GIRLS JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN (1985)

GIRLS JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN (1985)

Tagline : Getting into trouble is easy but getting out of it is all the fun!

(Romance, Drama, Comedy) [PG]

Velcro. Next to the Walkman and Tab it is the coolest invention of the 20th century!

In this one, Janey (played by Sarah Jessica Parker probably most famous for HOCUS POCUS) is in a military family so she’s just gotten into town. She makes immediate friends with Lynne (played by Helen Hunt famous for TWISTER), and both of them are really enthusiastic about this show called “Dance TV”. The show is looking for new talent so they decide to try out. Both go to a Catholic girl’s school so Janey has to really go out of her way to audition for the show against the wishes of her father. Janey also meets this guy Jeff (played by Lee Montgomery) who is also part of the dance competition, so we have that going on. Additionally, this girl Natalie (played by Holly Gagnier) wants in the competition so badly that she will do almost anything to get in, so you know, that’s also happening. 

Overall this movie is actually pretty fun. I wasn’t expecting to like it, but it was on the 80’s marathon list for November, so here we are. Sarah Jessica Parker’s best role is in the creepy STRIKING DISTANCE (which was filmed the same year as HOCUS POCUS), but this one is also pretty good for her. I do wish they had done something with her hair however because it’s all over the place in this movie. It’s in the sink, it’s in people’s faces, it’s all over the dance floor, there might even be some on my computer right now. Helen Hunt is very young in this but does a great job in her role as Lynne. I liked that after the dance audition, things didn’t get weird between her and Janey, because the movie already has enough going on without drama between those two. Holly Gagnier makes a great “rich girl” antagonist, but I am not familiar with her other work, so I am not sure if this is standard for her (she also did all of her own dancing for the movie). We also have a Shannen Doherty sighting in this movie as the younger sister of Jeff. She is actually likable in this role which was a huge departure from HEATHERS. She was 13 when this movie was made, but plays a 12-year-old. Jonathan Silverman plays Jeff’s friend Drew in this movie. He is supposed to be the comedic relief I think, but I was just annoyed with this dude and some of his antics would get him charged with sexual harassment at best even in the ’80s. I did like Ian Michael Giatti as Janey’s younger brother in this movie. He is actually the kind of brother anyone would want and his kindness stands out in the few scenes he is in. 

I am not a choreography guy so I have no idea if the dancing in this movie was good or bad, but you could tell who wasn’t totally blowing what they were trying to do, so I will grade that as a net plus. The dialog and storyline are fun and pretty funny at times even when Drew is trying to ruining things. The score is decent, but the soundtrack is actually pretty great as well. You would think that somehow Cyndi Lauper would have been involved in this (because her version of “Girls Just Want To Have Fun” was released 2 years before this movie came out), but she wasn’t. The song “Girls Just Want To Have Fun” is featured, but it’s being sung by Deborah Galli, Tami Holbrook, and Meredith Marshall because Lauper refused to allow her version to be used. Oddly in the movie, we get a better version than Lauper’s. The movie also features a song by Holland called “Wake Up The Neighborhood” and it lands at the perfect time in this thing. 

In a long list of teen 80’s movies, I think this one is often overlooked, but it’s actually quite a bit of fun for anyone looking for the 80’s movie that is full-blown extreme 80’s, with no holds barred. I give this movie a 4 out of 7. It’s not going to shatter people’s worlds but it’s a lighthearted playful blast from the past. Be warned, however, this is less a teen drama movie than it is a “dance-romance” movie, with hints of "let's get silly revenge on that chick".

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