The Boyfriend School

source: The Boyfriend School

Loved this movie! Shelley Long is outstanding in this smart, well written, well acted comedy! She created a memorable character who is as hilarious as she is charming. I don't want to short-change the rest of the cast, however---Steve Gutenberg and Jami Gertz were wonderful and had great chemistry together. I didn't even know about this movie when it came out in 1990. Was it not promoted at all? What a shame, and thank goodness for DVDs! All three of these actors should have been in more movies and had more promotion. When I think of some of the awkward writing, wooden acting, and just downright awful movies I have seen over the years, it makes me truly ill to think of actors of this caliber being overlooked. Watching this movie was a lovely way to spend an afternoon!

I am a fan of romantic movies but this one was sorely lacking. The movie is supposed to be about a guy falling in love with a beautiful girl and then going to extraordinary lengths to get her. Well, my biggest problem with the movie was why he would go after the Jamie Gertz character. Her character is pretty but she's also very shallow. She rejected him for his looks at the beginning of the movie. Her character was not very sympathetic. If anything once he won her over as Lobo he should have dumped her so she could know how rejection felt. Anyhow, if you want to see a good romantic movie watch Cannery Row, Tootsie, Starting Over, or The Princess Bride.

This is just a cute popcorn romance movie that is unlike any other comedy/romance movie i've seen before. Based on the book "The Boyfriend School." Guttenburg looks handsome, Gertz is charming as the initially shallow object of affection. Shelly Long steals every scene she's in with an overly cheery, matter o' fact personality. It's a simple story, but it works. Guttenburg plays hapless Gus, who falls in love with Emily (Gertz.) Realizing that she would never go for him in his present state (he's recently won his bout with Hodgkins) he transforms himself into romance novelesque "Lobo" the mysterious hunky foreign stranger (with the assistance of his romance novel author sister Lizzie (Long.) In an effort to win her heart. I won't ruin the movie for those of you who haven't seen it, it's fun, refreshing and a cute little movie with memorable scenes, characters and an original premise.

This movie is the worst, most pathetic 'comedy' I have ever been subjected to! It is dull as hell, and you don't even care about the characters! This movie is cliched, boring and stupid! My review would be more indepth, but words can'r fully express how bad this movie is!

The on-screen chemistry between Jami Gertz and Steve Guttenberg is excellent in this movie and it is this chemistry which makes the movie so appealing. Not a blockbuster movie, but one which can be enjoyed for the fact that it is a pleasant feel good story. Jami Gertz is particularly good in this film , it is a shame that she has not appeared more often in the late 90's apart from her appearance in "Twister". Great performance also from Shelley Long.

Another engrossing and insightful piece of filmmaking from Malcolm Mowbray, proving once and for all that his name deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as Truffaut, Godard and Chabrol. However, it is not for Mowbray's talents that this film will be remembered always; in 'Don't Tell Her...', we at last find a stage upon which Steve Guttenberg's talent may shine, and shine alone. Guttenberg essays the role of Gus Kubicek, recovering from a recent illness which has forced him to confront the truth of his own mortality. In a touching scene, clearly reminiscent of the closing moments of Nagasa's Ai No Corrida, Kubicek's sister (Shelley Long) pledges to support him in the quest to recover a semblance of his sense of self. What follows is a poignant and moving account of one man's struggle to pretend to be a biker from New Zealand. Surprising, shocking and at times brutally honest, it is only by virtue of Guttenberg's sheer, uncompromising talent that the film remains as fluid and engaging as it is. He gives a breathtaking performance, the unique subtlety of his acting almost imperceptible as he deftly switches between the persona of the overweight cartoonist and the biker from New Zealand. Unencumbered by having to share the screen with the clumsier talents of Selleck, Danson et al, Guttenburg turns 'Don't Tell Her' into a stunning and exhilarating tour de force, elevating the film to a supern example of highly original post-modern cinema verite.

At the start of this movie, Steve Guttenberg is fat, bald, pale and cancer-ridden. It's funny because by the end of this movie I kinda wished I was dead of cancer. If you don't know what this movie is about, thank god. IF YOU MUST know, its about the Gute fixing himself up with the help of Diane from Cheers to woo Jamie Gertz of all people. If you are going to go through that much trouble, at least get a HOT chick. And I don't know how many times I saw Steve promoting this movie telling the story about how when he was just walking around as himself, no one payed any attention to him, but once he looked like Lorenzo lamas, all the girls were like "Hey Mr. S!" Wow! So you are attracted to girls who talk like Fonzie? Great, good to know Steve. OK, so he goes through the whole routine, she falls for Lobo (which is THE dumbest name!) and then guess what? She finds out its him! Did you see that coming? if not you are a dense piece of dung. Do me a favor. Look at all the people's comments, and find people who liked this movie. Then, report them to the complete asshole police. These are the people in High School who took Gym to seriously or the assholes who have no respect for a line or the guy who can't fold his paper on the Subway. OK. To sum up, avoid this movie. If you want good Guttenberg, keep dreaming, I can't think of one.

The Boyfriend School has to be my favorite comic novel of all time, followed closely by Kotzwinkle's Midnight Examiner. I was disappointed that the screenplay told the story from Gus's point of view, which removed the element of surprise that made the novel so wonderful. Gretchen got turned into an "Emily," when one of her self-esteem issues had to do with her name. And what happened to Juanita? I loved Juanita! I can't bear to talk about what was done to the character of Trout. However, the casting of the main characters, Lizzie, Gus, and the newly christened "Emily," was excellent. I'm waiting for a remake from the point of view of Gretchen. The novel is still at the top of my list and lying in permanent repose on my nightstand, with a "loaner" copy available for my friends.

Having just won a battle against leukemia cartoonist Gus Kubicek (Guttenberg)is bald, chubby and not to mention lonely his novelist sister Lizzie Potts (Long) tries to set him up with suitable women. Emily Pear (Gertz) is a young and beautiful reporter whose looking for the right man, after a disastrous first meeting with Gus Lizzie takes it upon herself to transform her brother into a hunk of a man. After a new makeover Lizzie gives him a new name not to mention accent he is now known as Lobo a bad boy biker from New Zealand. Emily finds herself in love with him but Gus wonders if she could ever love the man he really is or a fake dream guy. Steve Guttenberg gave a funny yet touchy performance as Gus Kubicek and Lobo while Jamie Gertz adds a nice touch as his love interest 7/10 Stars