Where the Day Takes You (1992) User Reviews

Barely surviving obscurity when it deserves so much more. (spoilers)

[vertigo_14 · 7/10 · 3 February 2005]

'Where the Day Takes You' is a highly underrated drama that seems to only survive via word-of-mouth as one of those odd early 90s well-done social commentary films with a solid (and mostly then-unknown) cast.

There were several movies in the late 80s and early 90s that looked at homelessness and runaways, though some of these were human interest documentaries. 'Where the Day Takes You' portrays the commonly ignored castaways in a more honest way than say, the major headlines playing up the situation every once in a while. It offers no forgiveness for who they are and demands no sympathy (well...not much...the narrative is bound by certain elements to make its point). Most of all, unlike similar stories, this one does not dare acquiesce to the Hollywood happy ending nor any other trappings of the Hollywood industry.

The title says it all of our characters, an assortment of runaways living on the streets of Los Angeles, bonded together as something of an unofficial family. For the most part, they aspire to no certain future, and live according to 'Where the Day Takes You.' Mulroney is King, the oldest of the group recently released from prison. Lara Flynn Boyle is Heather, new to the town and one to eventually instill some sort of direction in King (and others) after several disastrous and violent incidents befall the group.

This hard-to-find movie is really worth watching (though plug your ears at the Melissa Etheridge soundtrack moments), and one that deserves more credit as part of these actors histories.

never heard of this

[SnoopyStyle · 7/10 · 27 May 2020]

A social worker (Laura San Giacomo) interviews King (Dermot Mulroney) about his life on the Hollywood streets as a part of a program for his parole. It's a world of drugs, prostitution, petty crimes, and outright violence. Greg (Sean Astin), Little J (Balthazar Getty), crippled Manny (Will Smith), Crasher, and Brenda (Ricki Lake) are some of his street friends. Brenda brings along new girl Heather (Lara Flynn Boyle). King is out of county looking for his girlfriend Devon who has gone missing. Ted (Kyle MacLachlan) is Greg's drug dealer.

There are a lot of big names from the 90's and beyond. There is also Alyssa Milano, David Arquette, Christian Slater among others. I'm surprised that I've never heard of this movie but these old indies can slip by. It's hard to be ultra-realism when there are so many named actors but this has the simple grim reality. It's not too flashy. The plot is a bit scattered with a lot of different characters. I would like a story with a more distinct direction and more agency. I would make Tommy Ray a more concentration of King's attention and he could be the central target of the plot. Overall, it's interesting to see some of these actors pop up in this indie.

Most inappropriate soundtrack in cinema history

[mailofthefuture · 5/10 · 18 November 2020]

A movie about young tough homeless gangs on the street in Hollywood in the early 90s. So which artist did they choose for the soundtrack to give it that early 90's westcoast street cred: Eazy-E, Ice-Cibe, Snoop, Dre? None of the above. Instead, who dominated the soundtrack with 5 songs playing every 10 minutes unnecessarily and annoyingly the entire movie? Melissa Etheridge. WHAT COULD THEY POSSIBLY HAVE BEEN THINKING???? Other than that, there were some decent young acting performances that would have made the movie worth watching, still probably would be if you're a true movie connoisseur. But trying to give it a street vibe, with the direction they consciously chose for this soundtrack, it's inescapable laughter trying to take this movie seriously. And that was the ultimate direction and intention for it. So it might be worth watching just to laugh at how hilarious it misses the mark almost a full 30 years later. I didn't see it until decades after it came out but lived in that era. I am fully confident I would have found it equally hilarious back then even as a 12 year old

Just a flat out great movie

[Castor-5 · 5 February 2000]

I pretty much rented this movie because the cast on the cover was rather impressive, and one of the people I work for told me it was really good. All I can say is, those people that raved about Kids have no idea what they are talking about, this is a much more realistic and true look at life on the street than Kids ever was. Small parts from Will Smith and Alyssa Milano (you won't recognize her till you see her name in the credits at the end) stand out strongly and Sean Astin gives a very good performance that is unlike most of the films you would see him in (Rudy for example). I really don't want to give away anything about the plot because I rented it not knowing hardly anything about it and I think that's the way it should be watched. This is just a flat out great movie.

