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Receive no more
telephone calls
from telemarketers
selling junk.
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| Released By: | Island Pictures / 20th Century Fox |
| Year: | 1988 |
| Director: | William Richert |
| Screenplay: | William Richert |
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"There seems to be a growing distance between what I am
and what you determine me to be."
Based on the director's own youth and his novel Aren't You Even Gonna Kiss Me Goodbye? the movie portrays the exploits of seventeen year old high school Romeo, Jimmy Reardon, as he attempts to earn $85 for a plane ticket to fly with his girlfriend to Hawaii.
Despite strong objections from his father, River, Arlyn Phoenix and his agent, Iris Burton were keen for him to do the film in the hope that it would prove the young star to be a more rounded, serious adult actor. All three would later come to regret the decision. "Jimmy Reardon was one big mistake," River would say. "I was very naïve and didn't know that I was misusing my talents in a major way. I was exploiting something special."
The film lost its focus when it was taken over by Twentieth Century Fox during production who turned it into what River described as "a sex comedy." When the film was released in 1988 however it did become something of a small hit much to River's annoyance. "I don't agree with that kind of film," he said during its release.
The critics slated the movie however - something which River would later blame himself for. "It didn't turn out the way I thought it would. I'm not sure I was even the right person for the role. For it to work, I think you want to see someone a little bit more masculine, like Tom Cruise. He'd have done it much better than me."
Playing his guitar during breaks on the set, the director noticed River's talent and asked him to write the theme song for the film. The song River wrote, "Hard to Get" ultimately did not get included in the film but did get noticed by the head of Island Records who offered him a deal to develop him.
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