Johnny Be Good (1988)

User Rating:

3.9/10   

Director:

Bud S. Smith

Writers:

Steve Zacharias (written by) &
Jeff Buhai (written by) ...

Release Date:

25 March 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Sport

Tagline:

Every college in the country wants Johnny. 'Cause when he's good he's very very good. And when he's bad he's better.

Plot:

It's recruiting time and despite being short and scrawny, Johnny Walker is America's hottest young football prospect...

Plot Keywords:

Football | American Football | Reference To John Wayne | Reference To Liberace | Future

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Anthony Michael Hall	...	Johnny Walker
Robert Downey Jr.	...	Leo Wiggins
Paul Gleason	...	Wayne Hisler
Uma Thurman	...	Georgia Elkans
Steve James	...	Coach Sanders
Seymour Cassel	...	Wallace Gibson
Michael Greene	...	Tex Wade
Marshall Bell	...	Chief Elkans
Deborah May	...	Mrs. Walker
Michael Alldredge	...	Vinny Kroll
Jennifer Tilly	...	Connie Hisler
Jon Stafford	...	Bad Breath
Peter Koch	...	Pete Andropolous
Howard Cosell	...	Himself
Jim McMahon	...	Himself

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

UK:15 | Iceland:12 | New Zealand:M | Finland:K-14 | USA:PG-13 (theatrical version) | USA:R (video rating) | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Georgetown, Texas, USA

Company:

Orion Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

During a scene where Johnny (Anthony Michael Hall) is drumming, you can clearly see a Charlie Chaplin poster. Robert Downey Jr., who plays Leo Wiggins, played Charlie Chaplin in the movie titled Chaplin (1992).

Quotes:

Leo Wiggins: You kind of look like a combo Liberace meets Prince's mom. But it's groovy!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Bride of the Monster (#5.23)" (1993)

Soundtrack:

Johnny B. Goode

Not very good, but not as bad as some comments here!

Maybe you have to appreciate the type of humor that makes this movie funny for me. I sometimes enjoy the stupid, throw-away lines that are liberally sprinkled throughout this one. For example, when Robert Downey Jr. is talking to the two girls in the motel room, his description of a previous sexual encounter is hilarious and odd as only RDJ can make it.

There's a lot about this movie that doesn't work. But I choose to focus on what is funny. Over the years, I have repeated many a line from this stupid flick. Like "What's shaking' coach....coach, how do you feel" or "UCC is your only move, UCC is your ever most GROOVE!"

One thing that stands out for me is the use of footage from the 60's classic "Putney Swope" which happens to be a film written and directed by RDJ's father, Robert Downey Sr. But most people wouldn't even pick up on that! For those that did, or wondered where they had come across the scene at the drive-in before, that's what it was. Robert Downey Sr.'s character even makes a comment about how bad the movie is. An insider's joke, perhaps.