Girls Just Want to Have Fun (1985)

38% of critics liked it
(13 reviews)
73% of users liked it
(42,507 ratings)

On her first day at an all-girls Catholic High School in Chicago, shy and reserved Janey Glenn (Sarah Jessica Parker) meets the wild and wacky Lynne Sands (Helen Hunt). Even though her oppressive dad, Col. Glenn (Ed Lauter), won't let her go, Lynne talks her into sneaking out to try out for a spot… More On her first day at an all-girls Catholic High School in Chicago, shy and reserved Janey Glenn (Sarah Jessica Parker) meets the wild and wacky Lynne Sands (Helen Hunt). Even though her oppressive dad, Col. Glenn (Ed Lauter), won't let her go, Lynne talks her into sneaking out to try out for a spot on the beloved show Dance TV. Janey wows the judges with her gymnastic ability and makes first cuts, conveniently assigned to a cute dance partner: blue-collar bad boy Jeff Malene (Lee H. Montgomery). They compete against the bratty rich girl Natalie Sands (Holly Gagnier), who sabotages them because she wants Jeff and the contest for herself. Janey and Lynne get revenge by inviting punks and street kids to crash her debutante ball. Natalie then resorts to making her wealthy industrialist dad, J.P. Sands (Morgan Woodward), threaten Jeff; If he doesn't let Natalie win, his dad (Biff Yeager) could lose his job at the factory. It all leads up to the live television broadcast of the Dance TV contest, right when Janey's dad races to the studio to stop her. Also starring Shannen Doherty as Jeff's little sister, Maggie. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 30 min.
Directed By: Alan Metter
Genres: Comedy

In Theaters: Apr 12, 1985 Wide
On DVD: Jul 26, 2005
Studio: New World Video

Critic Reviews

Heather Boerner, Common Sense Media
Dance to the cheesy '80s beat with tweens and up.
Felix Vasquez Jr., Cinema Crazed
We all know a movie like this isn't appealing to anyone beside the folks who grew up during that time. And even they will be compelled to cringe at its mention...
David Cornelius, DVDTalk.com
It's a total wannabe in the realm of 80s teen flicks.
James Sanford, Kalamazoo Gazette
Classic '80 cheesiness -- a must
Alex Sandell, Juicy Cerebellum
Nostalgia forces me to like this. Yes I feel guilty!
Don Willmott, Filmcritic.com
Sarah Jessica Parker's embarrassing contribution to that much-studied genre known as the "'80s teen movie"
Frank Ochieng, TheWorldJournal.com
Metter's "Girls" may just want to have fun but for the rest of us this concept is just wishful thinking.
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
If you're going to base a movie on a song, why not choose a song that's, y'know, about something?

Read all 8 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Manu G

Getting into trouble is easy but getting out of it is all the fun! Good 80's movie! I very much enjoyed and like this movie, the dancing, the song's were all great. It's a good old 80's movie and there's nothing better than the 80's! Janey is new in… More
Getting into trouble is easy but getting out of it is all the fun! Good 80's movie! I very much enjoyed and like this movie, the dancing, the song's were all great. It's a good old 80's movie and there's nothing better than the 80's! Janey is new in town, and soon meets Lynne, who shares her passion for dancing in general, and "Dance TV" in particular. When a competition is announced to find a new Dance TV regular couple, Janey and Lynne are determined to audition. The only problem is that Janey's father doesn't approve of that kind of thing.
Cassie H

Such a fun 80s movie with great dancing & music to go along with it :) :) :) :) One of my all time faves (:
AJ V

This teen dance comedy is a lot of fun, girls will especially like this movie for the romance and Parker's character. I really liked this movie.
Alice S

I bought this at an Albertson's to get cash back for the DPS before I realized that even a cheapy DVD costs more than an ATM fee. To those who don't live in Texas, that's a grocery store and the DMV. Wouldn't it be great if Texas also had different names for DVD… More
I bought this at an Albertson's to get cash back for the DPS before I realized that even a cheapy DVD costs more than an ATM fee. To those who don't live in Texas, that's a grocery store and the DMV. Wouldn't it be great if Texas also had different names for DVD and ATM? Kinda fun. Plot is like <i>Hairspray</i>, but it came even before John Water's original. All the characters get their falls from grace and subsequent redemptions. I like SJP in almost every other role besides Carrie Bradshaw. Helen Hunt must have had that voice since she was six.
Leigh R

So-so...
Brian D

girlie movie
Dean M

A teenager goes against her father's wishes and enters a dance competition. Something tells me we're seen something like this before. It's pretty cliched, but the endearing performers make it pass without too much pain.
Doctor S

Helen Hunt is very engaging and the film has a light atmosphere but just doesn't grab me enough to want to watch the whole thing.
Leo L

So remember this movie. Loved Helen Hunt in this. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ REMEMBER THIS,CYN!!!

Read all 9 featured audience ratings

Cast

            Sarah Jessica Parker as Janey Glenn

            Lee Montgomery as Jeff Malene

            Morgan Woodward as J.P. Sands

            Jonathan Silverman as Drew

            Helen Hunt as Lynne Stone

            Holly Gagnier as Natalie Sands

            Ed Lauter as Col. Glenn

            Shannen Doherty as Maggie Malene

            Biff Yeager as Mr. Malene

            Ian Giatti as Zachary Glenn

            Margaret Howell as Mrs. Glenn

            Terry McGovern as Ira

            Richard Blade as DTV Host

            Robin Antin as Dancer

            Mark Caso as Wolf

            Charene Cathleen as Patty

            Scott Coffey as Dancer

            Candice Daly as Girl in Hallway

            Stuart Fratkin as Sam

            Larry Gelman as Tailor

            Cynthia Gibb
            
            Kirk Edward Hansen as Dancer

            Steve La Chance as Ben Wolpert

            Annie Livingstone as Dancer

            Phineas Newborn III as Quarterback Dancer

            Tita Omeze as Dancer

            Regan Patno as Dancer

            J.W. Smith as Police Officer

            Kristi Somers as Rikki

            Zoe Trilling as Dancer

            Paris Vaughan as Dancer

            Lee Arnone as Mrs. Lemsky

            Alison Brown as Featured Dancer-Gymnast

            Shaun Bryant as Dave

            Deanna Claire as Tiffany

            Olive Dunbar as Sister Kathleen

            Valerie Grear as Sister Immaculata

            Noreen Hennessy as Carol

            Mika as School Girl

            John Moore as Dancer

            Jim Ruttman as Dancer

            Sharon Shayne as Choir Sister

            Mark Slama as Dancer

            Cecilie A. Stuart as Featured Dancer

            Susan Styles as Sally

            Linda Talcott as Dancer

            Amelia Kinkade as Dancer

            Michael Higgins as Featured Dancer
See full cast