Romy and Michele's High School Reunion (1997)

68% of critics liked it
(50 reviews)
60% of users liked it
(179,127 ratings)

Two dimwitted pals attempt to fib their way through their high school reunion with disastrous results in this bubbly comedy from David Mirkin, frequent director of the cult TV sitcom Get a Life!. Los Angeles dim-bulbs Romy (Mira Sorvino) and Michelle (Lisa Kudrow) have been best friends since… More Two dimwitted pals attempt to fib their way through their high school reunion with disastrous results in this bubbly comedy from David Mirkin, frequent director of the cult TV sitcom Get a Life!. Los Angeles dim-bulbs Romy (Mira Sorvino) and Michelle (Lisa Kudrow) have been best friends since childhood. Their shared passions include shopping, club-hopping, and creating their own candy-colored fashions. When their tenth high school reunion looms, the friends realize that their lives are not impressive enough to cow the popular crowd that tormented them in their teen years. So Romy borrows a Jaguar, and the duo concocts a story about how they became top corporate executives by creating Post-It Notes. Once they are at the reunion, however, Romy and Michelle's scheme unravels. Saturnine classmate Heather (Janeane Garofalo), who really did make a fortune as an inventor, exposes their fraud, and the girls find themselves mocked again, by everyone except Sandy Frink (Alan Cumming), a nerd millionaire with a lingering crush on Michelle. Kudrow reprised the role of Michelle from her late 1980s stage performance in the play Ladies' Room by Robin Schiff, who expanded both the play and the part of Michelle for the feature film version. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 31 min.
Directed By: David Mirkin, Alan Cumming
Written By: Robin Schiff
Genres: Comedy

In Theaters: Apr 25, 1997 Wide
On DVD: May 15, 2001

Critic Reviews

Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
Kudrow's Michele is a deadpan delight.
Jack Mathews, Los Angeles Times
Beneath the endless silliness of the movie beats a real heart
Sean Means, Film.com
Isn't so much a movie as an overly long pilot episode of some new "Must See TV'' sitcom.
John Hartl, Film.com
For all its bright moments, 91 minutes turns out to be more than this joke can sustain.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Sorvino and Kudrow work easily and wickedly together.
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee
What laughs there are in the movie -- and there are a lot of them -- are mitigated by the rampant negativity.
Josh Bell, Las Vegas Weekly
Sheer, ridiculous, campy fun.
Rob Vaux, Flipside Movie Emporium
I just can't resist stories about misfits, even as slight and forgettable as this one.
Philip Martin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
It's not stupid. It's adorable. There's a difference.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
Hilarious comedy about the challenges of friendship and the yearning all of us have to find something to do that is fun and fulfilling.

Read all 10 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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

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Featured Audience Ratings

Cassie H

This movie is hilarious. Not only did I love it because Lisa Kudrow was in it but I loved it because of the humor and the characters. Michele: You had gotten really thin by then. Romy: I know. I was so lucky getting mono, that was like the best diet ever. Love this movie and… More
This movie is hilarious. Not only did I love it because Lisa Kudrow was in it but I loved it because of the humor and the characters. Michele: You had gotten really thin by then. Romy: I know. I was so lucky getting mono, that was like the best diet ever. Love this movie and would recommend it if you love to laugh like I do. Just Great! Lisa Kudrow Rox! Don't Miss Out! Such a fun movie & the music rocks! :) I love it!!!! :) :) :)
Jennifer X

Lisa Kudrow and Mira Sorvino have THE most brilliant comic timing. I have so much fun watching this movie. This is the original Legally Blonde and all its derivatives, folks.
Nicki M

Watched this again last night (for about the 20th time). Honestly, I never get tired of it. It is by no means a deep or meaningful film, but it is such good fun, and I just sit there laughing every time, even though I know what is coming and could probably quote the whole thing… More
Watched this again last night (for about the 20th time). Honestly, I never get tired of it. It is by no means a deep or meaningful film, but it is such good fun, and I just sit there laughing every time, even though I know what is coming and could probably quote the whole thing before they say it. Mira Sorvino and Lisa Kudrow are perfect as Romy & Michele - two best friends since high school facing the grim realisation that their lives aren't "actually that impressive", and trying very hard to impress their old high school enemies, getting into many situations and scrapes along the way. The end moral of this is be yourself, and really, these characters are so great, you wonder why they would want to be anyone else to start with. The supporting cast is also excellent. I love Jacob Vargas as Ramon, and Julia Campbell's bitchy Christie (didn't we all know a girl or two like her back in high school?!). Also Janeane Garofalo, Alan Cumming and Elain Hendrix - really I can't fault any of them. I really don't care how many people say this is a bad movie, as far as I am concerned, it is a classic!
Anthony L

