Foolin' Around (1980)
A working-class boy falls for a girl from a wealthy family, and must compete for her with a rich boy who also wants her.
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A Brilliant Conflict
Yes, absolutely, there is fun to be had, as well as many, many things to go boom, all amid an atmospheric urban jungle.
Pretty funny. The supporting roles are really out of this world and its a true throwback to '30s movies. Bucey's not bad, but I noticed a little cameo by one of my favorite bit players, John Stinson. Funny as heck, I catch everything he does. Unfortunately I see that he left the scene pretty early on and want to know what he's up to. By a strange stroke of luck I saw a play he produced in Philly called "Nightclub Confidential," again bringing in a hard-won and dry sense of humor, good looks, and a little hope too. His TV performances are no doubt hilarious and I honestly just wish that Stinson had gone leading man. Interestingly, I hear he married another little known but talented actress, Diana Davidson. Together they star in Scared to Death; in which Stinson steals the scene again. *At least Davidson is easy on the eyes, people. A bit breathy. A bit overdone. At least she has Stinson catching her falls.
The fact that this little gem of a movie isn't on DVD in an age when every bad film ever made had met it's digital home is a crime against cinephiles everywhere. I loved this movie as a kid and still have it on VHS but it is very worn and needs to have a DVD upgrade very soon.You have an all-star cast, a whip-smart script and one of the most underrated performances of Tony Randall's career. What more are you people waiting for.If you get a chance and happen to come across a VHS copy at your local video store, do yourself a favor and pick it up. It is well worth your time, for Tony Randall if nothing else.
This movie has too much adult material in it, but if you accept that fact, it is a pretty good movie. Busey plays Wes, a likable underdog from Fort Cobb, Oklahoma. His friend Clay has been going to the University of Minnesota, and Wes enrolls to learn building engineering. Susan's grandfather offers wisdom to young Wes. Seals and Crofts perform the title song and "These Moments Never Live Again." The movie paints Minnesota in a favorable light. It shows a Vikings game and the Mississippi River, and it gives you the feeling you're right there. There is a lot of silliness in this movie, but, then, it's called "Foolin' Around."
Even if you're not a Busey fan, you'll love Annette O'Toole and the dialogue in this jewel. Typical poor boy meets rich girl and must out-do her rich boyfriend and win the beauty. At the end, Busey (Wes) flies through the church's stained glass window on a hang-glider to object to the wedding and save her from making a big mistake. Then, a nice happy ending. Busey is funny in this one as a 70's countrified-dork. One scene has him trying to play tennis and taking a serve right in the nads...it must've taken several hundred takes to get that shot...PERFECT DATE MOVIE, especially if you're in his shoes!