Anastasia Fielding, Ann Magnuson, Ione Skye

A recent high school graduate is faced with two options, either go to a business school where his father wants him to go to, or get a full time job. However he decides to defy his father and go to Haw...( read more  read more... )aii. Trouble is he has no money. Along the way he comes to understand his parents and eventually bonds with his father.

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41% liked it

4,925 ratings

R, 95 min.

Directed by: William Richert

Release Date: February 26, 1988

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DVD Release Date: December 26, 2000

Stats: 117 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (117)


  • December 5, 2006
    It was a pretty boring night at that.
  • September 13, 2006
    I remember liking it when I was a kid but, seeing it again, I think the only was because of all the hot women in it. It's not bad but nothing special.
  • May 29, 2008
    Kind of dull.
  • April 12, 2007
    A GREAT MOVIE.
  • September 17, 2008
    17 year old Jimmy Reardon is infamous among the girls in his posh neighbourhood for being something of a ladies man, even his girlfriend knows about his conquests. Under pressure from his Father to go to a business college, he decides to rebel against his circumstances, but ultim...( read more)ately comes to realise that they are in fact exactly what he needs to respect. Written and directed by William Richert, 'A Night In The Life Of Jimmy Reardon' is a simplistic teen comedy-drama that doesn't score high for originality or authenticity. Having said this, it is still an easy film to watch and is in no way disappointing. The text seems to set itself an average standard and achieves this quite perfectly. The late River Phoenix plays the eponymous lead character. He is believable due to his charm and good looks, but he seems to be lacking a certain sinister form of conviction, which made me think 'He's just to nice a person to cheat on his girlfriend'. This may be naive on my part, but Phoenix's gentility in the execution of the character makes him to likeable; which I suppose isn't a fault, but at the same time it is; he makes what should really be a rather cold character to warm and moral. The rest of the cast perform well enough, and it's funny watching a very young Matthew Perry practically playing Chandler all over again. With it's lively and pretty racy plot-line and handsome lead, 'A Night In The Life Of Jimmy Reardon' is a harmless teen drama that will most likely appeal to fans of River Phoenix. Not bad.
  • September 15, 2008
    The plot of this film is pretty pointless, and for a comedy; its not that funny. However, the prom night scene is hilarious and the young Matthew Perry & River Phoenix make a good team.
    Basically, Jimmy has to raise enough money to follow the so-called love of his life, Lisa...( read more), to Hawaii. But there are a lot of problems along the way; many of which he creates for himself. This character is suppost to be in love with Lisa, however he still chooses to sleep with several other women, and stand her up on prom night! Why?
    River Phoenix is convincing and charismatic as the troublesome teen, however, can be described as "fresh faced for such a scamming character".
    Not bad. .
    :)
  • August 19, 2008
    OMG this was so weird.
  • July 21, 2008
    omg i loved river phoenix in this moive and i though he was so cute=]
    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 h...( read more)ave 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.
  • June 20, 2008
    River Phoenix is so adorable and cute. Like I said before it seems like every role he plays...was made for him whether it is comedy, drama, or a love story he brings his character to life and make you fall in love with him
  • March 21, 2008
    boring waste of some big acting talents

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Comments


  • rainbowsaur
    February 21, 2008
    this film is embarassing to watch. even river regrets making it.
  • volleyballchicksrule
    September 19, 2006
    It was a good movie but I wish they would have left it they way it was suppose to be made.

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A Night in the Life of Jimmy Rear... Trivia


  • What actor starred in Stand By Me, A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon and My Own Private Idaho?  Answer »
  • This actor/actress appeared both in the TV-series FRIENDS and in the River Phoenix movie "A NIGHT IN THE LIFE OF JIMMY REARDON".  Answer »
  • Who starred in A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon  Answer »

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