gone by when you walked up and down
the aisles of the local mom and pop video store trying to find something to
watch. And that’s never a bad memory to have.
Click here to order.
No comments:
Post a Comment