Just Between Friends (1986)

User Rating:

5.7/10   

Director:

Allan Burns

Writer:

Allan Burns (writer)

Release Date:

21 March 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

They loved. They laughed. They lied. All in the name of friendship.

Plot:

Holly and Sandy strike up an instant friendship; they don't know however that they have more in common than they'd like...

Plot Keywords:

Independent Film

Cast

Mary Tyler Moore	...	Holly Davis
Julie Payne	...	Karen
Beverly Sanders	...	Judy
Salome Jens	...	Helga
Ted Danson	...	Chip Davis
Read Morgan	...	Charlie
Christine Lahti	...	Sandy Dunlap
Sam Waterston	...	Harry Crandall
Susan Rinell	...	Kim Davis
Timothy Gibbs	...	Jeff Davis
Diane Stilwell	...	Carla
Jim McKrell	...	Bill
Chet Collins	...	Stage Manager
Castulo Guerra	...	Sportscaster
Mark Blum	...	George Margolin

Also Known As:

Something in Common (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

110 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Iceland:L | Australia:M | Finland:K-12 | Sweden:Btl | USA:PG-13

Company:

MTM Enterprises

Quotes:

[last lines]
Sandy Dunlap: Who gave you those shoes?
Holly Davis: A friend... an old friend.
Sandy Dunlap: Well, she has terrific taste. But who picked out the rest of your outfit?

Movie Connections:

Features H.O.T.S. (1979)

Unfairly overlooked

The director allows his film to run on well after it has made it's point but it's punchy and immediate in a sitcom kind of way. Cast is great, especially the incomparable Lahti as a no nonsense tv reporter. Biting script has its moments. When asked by her grandmother to sing with the choir, Chip's daughter complains that she's atheist. "So? You can hum" replies grandma. The scene where the two illicit lovers accidently meet at a family dinner is a priceless gem, especially Danson being so distracted he puts the milk in the cupboard. A touching near fable on the need for forgiveness.