videorama-759-859391
This was an 80's teen comedy like many, that I really enjoyed. After viewing it again, after many years, I didn't realize how enjoyable it was. It too sends a message about having to conform, to get what you want. In this case, it's masquerading as the other sex. Like the familiar themed Soul Man, where Mark Watson had to go black to get into Harvard, here, promising young school girl journo writer, Hyser, a familiar Valley Girl face (which could also have you getting mixed up with Michelle Meyrick, in VG as well, or Breakdance's Lucinda Dooley) plays the male, and changes schools, after getting her paper rejected. Hyser, not a bad little actress, had me believing earlier, at some spots, that may'be it was really a guy, and she really did this well, the act quickly kicking into gear, when first awkwardly parading as the male in front of her sex starved little brother, which had me at times, thinking it was Patrick Dempsey. Meyrick, no, I mean Hyser falls for a loner, and an unpopular, un confident student, though of course, won't admit it, (still attached to her current stud beau, Fraternity Vacation's Leigh McCloskey, which you don't have to be Einstein to figure out, his character profile) which we know this all through the movie, where here is a familiar scenario dilemma. Think the reversal of All Men Are Liars. Apart from being wildly entertaining, and smart too, this movie really shows what it can be like, trying to fit in, or assume a different sex, which isn't helped by bully Zabka, who's just so stereotyped, not just with The Karate Kid, but much more so in Back To School, released only months after this, almost as if his BTS character was cloned. He plays a much bigger dick...d here, then in BTS, which I actually found him really annoying in this. The film plays out to the conclusion, pretty much as you think, but JOOTG'S is one of the better teen 80's comedie's that has something different, a smarter, more realistic spin, put on it, bolstered by good performances, especially it's leads. You may want to too, join that long line of students,who wanna punch Zabka's lights out. I know I would.
Uriah43
"Terry Griffith" (Joyse Hyser) is a popular senior in high school who wants very much to be a journalist for a newspaper after she graduates. Unfortunately, when her paper for a local newspaper journalism prize is rejected, and she is slighted because she is essentially too attractive, she decides to secretly enroll in a rival high school and compete for the journalism contest there--as a guy. But what she doesn't count on is the unexpected turmoil her decision creates by leading two totally different lives. Now rather than reveal any more of this movie and risk spoiling it for those who haven't seen it I will just say that this film was simply hilarious. Along with that it doesn't take much to see that both Joyse Hyser and Bill Jayne (as her younger brother "Buddy Griffith") were clearly having a good time playing their parts which made the movie even more enjoyable. Likewise the performance of William Zabka (as the high school bully named "Greg Tolan") and the addition of such attractive actresses like Toni Hudson ("Denise"), Sherilynn Fenn ("Sandy") along with the aforementioned Joyse Hyser certainly didn't hurt either. In short, this is a good example of 80's comedy and I recommend it to all those who might be interested in something of this nature. Above average.
pentagore
I first saw this in the summer of '86 when it premiered on HBO, and I couldn't remember a movie that made me laugh as hard. Since it's time, there have been numerous copy cats but none as cute and original as this. I adored this movie so much since then that I later went on to purchase the promo LP soundtrack and an original theater issued poster for 'Just One of the Guys'! It really is an endearing film and was not meant to be taken as anything but a light hearted comedy with a gender twist. The characters in JOOTG are exceptionally entertaining and definitely grow on you throughout the movie. Billy Jacoby, who plays Joyce Hyser's over-sexed younger brother, practically steals the film with his bawdy humor and knack for comedic timing. And who can forget William Zabka who (suprise) plays yet another seedy bully lurking within the school system. It works well and I prefer films like these as opposed to the Hughes teen comedies instead. What a breath of fresh air! I highly recommend this film. I am also pleased to see the release of JOOTG on DVD, though I wish some added features like an audio commentary would have been available for this movie.
M. C. Brennan (penelopedanger)
The 1980s were full of role-reversal comedies where black became white, father became son, rich became poor, old became young, male became female. "Just One Of The Guys" expands on the latter theme, suggesting the best way to battle rampant sex discrimination is to switch sides. "Valley Girl" and "Spinal Tap" veteran Joyce Hyser was already pushing 30 when she starred as teenager "Terry/Terri," whose rapturous beauty made her a reject in the beauty-hating world of high school journalism, but somehow didn't keep her from passing as a guy who looks eerily like Ralph Macchio.The expected "Three's Company"-esquire comic misunderstandings arise, where "Terry" has to hide being in love with "his" new best friend Rick, but must also constantly avoid boy-crazy stalker Sherilyn Fenn. The film takes such tortured pains to avoid the merest hint of homosexuality that the results are sometimes a little painful to watch. The film has funny moments, though, and through its extensive location shooting at Coronado and Scottsdale High Schools in Scottsdale, Arizona, it perhaps inadvertently captures a genuine slice of teenage life, 1985-style. (Not that at age 16 I was an uncredited extra in this movie or anything like that.) For sheer 80s teen movie nostalgia, give "Just One Of The Guys" a chance, if you come across it on TV. It's not Shakespeare, but it's better than watching C. Thomas Howell as a black man.
AD