Life on the Streets of Los Angeles

[claudio_carvalho · 6/10 · 9 February 2007]

In Los Angeles, the gang of teenagers leaded by King (Dermot Mulroney) survives on the streets begging, prostituting and stealing money. Among King's best friends are Little J (Balthazar Getty), who is a gay prostitute; Greg (Sean Astin), who is drug addicted capable of stealing to buy drugs with the dealer Ted (Kyle MacLachlan); and the paralytic Manny (Will Smith). When the newcomer and runaway from Chicago Heather (Lara Flynn Boyle) meets King, they fall in love for each other. But when Little J kills Tommy Ray to protect King, he is falsely accused of murder and chased by the police, with tragic consequences.

"Where the Day Takes You" approaches an important and delicate theme, the life of teenagers on the streets, but unfortunately following the glamour and asepsis of Hollywood movies. A couple of weeks ago, I saw the German movie "Engel & Joe", which has a similar storyline, but in a very realistic view and with a beautiful non-commercial final message of hope and peace. In "Where the Day Takes You", actors and actresses are handsome and beautiful, there is no message in the end, and it is almost a kind of incentive for teenagers with problem with their families to run away home, provided they do not use smack or buy a gun. The soundtrack with wonderful songs of Melissa Etheridge is excellent. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "A Lei de Cada Dia" ("The Law of Each Day")

Amazing soundtrack

[Paulo_Werlang · 7/10 · 29 January 2019]

The soundtrack is amazing! Movie per se is good enough.

Interesting First Movie For Will Smith

[slightlymad22 · 7/10 · 27 November 2017]

Having finished my look book at the career of Tom Cruise to date, I have decided to do Will Smith next, as I owned most of them anyway, but have not seen a movie of his (except Suicide Squad) since the awful After Earth.

Where The Day Takes You (1991)

Plot In A Paragraph: A group of teenage runaways try to survive on the streets of L.A

What a cast, what performances, what a great little movie. How had I never heard of this?? If anything it suffers from his famous most of its cast became through various TV and film roles.

Dermot Mulroney is the main actor here as The King, a sort of leader of the runaways. Sean Astin (in what I now consider his best performance) and Beltzhar Getty are his closest allies, as for Will Smith, he portrays Manny, a legless cripple, who is on the fringes of being in with The King. Riki Lake, Lara Flynn Boyle, Robert Knepper, Adam Baldwin, Alyssa Milano, David Arquette, Kyle MacLachlan and James Le Gros all have roles of varying importance to the plot, but all are fantastic.

Considering the cocky, outgoing public persona Smith was portraying in public at the time, and the light comedic tone of The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air, this was certainly an interesting first movie for Smith.

Despite only a $3 million budget, Where The Day Takes You was a commercial flop, grossing only $390,000 at the domestic box office.

Sorely lacking in authenticity

[=G= · 6/10 · 26 November 2003]

For a Hollywood movie filmed in Hollywood about Hollywood, "Where the Day Takes You" is surprisingly lacking in authenticity. Those who believe this film about the street kids of Hollywood is the real deal haven't spent much time with such kids. On the upside the film sports a solid cast. On the downside, there's little story to be found between the scenes as we bear witness to a trite, cliched, and obviously fabricated Hollywood screenwriter's version of Hollywood street kids who in real life comprises a subculture which is far more hip, resourceful, structured, and networked than are the characters in this film. "Where the Day Takes You" is just another Hollywood concoction passing itself off as reality. (C+)

Sean Astin making us feel

[Cassandra_Jade · 10/10 · 6 February 2004]

Moving film with issues that people who have been in the same situations will be able to relate to. Sean Astin(Greg) was really good in this film he played his part well and you feel for him and try to understand how it must feel living life the way they all do on the streets. Great cast line-up and it was good to see Will Smith in there. All the characters seemed real not just movie stars playing homeless kids.

