A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon

I kept avoiding seeing "A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon" for a while after a disastrous bad impression over its first minutes, can't tell for sure what happened in that first attempt years ago. But without any more River Phoenix films to watch, this was the one missing and I wish I could go without. Almost pointless in what's trying to do, unfunny and presenting what could be one of the most unlikeable and detestable lead characters in a comedy - one cannot do that in a comedy. William Richert's adaptation of his own novel "Aren't You Even Going To Kiss Me Goodbye?" was sufferable through nearly its entirety, with some interesting moments and a decent acting from the cast, but it's beyond salvation.

Deep down in "A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon" there's a valid (and cliched) criticism on the final years of the American dream of the 1950's and the loss of innocence of the 1960's. Here, the young title character (Phoenix) is completely lost with a decision he has to make: to enter the college his dad attended (which the kid hates the idea) or join a college he wants with the artful studies he likes. The dad, played by Paul Koslo, is one of those formulaic characters made to yell and scream at wife and kids throughout the movie, but based on the film bookends he changes drastically (with a given reason).

The problem with Jimmy is that he's still trying to understand life, relationships, as he's also a ladies man but also romantically involved with a rich girl (Meredith Salenger) who refuses to go to bed with him - her parents disapproves of the poor young stud, and he's basically used as a boytoy to please the girl's whims (as I kept watching their moments I couldn't help but thinking of a dull song that I like that had such description). The challenge is to get money from all sources possible to have a trip to Hawaii with the girl and countless situations ensues, none of them funny or interesting - except for affair with an older woman (Ann Magnuson).

Had it used the more serious underlined themes and removing the comedy altogether, this might have been a more interesting film. By the time Reardon finds out about the hypocrisy of the adult world and some sense comes to his head, we almost feel sorry for all the troubles he was put. Almost, since he's a completely obnoxious character who makes all the poor decisions possible despite being a smart guy who knows how to get out of situations. The typical teen with countless things over his head, Jimmy Reardon is someone who doesn't know that the word priority must not be used as a plural - the moment you define "priorities" you lose the essence of what really is a priority to be done/solved. But honestly, I couldn't care about the trip, the money, the college or his attempts in fixing a date for his best buddy (Matthew Perry, on his film debut) since Reardon becomes a total annoyance.

Richert's idea in making of River Phoenix a teen hearthrob was a total miss and a major problem. Phoenix could fit such description as he was a great looking young man. But there was more to it. A sensible and talented young actor who could disappear in his roles, with a great complexity and charisma. To have him reduced in being 'what the girls dream and want' didn't help him and he felt that. To the fans, skip this without worry. 5/10.

I was only 17. I was expecting a John Hughes film. if this had been an "indie" movie it would have done better, but the movie was Advertised to america like a regular (ie. happy) movie. it does have some spotty acting, slow parts, etc. but the big problem is the only thing I got from the movie (no pleasure, no pay off, no catharsis was):

Jimmy has no heart of gold, he is dross. and the film is good at depicting the story of a man who realizes he will be a cheatin', no good jerk like his father, and that he really does not care. he seems at one with his shallowness. I don't think most teens could accept the idea that they are not good, not bad, just blah with such grace. a real human would not just shrug and accept his loserness..when he seemed to have a glimmer of more. It takes longer for life to beat you down at that.

I walked out of the movie theater at the age of 17 thinking "THIS SUCKED compared to FERRIS BUELLER" and I was right. 15 years later, I am still right.

A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon (1988) was another starring vehicle for River Phoenix. The film is filled with a lot of teen stars that paraded around on the silver screen during the eighties. But unlike the teen comedies of today, these were rated R are just rated that way to get more of their core viewers. This was a great era for River Phoenix. He was starring like in every other big production that came out of Hollywood. But like all the stars, they eventually come down hard and River Phoenix was no exception.

The movie is about the life of a wild teen. He has all sorts of adventures and conquests. His home life is also a battlefield. Dealing with his absent father and girlfriend take a toll on his personal life as well as his school life. That is also a problem. At his age many kids are at a crossroads on what to do with their adult life. Go to school or get a job like his old man. What is a rapscallion like Jimmy going to do? Until that one wild night comes and passes.

Just another run-of-the-mill teen comedy from the eighties. Except this one's a River Phoenix starring vehicle. Nothing more, nothing less.

Recommended for fans of eighties films.

This is supposed to be a fun, hip, easy movie portraying the sexcapades of a teenage bad boy. What it does, however, is features grown women having illegal sex with a minor CHILD!

This isn't funny! It isn't enjoyable. It doesn't document the trials of teenage angst. It doesn't demonstrate the pains of teenage love. What this did was tell an entire society that this activity was appropriate and commonly practiced. While the later may be the case, the former is NOT.

I was not amused, nor was I entertained. This movie is a fecal abortion that belongs in the toilet.

No rating. It doesn't rate one.

the Fiend :.

I watched this movie when I was younger and enjoyed it, now....it just seems boring. There are no likable characters, the script does a poor job of even letting you get to know anyone but jimmy. It isn't funny, not at all so I'm not sure why it is classified as a comedy. Honestly jimmy just doesn't have that much happen to him, other than lots of sex. Watching this now it just falls flat. There is no lesson learned, no great friendships explored, no amazing love story here. Jimmy doesn't seem to really care about anyone but himself. You get the idea ( due to the narration), that jimmy does indeed become a writer...but that's not explored either. His writing is actually just a side note in the story . It's almost as if somewhere in there a good story existed, but they don't finish telling it or something. It's really just a movie about a selfish person, surrounded by selfish people...who is really nave about life and has no clue what he wants to do, other than girls of course. This movie s devoid of purpose and fairly vapid.