It had about 2 funny bits in the whole film.
Coxxie M

i really cant say what drove me to watch this. there must have been all reality shows on the other channels. though it wasnt a wretched demon of a movie
Candy R

Ever wondered why your life didn't turn out the way you hoped? Romy and Michele have a school reunion and makeup stories about their life to impress their old class mates.
Wildaly M

I can't believe I've watched these sort of movies.
Mason W

Romy and Michele's High School Reunion; is such a funny light and fluffy film. Mira Sorvino and Kisa Kudrow play best friends from high school whom never parted ways (Sorvino and Kudrow are too funny in this). Both ladies (Kudrow and Sorvino) find out while living in CA that… More
Romy and Michele's High School Reunion; is such a funny light and fluffy film. Mira Sorvino and Kisa Kudrow play best friends from high school whom never parted ways (Sorvino and Kudrow are too funny in this). Both ladies (Kudrow and Sorvino) find out while living in CA that the big 10 yr High School Reunion is around the corner. Since being the black sheep of the class they want to go back and show everyone who is the most improved women of the class. My fav scene is the dream sequence both main chatacterrs have since they are fighting...all I have to say is I AM THE MARY...YPU ARE RHODA!!! lol
Robert C

Still makes me laugh, even after numerous viewings.
Nani V

This movie always cheers me up! It's one where I can always watch it over and over again.
Lafe F

Fun movie set in the 80's decade. I graduated in 1986, so this would be the class after mine. I didn't like the throwaway dream sequence in the middle of the movie. Those girls were so sweet and charming. Great 80's music.
Rachel F

This is an adorable film plus its really funny.
Kylie B

Yes, I really enjoyed it, and I'm not ashamed. It reminded me a lot of Clueless in style, which for me is a good thing. The trio dance is in the running for some of the campest things I've ever seen. It may not be challenging but it's a hell of a movie to watch when you… More
Yes, I really enjoyed it, and I'm not ashamed. It reminded me a lot of Clueless in style, which for me is a good thing. The trio dance is in the running for some of the campest things I've ever seen. It may not be challenging but it's a hell of a movie to watch when you need cheering up.
Dean M

Two thumbs up for the dumb blondes - so hilarious.
xGary X

A rather shizophrenic combination of teen high school comedy and parody of a teen high school comedy that get's really surreal in places (the dream sequence was surely nicked from Absolutely Fabulous!) Mira and Lisa make an endearingly dim-witted couple (think Bill and Ted in… More
A rather shizophrenic combination of teen high school comedy and parody of a teen high school comedy that get's really surreal in places (the dream sequence was surely nicked from Absolutely Fabulous!) Mira and Lisa make an endearingly dim-witted couple (think Bill and Ted in wonder bras) and it did make me laugh. A bit.
danny d

i love mira but this is awful
Jason S

Not that bad. I know. I was suprised as well.
Leigh R

Fantastic. So wonderful...
Joseph E

Lisa kudrow scores a 10!
Deb S

Romy and Michele were losers in high school, and not much has changed in the ten years since. They live in a trashy apartment, with no jobs, no boyfriends, and no sense of fashion. Romy is ashamed of their life and forces Michele to join her in a maniacal plan to lose weight and find… More
Romy and Michele were losers in high school, and not much has changed in the ten years since. They live in a trashy apartment, with no jobs, no boyfriends, and no sense of fashion. Romy is ashamed of their life and forces Michele to join her in a maniacal plan to lose weight and find boyfriends and great jobs. However with the reunion looming, she decides that with no prospects, they'll have to improvise. Armed with business suits, cell phones, and a story about inventing post-its, they take the reunion by storm under the guise of successful businesswomen. Mira Sorvino and Lisa Kudrow are an excellent match-up, believable as best friends. Inevitably, they are exposed, and learn that the most important thing is that they remain true to themselves. I would be lying if I said that it was a classic, but thanks to some good acting, and very well judged humor it manages to amuse.