Heather .

[alankaboot-09403 · 6/10 · 23 October 2019]

I didn't like the movie, but Heather liked me and i was beautiful before the plastic surgery.

Excellent!!!

[kellieknight · 10/10 · 3 September 2002]

Rocco took an amazing group of actors and made a beautiful piece that not only refrained from glamourising and sugar-coating life on the streets, but kept a low-key tone to the show rather than play up the idea of a movie with some of Hollywood's best young actors in it. It presents a real issue in a very real way, and was also a movie you were drawn into, rather than taking on a news broadcast tone. The characters are likable with all their flaws, and you find yourself crying with them at points. The downside to this movie is that it is one of those indy films that few will sit down and watch. Luckily those who do will not be disappointed.

Some fine moments, although the entire plot is revealed in the title

[fredrikgunerius · 6/10 · 11 August 2023]

With an ensemble cast which read like a who's who in young, up-and-coming generation X actors and an appealing storyline in which writer/director Marc Rocco tried to get the lowdown on lowdown living among not so aspiring youths in Hollywood, Where the Day Takes You would appear to have everything going for it. And disregarding the fact that the entire plot is revealed in the title, the film has got its fair share of fine moments - almost all of which owe their merit to fine acting and/or characterizations. Among the highlights are the scenes between Balthazar Getty and Stephen Tobolowsky, as well as Kyle MacLachlan's brilliant portrayal of a completely unscrupulous drug dealer. Unfortunately, the film isn't able to make any lasting impression, since Rocco ultimately resorts to a few too many Hollywood cliches in order to wrap up his increasingly faltering plot.

So emotional

[dancing-queen · 16 December 2003]

I absolutely love this film but I can only watch it once a year because it makes me so sad, I have never cried so much in a film ever, I'm left a nervous wreck, I don't know if it's because I'm happy or sad the way things worked out, but my hat is off to the writer, director, and all the actors, especially Sean Astin's portrayal of Greg. Very emotional film, I suggest you don't watch it alone, as you need to have someone with you to laugh and cry with! Extraordinary filmmaking!

A marvelous performance by all

[SamwiseTrosser45 · 10/10 · 22 October 2002]

Each actor/actress in this film plays to perfection. As usual, Sean Astin captured my imagination, and I couldn't believe that this was the same person who played Rudy. The plot is well written, and I was captivated by how realistic it was. I could totally see this happening not only in downtown L.A., but in any other big city as well. It was made in 1992, but like Rebel Without a Cause, it stays universal.

Let's the blind man see.....

[DanaSpencer357 · 10/10 · 9 November 2005]

A few years ago, an ex-girlfriend of mine suggested that I watch this movie. She claimed it as being one of her favorites. Seeing as how it had Durmot Muroney starring in it, I figured I would give it a chance. "King", was by far my favorite character in the movie. I was pulled into his character immediately, and the ride didn't stop until the end credits were over. This movie hit a very personal chord deep within me, and the lasting effects of watching this particular movie are still with me today. Although the entire cast did a fantastic job of acting out their parts, "King", was my favorite because at the time I watched this film, I was a lot like him; except the being homeless part. As far as Sean Astin and the part he played, I couldn't relate very much at all, but that didn't matter because his role was extremely powerful and believable! One more thing, if it wasn't for Melissa Etheridge and her incredible talent, I do not think this movie would have touched as many people as it did. Just a great movie, period.

unsettling study of street kids

[thomandybish · 10 July 2001]

