Johnny Be Good

Well, it's Super Bowl Sunday, and if you are anything like me, you could care less. But if you want to get into the spirit without actually watching the game, I thought I would offer a suggestion, the 1988 teen football movie Johnny Be Good.

Anthony Michael Hall, who was desperate at this time to break free from the nerd persona he had created in his earlier John Hughes roles, stars as Johnny Walker. Walker is a top high school quarterback who is being heavily recruited by all of the big schools. And they are using any means necessary to try and land him. Johnny gets swept up in it all, much to the disapproval of his family, girlfriend, Uma Thurman, and best buddy, Robert Downey, Jr.

I will admit that this isn't a great movie, but it does have a lot of great moments. Most of those come from Downey, who seems like he is in a totally different film. I'm not sure if he just ad libbed all of his lines or if he was high as a kite when he shot this, but all of his actions are just odd and hysterical. The movie really drags when he isn't on screen. Downey, Sr. also makes an appearance as a mystery man following Johnny and has a funny moment when he is forced to watch Putney Swope, a film he directed.

This has a really great supporting cast, unfortunately they don't have a lot to do. This was Thurman's big screen debut and basically she is just eye candy. Paul Gleason, the go to guy to play the stern adult figure in so many 80's teen comedies, plays Johnny's coach. Seymour Cassel, Steve James, John Pankow, Marshall Bell, and Jennifer Tilley round out the cast. They even get Howard Cossell and Jim McMahon to make cameos.

Like I said, not a great movie, but worth a look for Downey's performance.

It's on dvd and blu ray.