Johnny Be Good (1988)

It's recruiting time and despite being short and scrawny, Johnny Walker is America's hottest young football prospect. His dilemma: should he take one of the many offers from college talent ... See full summary »

Director:

Bud S. Smith

Writers:

Steve Zacharias, Jeff Buhai,

Stars:

Anthony Michael Hall, Robert Downey Jr., Paul Gleason

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Anthony Michael Hall	...	Johnny Walker
Robert Downey Jr.	...	Leo Wiggins
Paul Gleason	...	Wayne Hisler
Uma Thurman	...	Georgia Elkans
Steve James	...	Coach Sanders
Seymour Cassel	...	Wallace Gibson
Michael Greene	...	Tex Wade
Marshall Bell	...	Chief Elkans
Deborah May	...	Mrs. Walker
Michael Alldredge	...	Vinny Kroll
Jennifer Tilly	...	Connie Hisler
Jon Stafford	...	Bad Breath
Peter Koch	...	Pete Andropolous
Howard Cosell	...	Himself
Jim McMahon	...	Himself

Storyline

It's recruiting time and despite being short and scrawny, Johnny Walker is America's hottest young football prospect. His dilemma: should he take one of the many offers from college talent scouts or should he attend the local state college with his girlfriend and give up his football career?

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Plot Keywords:

football | future | reference to john wayne | popularity | food | 

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Taglines:

Every college in the country wants Johnny. 'Cause when he's good he's very very good. And when he's bad he's better.

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Genres:

Comedy | Sport

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 March 1988 (USA)

Also Known As:

Johnny portate bien...

Filming Locations:

Georgetown, Texas, USA

Box Office

Gross:

$17,550,399 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Orion Pictures Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

During a scene where Johnny (Anthony Michael Hall) is drumming, you can clearly see a Charlie Chaplin poster. Robert Downey Jr., who plays Leo Wiggins, played Charlie Chaplin in the movie titled Chaplin.

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Quotes

Johnny Walker: [in agony] I broke my dick, Coach.

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Connections

Referenced in Mystery Science Theater 3000: Bride of the Monster (1993)

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Soundtracks

"It's Not the Way You Rock"
Written and Performed by Dirty Looks

User Reviews

Underrated 80's comedy

I'm surprised at the negativity. It's a great dumb comedy with a tiny bit of morality thrown in. The recruitment tactics may not be an exaggeration of reality - trying to schmooze the all-American QB.

How is it possible that Yes Man averages a 7 out of 10 and this movie is a 4.? Yes Man was barely watchable.

The cast was perfect and the movie probably wouldn't have worked without them. Robert Downey Jr.'s character is so disturbed and hilarious. It seems to be a carryover from his role in Back to School. Which is another great 80's comedy. Uma Thurman is so cute in one of her first acting roles. Paul Gleason plays is a-hole character to perfection.

Maybe I am just old enough to still love the John Hughes-style high school comedies of the 1980's. This isn't the best of breed, but definitely worth enjoying.