Just One of the Guys (1985)

Director:

Lisa Gottlieb

Writers:

Dennis Feldman (screenplay) and
Jeff Franklin (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

26 April 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

Terry Griffith is about to go where no woman has gone before.

Plot:

Terry Griffith has got it all -- looks, popularity, the perfect college boyfriend, and an article that's...

Plot Keywords:

Undercover Journalist | Brunette | Cult | High School Newspaper | Wedgie

Awards:

3 nominations

Cast

Joyce Hyser	...	Terry Griffith
Clayton Rohner	...	Rick Morehouse
Billy Jayne	...	Buddy Griffith (as Billy Jacoby)
Toni Hudson	...	Denise
William Zabka	...	Greg Tolan
Leigh McCloskey	...	Kevin
Sherilyn Fenn	...	Sandy
Deborah Goodrich	...	Deborah
Arye Gross	...	Willie
Robert Fieldsteel	...	Phil
Stuart Charno	...	Reptile
John Apicella	...	Coach Mickey Morrison
Kenneth Tigar	...	Mr. Raymaker
Steven Basil	...	Mark (as Steve Basil)
J. Williams	...	Julian & Prom Band - Brock / Davis

Runtime:

90 min | Sweden:100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | Iceland:L | Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Sweden:11 | USA:PG-13 | West Germany:12 | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Arcadia, Phoenix, Arizona, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

Sandy mentions that Terry looks like the Karate Kid. William Zabka, playing school bully Greg, appeared as the bully in The Karate Kid (1984).

Goofs:

Continuity: Terry's cup of punch at the prom has a frog in it. In the close-up, the frog has completely changed positions and is a much lighter color of green before returning to its original position and color in the wide shot.

Quotes:

Buddy: [on the phone] Hey yo scumbag! Suck your own! Eat me.
[Terry stares at him in bewilderment]
Buddy: Mom says 'hi.'

Movie Connections:

References "60 Minutes" (1968)

Soundtrack:

Way Down

A slice of 80s life, but not a laugh riot

The 1980s were full of role-reversal comedies where black became white, father became son, rich became poor, old became young, male became female. "Just One Of The Guys" expands on the latter theme, suggesting the best way to battle rampant sex discrimination is to switch sides. "Valley Girl" and "Spinal Tap" veteran Joyce Hyser was already pushing 30 when she starred as teenager "Terry/Terri," whose rapturous beauty made her a reject in the beauty-hating world of high school journalism, but somehow didn't keep her from passing as a guy who looks eerily like Ralph Macchio.

The expected "Three's Company"-esquire comic misunderstandings arise, where "Terry" has to hide being in love with "his" new best friend Rick, but must also constantly avoid boy-crazy stalker Sherilyn Fenn. The film takes such tortured pains to avoid the merest hint of homosexuality that the results are sometimes a little painful to watch.

The film has funny moments, though, and through its extensive location shooting at Coronado and Scottsdale High Schools in Scottsdale, Arizona, it perhaps inadvertently captures a genuine slice of teenage life, 1985-style. (Not that at age 16 I was an uncredited extra in this movie or anything like that.)

For sheer 80s teen movie nostalgia, give "Just One Of The Guys" a chance, if you come across it on TV. It's not Shakespeare, but it's better than watching C. Thomas Howell as a black man.