A quiet school truant officer, Joe, uncovers a young boy's attempt to fake a residential address, and subsequently gets involved romantically with the boy's mother. The truant officer ...
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Title: The Buddy System (1984)
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Richard Dreyfuss | ... | Joe | |
| Susan Sarandon | ... | Emily | |
| Nancy Allen | ... | Carrie | |
| Jean Stapleton | ... | Mrs. Price | |
| Wil Wheaton | ... | Tim | |
| Edward Winter | ... | Jim Parks | |
| Keene Curtis | ... | Dr. Knitz | |
 |
Tom Lacy | ... | The Man Who Gives Emily the Test |
| Lee Weaver | ... | Ray | |
|
|
Carolyn Coates | ... | Teacher |
| Milton Selzer | ... | Landlord | |
|
|
Todd Everett | ... | Frank |
| F. William Parker | ... | Lawyer | |
|
|
Bianca Taylor | ... | Woman Customer (as Bianca Ferguson) |
|
|
Lew Horn | ... | Pet Shop Owner |
Edit
Plot Summary
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Storyline
A quiet school truant officer, Joe, uncovers a young boy's attempt to fake a residential address, and subsequently gets involved romantically with the boy's mother. The truant officer waffles between a sadistic relationship with his on-again, off-again girlfriend and the mother. When one of the officer's inventions takes off, he chooses the girl and shatters the friendship with the boy and his mother. Only at the last possible moment does he figure out what he's sacrificed, and attempts to get it back. Written by Cheryl Pickard <cpickard@interaccess.com>
Plot Keywords:
truant officer | love triangle | inventor | mother son relationship | single mother |Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents »
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See more on IMDbPro »
See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
20 January 1984 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Life Upside Down See more »Filming Locations:
Stage 20, 20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USAEdit
Box Office
Opening Weekend USA:
$524,672, 22 January 1984, Limited ReleaseGross USA:
$1,820,049Company Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
| (TV)Sound Mix:
StereoColor:
Color
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Joe: I'd feel loved.
See more »
Lyrics by Will Jennings
Music by Patrick Williams
Performed by Gladys Knight & The Pips
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
The film was never shown theatrically in the UK when first released & went straight to video. See more »Goofs
while Joe, Emily and Tim were having a toast to celebrate the sale of the "dog wash", Emily's glass of liquid raised and lowered twice. Not a lot but noticeable. See more »Quotes
Carrie: How would you feel if I wanted to know every little thing about you?Joe: I'd feel loved.
See more »
Connections
Referenced in The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson: Susan Sarandon/Brooke Shields/Carol Wayne (1984) See more »Soundtracks
Here's That Sunny DayLyrics by Will Jennings
Music by Patrick Williams
Performed by Gladys Knight & The Pips
See more »
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This was a cute little love story starring Richard Dreyfuss before he became pompous, Susan Sarandon before she became sexy, and Wil Wheaton before he became utterly insufferable. The love is more a familial kind of thing; Dreyfuss and Sarandon never really generate much romantic "heat," but the family connection that Joe develops with Emily and Tim is really nice. Jean Stapleton comes off (appropriately) as really chilly in this, a good performance that reminds one what a terrific performance Edith Bunker always was. For once, Nancy Allen doesn't stink up the joint like she usually does, because her shallow airheaded character seems fairly close to her real personality. This is one of those forgotten movies that turn up occasionally on Saturday afternoon TV, but it's a nice 2 hour diversion.