This overlooked film about teens surviving on the streets of Los Angeles came and went pretty quickly when initially released. Pity, because it's a film that deserves a wider audience. Within the device of a journalist doing interviews as research for an article on runaways, we're introduced to a band of teens who have formed a defacto family and the various situations they encounter on the street. King(Durmont Mulroney)is the leader and protector of an assortment of kids that include druggie Greg(Sean Astin), Little J(Balthasar Getty), smart-mouthed Brenda(Ricki Lake), and newcomer Heather(Lara Flynn Boyle), whom King takes a shine to. The film follows then through their days of riding boxcars, sleeping under overpasses, and hanging out in public places while avoiding cops, drug dealers, and pimps. While the film downplays some aspects of the streets( the violence and emotional devastation of child prostitution is acknowledged but not conveyed directly), others are show with uncomfortable intensity. For some of these kids, it's a one-way trip down. Sean Austin's fate as the speed-freak Greg is disturbing; the final shot of his character in the film haunted me for days.

Wow...

[nalbrecht84 · 10/10 · 9 March 2002]

Where the day takes you I found to be a really interesting film. Seeing all those big names (Sean Astin, Will Smith, Dermot Mulroney & Rikki Lake) before they all really became famous was great. They all played thier parts amazigly well and the way the movie was done was great. Marc Rocco should be proud. I found it very true to the way life on the street is and think more movies like this should be done, but I suppose it's just that every so often you find one of these movies, and that they're unreplaceable.

Gritty and touching film about homeless youth in Hollywood,CA

[filmbuff1974 · 8/10 · 26 December 2004]

"Where The Day Takes You" is about the homeless youth who come from all over the country to escape their dysfunctional families to live on the streets of Hollywood.It is here that this youth form surrogate families with other homeless youth.

This film chronicles one such family of homeless youth headed by King who is the father figure.A violent confrontation with another homeless leader turns for the worse and King finds himself desperately trying to keep his family together while avoiding the law.

The movie is surprisingly honest about dangers of living on the street and yet portrays the real sense of community that this homeless youth shares with each other.

My only issue with this film was perhaps the Melissa Etheridge music which distracted me.It got more tolerable with repeated viewings of this film but to be fair I am not much of a Melissa Etheridge fan.

If you like movies about Hollywood or films featuring young attractive actors playing disaffected youth then I would suggest this film.

Awesome. This is what star power should be used for!

[ButtNFly · 16 March 1999]

The exploits of the kids in this film are way too real. I used to live on the streets and this film is the first time I've seen street life without the Hollywood polish on it. Granted all the faces are familiar, and everyone in the film is a star, they play the parts with grit and realism. It's really great to see that this lifestyle is portrayed as less than glamourous, because all too often "homeless" movies make it seem like it's easy to get out of it........

This film is excellent. I would recommend it to anyone.

[rolynnd · 10/10 · 29 February 2000]

This is my most favorite movie. It definitely draws you in, you will be enveloped by the gritty straight forward look at life on the streets. I wish more people would see this movie. It's great. You'll love it.

A poignant and powerful portrait of the gritty plight of homeless urban street kids

[Woodyanders · 9/10 · 11 August 2006]

Dermott Mulroney gives a very commanding and outstanding performance as King, a tough, street smart, ask-for-no-favors recent parolee who lives on the mean streets in and around Hollywood Boulevard; he relates his arduous everyday experiences to prison psychologist Lara San Giacomo and basically acts as a wise, protective father figure to a ragtag bunch of hapless, homeless, penniless runaway youths trying to eke out a meager existence in the City of Angels.

