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.

"A Night In The Life Of Jimmy Reardon" is a grinless Coming Of Age film which has been mis-packaged as a comedy. It almost seems as if half the film was in the can before someone on high decided to change the genre... either that or Richert forgot to film a lot of scenes.

River Phoenix is said to have been ashamed of his part in the film, but he is actually not bad, considering the material he had to rise above. Reardon gives us a Phoenix who has not yet become hard-eyed, 'though the character he played was nearly graceless. River still had fuzz on his chin and boyish charm. This was a young man on the cusp of greatness.

The adult actors in this film were dreadful and the other young actors were uneven. I hardly recognized Mathew Perry. Talk about a baby face!

Watching Reardon is like watching kids try to play grownup. The script was originally written for older actors and would have been better if older actors were used. Those used seemed hardly past puberty, and had no idea how to play "sexually jaded" at all.

Overall, I prefer Reardon to "Dogfight" as a River Phoenix vehicle and a comparison of the box-office take shows many others did too.

See it if only to see a still innocent River Phoenix playing a young man far removed from himself.

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 only tuned into this film to see Ione Skye. Denise (Ione Skye) and Jimmy (River Phoenix) had an interesting thing going on. Outside of her, I am really not sure what was going on.

Jimmy seemed to be trying to find his own way and not follow what others wanted him to do. Sort of a slacker, he was in constant turmoil with his father until they managed to find something in common to bind them together. :-) He totally screwed things up with his girlfriend, but one suspects that he might have decided to try again as the movie ends. Who Knows?

I really was hoping for a film that would give me an idea of what River was like as an actor. This wasn't it. It really didn't have much going for it except Ione.

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.