Drama,Romance
United States of America
A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon is a 1988 coming-of-age film directed by William Richert. The film follows Jimmy Reardon (played by River Phoenix), a recent high school graduate who is unsure about his future plans. His father (played by Paul Koslo) wants him to go to a business school and follow in his footsteps, but Jimmy isn't interested.
Instead, he decides to escape his mundane life in Chicago and go to Hawaii with his girlfriend, Lisa (played by Meredith Salenger). The problem is, he doesn't have any money to get there. He convinces his best friend, Fred (played by Matthew Perry), to lend him his car and they embark on a road trip to make enough cash to fund their trip to Hawaii.
As they journey through various towns, Jimmy meets several different women and experiences a series of romantic encounters. However, he also begins to have second thoughts about leaving his family and realizes how much he actually loves and respects his father. When Jimmy's mother unexpectedly arrives in town, he has a heart-to-heart with his dad and they come to understand each other better.
The film is a nostalgic look at teenage angst and growing up in the late 1950s. River Phoenix delivers a strong performance as the charming and impulsive Jimmy, while the supporting cast helps to flesh out the various characters he encounters on his journey. While it didn't perform well at the box office, A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon has since gained a cult following and is appreciated for its period setting, quirky characters, and poignant message about family and identity.
