#1980s #AllPosts
This girl just wants to see Harrison Ford…
Janey and Lynn love to dance, and their favourite TV programme Dance TV is holding auditions. What could possibly happen?
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Official Trailer #1 – Sarah Jessica Parker Movie (1985), Movieclips Trailer Vault and photos © New World Pictures
Another guilty pleasure but with a twist. Yes, I do like this movie, but if I could go back to my 16-year-old self and have the choice of seeing this at the cinema, I’d turn it down and see the then alternative. The film I chose to see was the Sarah Jessica Parker film, Girls Just Want Have Fun (1985).
The alternative was a romantic film with a youngish Harrison Ford, called Witness (1985). So sorry mum for all the fuss I made. Witness is a film you see once and never forget (and will be reviewed one day), and the dance movie is one you sometimes wish you could.
So what was all the fuss about? Parker plays schoolgirl Janey who moves to Chicago with her family. Her dad (Ed Lauter) is superstrict, mum is just mumsy and kid brother is annoying. She’s excited about moving there as her favourite TV show, Dance TV is based there. She’s not so happy about moving to a new Catholic school. There she instantly makes firm friends with another Dance TV fan, Lynne (Helen Hunt).
When the TV show is looking for a new dance couple, the girls plan to attend the auditions for the programme – I’m sure you can see where this is heading – to select the finalists with the final pair getting to be the new dancers on Dance TV.
At the auditions, Janey and Lynne become enemies with a fellow competitor called Natalie – a spoilt rich girl – for some silly reason. Janey makes it through to the final – surprise, surprise – Lynne doesn’t (shocked?).
Janey is partnered with the film Hunk – if you are 16 – Jeff (Lee Montgomery). He’s auditioning with his wee sister, Maggie (Shannen Doherty) and best pal Drew (Jonathan Silverman) for moral support.
Of course, this leads to the old cliche of hatred and then friendship between Jeff and Janey. Yawn. Natalie spots that Janey is missing school classes to do dance practice. She then phones her parents pretending to be a teacher saying it’s Sister Natalie – duh!
Janey is then grounded. So as Natalie has planned a party – as all typical 1980s spoilt girl / heroes do – the girls, now with Maggie in tow – sabotage it by inviting random people. Oh, the hilarity! Of course, it ends in disaster, as Natalie’s mummy and daddy find out.
Daddy is played by an original Dallas (1978-91) actor, Morgan Woodward. He played Punk Anderson, a good friend of Jock and Miss Ellie and husband to Mavis. This couple probably had the most successful marriage of the series staying married for the entire thirteen seasons. But I digress…
Back to the review, Janey and Jeff dance in a lot of – and I mean too many – montages, eventually snog – yes, getting more than a tad contrived here – and Natalie seeks revenge and…the dance finals are coming up. So by now, you will be in one of two camps, those who loved this movie and are gunning at me for being a wee bit on the sarcastic side. Or you like everything Sarah Jessica Parker does and think of her as a goddess, icon and amazing actress.
The rest of you will be wondering why I made such a fuss, especially with a bloody good Harrison Ford movie being the alternative – especially as I was old enough to see the film – like my Darlin Husband thought. But then, in my defence, I was a girl of 16 and sadly didn’t know who Ford was, let alone anything about the original Star Wars trilogy.
Now I know him as the rugged silver fox, who starred in Indiana Jones, Cowboys & Aliens (2011) and many, many more movies and married Ally McBeal. But then in relation to Parker, I also must stress I’ve never watched Sex in the City (1998-2004) – and don’t intend to – and envy her for one thing only. Shoes! legs! clothes! hair! you cry, no, it’s marrying Ferris Bueller. Don’t you?
Weeper Rating: 0 /10
Handsqueeze Rating: : 0 /10
Hulk Rating: /10
Gotta Dance! Blogathon 2016 No 3
Girls Just Want to Have Fun was submitted to the Gotta Dance! blogathon run by Classic Reel Girl. Other reviews with this cast include Sarah Jessica Parker in my Mars Attacks and Ed Wood reviews. Helen Hunt stars in Peggy Sue Got Married and As Good As It Gets. Lee Montgomery in Burnt Offerings. Ed Lauter starred in Magic, Family Plot and The Cartier Affair. Shannen Doherty stars in Beverly Hills 90210.
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Haha–this girl had fun reading your post. =) I can relate about choosing the cheesy movie over a future classic. When I was in middle school, I opted to see Rookie of the Year over Sleepless Seattle. I don’t know what I was thinking. Yes I do. I was thirteen and the kid star looked cute. Thank you for celebrating dance in film with me and my lil’ blogathon.
Bonnie
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Thanks for having me – been great fun!
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I love a girly chick flick!!
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It’s definitely more chick than coming of age comedy!
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I really want to see this, looks like my kinda cheesy movie!! 🙂
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It is definitely that!!!!
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I had forgotten all about this film until now and haven’t seen it in absolute years, thanks for the reminder and definitely one to book mark x
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No problem – I was reminded of afilm not so long ago (3 Men and a Little Lady) started writing it as a guilty pleasure but then remembered just how much I loved this film – it’s now a Main Feature!!!
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I can’t believe I have never heard of this film, it sounds like one that I would have lived to watch.
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Did you enjoy the trailer?
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Not heard of this film, do love a bit of classic cheese though
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Its definitely that!
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Definitely heard of this film but I can not believe I have never seen it x
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Love to know what you think x
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I actually dont think I have even ever heard of this movie ever, though I am not sure it is for me, show me a war film and I am all over it.
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It’s more of a chick flick really, if you want war recommend my The Eagle Has Landed review – ecellent war film x
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I haven’t heard of this film either – and I haven’t watched Sex in the City, but my eldest daughter loves it! Kaz x
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I can honestly say that this programme doesn’t appeal to me at all.
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I’ve never seen this movie – it’s added to my list of things to watch now, thanks Gill!!x
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Hope you enjoy it!
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I have never seen this, but I do love Witness. The personal touch you bring to your posts is great, refreshing and quite unique in my experience of the blogosphere!
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Thanks for such lovely words, just being me xx
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Oh man I LOOOOVED this movie as a kid. Thank you for reminding me of its existence!
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No problem, I love that when that happens. I have rewatched so many childhood favourites films after rediscovering them on film blogs! Thanks your comment has made my day!
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