Johnny Be Good
| Johnny Be Good | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Bud Smith |
| Produced by | Adam Fields |
| Written by |
Steve Zacharias Jeff Buhai David Obst |
| Starring |
Anthony Michael Hall Robert Downey Jr. Paul Gleason Uma Thurman Jennifer Tilly |
| Music by |
Jay Ferguson Judas Priest |
| Cinematography | Robert D. Yeoman |
| Editing by | Scott Smith |
| Studio | Orion Pictures |
| Distributed by | Orion Pictures |
| Release dates |
|
| Running time | 91 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $17,550,399 |
Johnny Be Good is a 1988 American comedy film directed by Bud Smith, starring Anthony Michael Hall as the main character, Johnny Walker. The film also features Robert Downey Jr., Steve James, Jennifer Tilly and Uma Thurman in her film debut. Former Chicago Bears quarterback Jim McMahon makes a cameo appearance.
Judas Priest and Ted Nugent, among others, contributed to the soundtrack. The title track, "Johnny B. Goode", originally recorded by Chuck Berry, was re-recorded by Judas Priest for their album, Ram It Down.
Plot
Johnny Walker (Hall) is the top high school quarterback prospect who is heavily recruited by many schools. His best friend, Leo Wiggins (Downey), thinks he should hold out for the best offer. His girlfriend, Georgia (Thurman), wants him to go to State with her and get a solid education. The colleges offer him everything he could possibly want — girls, cars, cash, free room and board, etc. One school even buys Leo a car. His coach, Wayne Hisler (Gleason), who he really can't stand, even tries to sell him out by striking a deal with one of the interested colleges to become their next Head Coach. Although he has all the skills a coach would want in a quarterback, he is unsure where he wants to go. His recruitment is followed closely by a recruiting investigator (Downey, Sr.) who is trying to make sure everything is on the "up and up". Although Johnny lives with his mother, grandfather, younger brother and sister, he is offered everything and anything by every interested college except for the local State College, which is where he ends up going anyway.
Cast
- Anthony Michael Hall as Johnny Walker
- Robert Downey Jr. as Leo Wiggins
- Paul Gleason as Wayne Hisler
- Uma Thurman as Georgia Elkans
- Steve James as Coach Sanders
- Seymour Cassel as Wallace Gibson
- John Pankow as Lou Landers
- Jennifer Tilly as Connie Hisler
- Deborah May as Mrs. Walker
- Jim McMahon as Himself (cameo)
- Howard Cosell as Himself (cameo)
- Robert Downey Sr. as NCAA Investigator
Filming
The film was filmed in part in Georgetown, Texas and at Thomas Jefferson High School and Alamo Heights High School in San Antonio. The scene where Anthony Michael Hall runs down the corridor near the end was filmed at St Mary's University San Antonio Texas. One scene was filmed in New Braunfels Texas at Keno's Drive Inn grocery and bait store.
Reception
The film was universally panned by critics upon its release. Johnny Be Good maintains a rare zero percent rating among movie critics according to Rotten Tomatoes.
Awards and nominations
Nugent's contribution to the soundtrack, "Skintight", earned nomination for a 1988 Golden Raspberry Award as Worst Original Song.
External links
- Johnny Be Good at the Internet Movie Database
- Johnny Be Good at allmovie
- Johnny Be Good at Rotten Tomatoes
- Johnny Be Good at Box Office Mojo