Product Details

• Actors: River Phoenix, Ann Magnuson, Meredith Salenger, Ione Skye, Louanne
• Directors: William Richert
• Writers: William Richert
• Producers: Lauren Graybow, Mel Klein, Noel Marshall, Richard H. Prince, Russell Schwartz
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, HiFi Sound, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rating: R (Restricted)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: 20th Century Fox
• VHS Release Date: January 1, 1998
• Run Time: 90 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6301049284
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #11,154 in Video (See Bestsellers in Video)

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  Video > Drama > Family Life > Fathers & Sons

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
The late, much-missed River Phoenix had his first starring role in A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon, one of the more unusual teen comedies of the 1980s. Jimmy (Phoenix) is a lower-class kid whose parents have gotten him into a wealthy school, where he hangs out with kids who can't comprehend not having money. Jimmy puts the moves on almost every girl he meets, including Denise (Ione Skye from Say Anything and Gas Food Lodging), the girlfriend of his best friend Fred (a very young Matthew Perry, who has gone on to huge success on the TV show Friends), even though his own girlfriend, Lisa (Meredith Salenger), is about to move to Hawaii. On the evening of graduation, Jimmy ruins just about every relationship he has and wrecks his dad's car along the way. A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon is based on a novel that screenwriter-director William Richert wrote when he was 19, and you can tell--the movie is full of self-aggrandizing gestures, bad poetry, and wounded looks. But despite that--or because of it--the movie also has something of the genuine chaos of late adolescence, when you start to realize that the dreams you have might not be what you want, and that your worst fears might not be the worst that could happen. Phoenix is a truly charismatic presence, though his fresh face is a bit at odds with his scamming character. The movie isn't a cinematic Catcher in the Rye, but it's exploring the same troubled territory. --Bret Fetzer

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent coming of age film / River's talent, May 18, 2004

By	N. Damiano "[e-mail]" (NH , CT) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon (DVD)

I remeber this movie in 1988 quite well because I was transfixed by River Phoenix's character. Based on the novel by Bill Richert "Aren't you even going to kiss me goodbye" Phoenix plays Jimmy a smooth talking charming kid from a working class family who lives in the richer side of town. Hangs with these rich kids who are the type to die if they ever lost their money. While trying to impress and win the heart of the one girl who ever really got to him his girlfriend Lisa ( Meredith Salenger) before she moves to Hawaii. He gets himself into hard situations and troubles just about every relationship he has by sleeping with his best friends ( Mathew Perry) girlfriend, has sex with his mothers best friend. Then smashes his fathers car up in the course of one night. River's character in this film is the type that has a charisma that makes it hard for people to say no to or stay mad at. A funny teen angst movie excellent performance by River Phoenix they couldn't of casted anyone else for this role. One of my favorite 80's coming of age films worth viewing.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Movie ok... Dvd transfer --Yuk!--, February 17, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon (DVD)

The movie is ok... I'll let others write that review, this review is aimed at the dvd quality. This transfer is poor at best. In some cases it's not just soft focus, it's outright blurred! Sound is ok, some "hiss & pops". Watch it on a cable channel with substandard reception and you'll experience the same quality video/audio. It's unfortunate movie studios rip DVD users off like this. DVD is supposed to be BETTER quality, not look like this!

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars one of my favorite movies of all time, August 7, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon (DVD)

i went through alot of trouble to see this movie when i was a kid. my mom let me rent it after i looked for it all over the place. i searched everywhere and then i found it at a blockbuster. she said for me to rent it but that she had to watch it with me because she didnt want me watching r rated movies. so i said okay and we went home to watch it and after time after time of having to put my hands over my eyes (and peaking through my little fingers and smiling) jimmy started getting it on with joice fikkit on the floor and mom said for me to go to my room and i was unable to finish the movie.
then finally i go to a friends and we rent it on her dads card because he didnt care what we watched. then of course i could rent it at home because "mom, ive already seen it". this movie was out of print for years but now its on dvd.
jimmys got this holden caufield, rebel without a cause thing with him. in the process of trying to get what he wants he screws things up i guess thats why as 23 year old ive grown to connect with jimmy. i think anyone who has chased the person they love out the door after they chased them out knowing that the person will never come back can appreciate this movie. i think anyone who enjoyed catcher in the rye would appreciate this movie and yes even though i dont like connecting old movies to new ones because i like the old ones better. i think if you liked igby goes down youll find a place in your heart and your movie collection for jimmy.

a past one night stand informs jimmy falsly that she needs his college fund so that she can get an abortion and now jimmys got 36 hours to get his life situated. during this 36 hours jimmy can have any girl he wants but jimmy doesnt want just any girl what he wants is lisa. jimmy finds out his girlfriend lisa is moving to hawaii and he is bound for an all male business school. once jimmy can get the money for the plane ticket he will be destined for a life in hawaii with lisa where she has declared she will go all the way with him.
during these 36 hours jimmy manages to get himself into more trouble than most could manage in years. (based on the book "jimmy reardon" also titled "arent you even gonna kiss me goodbye" by william richert) if you find this book get it when you see it, it is VERY hard to find. i searched for about 10 years and i just got a copy today