Fresh and Exciting

everything you have heard about this movie is true.

A lot of fun.

This movie tries so hard to be funny, yet it falls flat every time. Just another example of recycled ideas repackaged with women in an attempt to appeal to a certain audience.

Released in 1985, "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" mixes the 80's teen/school genre with the 80's dance genre. The story revolves around a Catholic school girl (Sarah Jessica Parker) who hooks up with a cool guy from public school (Lee Montgomery) to enter a TV dance competition. A young Helen Hunt is on hand as the protagonist's best friend while cutie Holly Gagnier plays her spoiled nemesis. A 12 year-old Shannen Doherty appears as Montgomery's little sister.To be expected, "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" is a fun, energetic flick, sort of like "Heavenly Bodies," but more teen-oriented; and lighter than "Footloose." Although these 1984 films are leagues better, "Girls" is a great movie for when you're in the mood for a lighthearted fun 80's flick. Sarah was 19 years-old during filming and never looked better; same thing with Holly Gagnier, except she was 26 at the time. And Montgomery plays a great "hip" male protagonist; it's a wonder his career never took off. If you like him, be sure to catch him in his final movie, 1988's "Into the Fire," aka "The Legend of Wolf Lodge" (although he plays the same type of character as in "Girls," the movie's an adult-oriented tragedy).Interestingly, the producers didn't use Cyndi Lauper's version of the title song for licensing reasons, but the cover version is acceptable.The film runs 90 minutes and was shot in L.A. and Chicago.GRADE: B

With a title like "Girls Just Want To Have Fun", I didn't think that this would be my kind of movie when I sat down to watch it, even though I grew up during the '80s. But I have to admit that the experience was better than I thought it would be. First, unlike many teen movies (from the 80s or later), the movie's tone is anything but crude. It is instead bouncy and likable. The two leads played by Sarah Jessica Parker and Shannen Doherty have some good chemistry together and are appealing. And it's always nice to see Ed Lauter in a movie.Still, while my experience with the movie was better than I thought it would be, this isn't a movie that I'll probably watch again. While the movie never looks seriously cheap, it is pretty obvious that the budget was somewhat tight, seeing that we seldom get to see wide shots (among other clues, one of them being that the few recognizable songs in the movie are performed by no-names rather than the original artists.) Also, while Parker and Doherty are appealing, they were clearly beyond their teen years when they made this movie. But the biggest problem I had was the utter predictability of the script. There is no plot turn in the movie that you haven't seen dozens of times in other movies.I do think that there are some people who will like this movie - probably women who grew up during the '80s who are nostalgic for the era. But if you aren't one of those women, I would strongly caution you.

Did anyone else notice that Janey's little brother totally checks out her breasts and crotch..the most obvious was when she comes out in her underwear- it's hysterical. This movie brings me so much joy, especially when the girls pass out fliers in the gay district of Chicago..and they end up at that bizarre gay daytime dance club. I'm rolling on the floor laughing at that point. My friends and I play drinking games to this film. Whenever Shannon Doherty appears and says something really dumb, you have to take a drink. ten minutes into the film we are trashed. There is also another scene where Janey is grounded and lying in bed with the sheets pulled over her.. and there's a buzzing noise. Yes, i think it's a vibrator. This movie oozes sexual energy. i love the black lesbian twins and their amazing man-like costumes. pure joy. My friend Micheal and I learned their dance routine and perform it at parties. I remember watching this movie when i was a kid, when i was 5 and all-female slumber party, and it made me love Cindy Lauper more than i already do. Shannon Doherty owes her career to this film. another Shannon Doherty gem is Heathers.

Perfect mindless entertainment! A relic from gen-x girls' past... if you can laugh at the spectacular awfulness of it (and stop looking for a Sex in the City prequel) then this movie is nothing but 80's super-stylized fun.Not only are the ridiculous dancing, music and clothes entertaining on their own, but you get to see critically acclaimed actors attempt to glamorize it all, back when they were at the bottom of the industry food chain. Place this one next to Dirty Dancing and Footloose. Highly recommended to anyone who grew up in the 80's!