An incisive, absorbing, down and dirty look at the unceasingly grim, tense, often distressfully uncertain day-to-day lifestyle of destitute, on their own abandoned derelict kids and the bleak drug and violence-infested hellhole they exist in, "Where the Day Takes You" manages for the most part to be appropriately harsh and hard-hitting, rarely pleasant or overly cloying. In fact, this occasionally potent and always enthralling film has a raw, squalid, rough-edged semi-verite feel to it, thanks to Mark Rocco's firm, keen, tough-minded direction and King Baggot's crisp, fluid, starkly lit cinematography (a cruelly eagle-eyed Steadicam is put to sporadic and quite effective use). While Mulroney clearly dominates the picture with his sterling, supremely charismatic portrayal of King, the other cast members who play equally on the skids adolescents are just as fine: Lara Flynn Boyle as a guileless new runaway who bolted away from home because her brother was sexually abusing her, Sean Astin as a pathetic, doomed heroin addict (the scene where Astin vomits all over himself is very powerful and his ultimate fate is unforgettably chilling and disturbing), Balthazar Getty as a sullen male hustler, Will Smith as a brash crippled smartaleck, James LeGros as King's loyal best friend, Peter Dobson as a brutal punk hood, and, yes, even tacky, tubby tabloid TV show host Rikki Lake as a peevish, abrasive fat chick are all superb. Other strong thespic contributions are turned in by Adam Baldwin and Rachel Ticotin as cops, a disgustingly on-target Kyle MacLachen as an odious, deceitfully "sympathetic" drug dealer, Leo Rossi as Astin's ineffectual father, Stephen Tobolowsky as a wimpy, shyly courteous gay client who uses Getty for titillation, Alyssa Milano as an underaged prostitute, Robert Knepper as a conceited rock singer, and an unbilled Christian Slater as an interviewer at a drug rehabilitation clinic. Downbeat and depressing for sure, but still a real poignant powerhouse movie just the same.

I LOVED this movie

[tenacious t · 15 June 2002]

It bears repeating, I absolutely loved this movie! It is one of my favorite movies of all time! I admit that initially I only wanted to see it because of Balthazar Getty, but it has so many great stars! Everyone does a fabulous job. Great story and characters. I have nothing to base this on, but it seems really realistic. There is some humor and some really sad parts. The director and writer Marc Rocco gives them a lot to work with. I don't see how anyone could not like this movie. Dermot Mulroney, Balthazar Getty, Sean Astin and Lara Flynn Boyle give fantastic performances! I highly recommend this movie! It does make you appreciate what you have and makes you realize how some people, kids, can end up and what can happen to them. Awesome flick!

a dark beautiful look at our homeless youth

[sschne · 10/10 · 7 April 2003]

Marc Rocco writes and directs us into the world of homeless runaways on the streets of Hollywood in this often overlooked early-nineties gem. Artistic, fast-paced editing and a unique story structure capture and hold our interest with an emotional acoustic soundtrack by Melissa Etheridge. The dim lighting can be frustrating, but it certainly helps to convey the darkness of the subject matter. Understated perfomances also create a compelling character-driven drama by a cast of soon-to-be stars, before the mediocrity of fame had a chance to dull their talent. (Will Smith, Kyle MacLachlan, Tara Flynn Boyle, Rikki Lake, etc...) Life on the streets has rarely been conveyed so well, and the themes and social issues raised are wrapped in an extremely appealing package.

Where the day takes you

[butterfly_babee_44 · 10/10 · 16 March 2006]

This is one of the best movies I've ever seen,because I like movies that show all the types of emotions that living on the streets can give you. Great movie! And if you liked this, I'd also recommend, 'Toy soldiers' and 'that was then this is now' Lub this movie!!!! seriously evri1, you should watch this, it's so good. The performances of all the actors, actresses were amazing and they captured the feelings and moods of kids that don't really have a home to go to, or a bed to sleep in. I really think they pulled all the kids in this movie off of the streets and stuck them in front of a camera and just told them to do what they normally do because they were so good.

Big stars who did some of their best work in pre-stardom

[edwood1954 · 13 July 2000]

This movie is a classic example of what a bunch of talented actors can do without being showcased. Most of the cast in this film have gone on to become bigger stars (some MUCH bigger as in the case of Will Smith) in far bigger budget movies, but they'll all have this one to look back on as something to be truly proud of. Sure, one can quibble with the fact that these people, despite being "glammed down" for the street look, are better looking than "real" homeless youths, but this is Hollywood after all. A promising feature from director Marc Rocco, who went on to make another movie, and now I haven't seen anything from him for half-a-decade. What happened?