When a movie has you begging for it to end not even half way through it's pure crap. We've all seen this movie and this characters millions of times, nothing new in it. Don't waste your time.

a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

This movie is a gem. It's funny and highly enjoyable. Yes, River's character is a bit of a jerk, but they cleverly added something to his character, he's a poet. It's the only deep thing about him that makes him seem human. Something that really makes Jimmy unlikable is that he thinks with his dick. but I really admire him because once he made up his mind about doing something, he did whatever he could to make it happen. The one thing that made absolutely no sense though, was the fact that he was best friends with a guy who was afraid of girls, what the hell did they have in common? The quote at the very beginning saying that our goal is to realize that we have always been where we ought to be, completely epitomizes how Jimmy was supposed to go to business school like his father had wanted him to, the ending also goes along with this very well. Jimmy Reardon was an extremely original character, I don't think we've seen one like him before or since. God Bless William Richert.

A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon (1988) was another starring vehicle for River Phoenix. The film is filled with a lot of teen stars that paraded around on the silver screen during the eighties. But unlike the teen comedies of today, these were rated R are just rated that way to get more of their core viewers. This was a great era for River Phoenix. He was starring like in every other big production that came out of Hollywood. But like all the stars, they eventually come down hard and River Phoenix was no exception.The movie is about the life of a wild teen. He has all sorts of adventures and conquests. His home life is also a battlefield. Dealing with his absent father and girlfriend take a toll on his personal life as well as his school life. That is also a problem. At his age many kids are at a crossroads on what to do with their adult life. Go to school or get a job like his old man. What is a rapscallion like Jimmy going to do? Until that one wild night comes and passes.Just another run-of-the-mill teen comedy from the eighties. Except this one's a River Phoenix starring vehicle. Nothing more, nothing less. Recommended for fans of eighties films.

I was only 17. I was expecting a John Hughes film. if this had been an "indie" movie it would have done better, but the movie was Advertised to america like a regular (ie. happy) movie. it does have some spotty acting, slow parts, etc. but the big problem is the only thing I got from the movie (no pleasure, no pay off, no catharsis was):Jimmy has no heart of gold, he is dross. and the film is good at depicting the story of a man who realizes he will be a cheatin', no good jerk like his father, and that he really does not care. he seems at one with his shallowness. I don't think most teens could accept the idea that they are not good, not bad, just blah with such grace. a real human would not just shrug and accept his loserness..when he seemed to have a glimmer of more. It takes longer for life to beat you down at that.I walked out of the movie theater at the age of 17 thinking "THIS SUCKED compared to FERRIS BUELLER" and I was right. 15 years later, I am still right.

I miss movies like these. strong and poetic writing with intense narration by Phoenix. the story is at the same time simple but influent and memorable to our common lives of all days.the scene when Phoenix rides the car through the alleys and talking about cigars is hardly forgotten.we all, not even for once, have lived like this, we all have been a teen like this, we all have had our small and big frustrations like these, and we all have had surprises... ...and there's always a new day to come.;)RIC