Just One of the Guys

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Lisa Gottlieb directs. John McPherson behind the camera. Tom Scott scores. Tony Lombardo cuts. Profitable at the box office. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

• 141 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
• 2Directed by Lisa Gottlieb, shot by John McPherson. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
• 3Original score by Tom Scott. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
• 4Editor Tony Lombardo shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
• 5Joyce Hyser and Clayton Rohner and Billy Jayne carry the top of the cast.
• 6Marketing tagline: "She's about to go where no girl has gone before!".
• 7IMDB entry: tt0089393 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
• 8Released under 11 different titles around the world.

The technical file

Cinematography

John McPherson

Original score

Tom Scott

Editing

Tony Lombardo

Production design

Paul Peters

Makeup / hair

Marvin C. Thompson

Sound

Wayne Artman

Stunt coordinator

Steve M. Davison

Runtime

100 min · 1h 40m

Aspect ratio (typical)

1.37:1 (Academy)

Status

Released

Budget

$11,500,000

Box office

$11,528,900

Return

100% of budget

Original language

EN

Certification (US)

PG-13

IMDB

Just One of the Guys (1985) ↗

Also by

Lisa Gottlieb

• 
  Freddy's Nightmares

  1988 · ★ 7.2
• 
  Cadillac Ranch

  1996 · ★ 4.7
• 
  Across the Moon

  1994 · ★ 4.2
• 
  Murder in a Mist

  1980

Stills · wallpapers

Selected frames

Full-resolution frames — open one to save it as a wallpaper.

Wallpaper Wallpaper Wallpaper

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

• 

  ▶
  Rick Stands Up to the Greg in the Cafeteria (Scene)

  Clip · Official
• 

  ▶
  Greg Interrupts Terry & Rick’s Conversation with Denise (Scene)

  Clip · Official
• 

  ▶
  Just One of the Guys (1985) ORIGINAL TRAILER [HD 1080p]

  Trailer

Community reviews

What people are saying

• Reno2016-11-23
  ★ 7/10

  Who said the beautiful girls are not smart enough! I always like the 80s films, because that's the time the teen films were revolutionised. I did not know this film's existence, also not knew 'She's the Man' was its remake. Very enjoyable comedy flick. It was not a flawless film, but they were minimised. This is the story of Terry, a senior high school girl who after failed to get her desired summer job at a local press, she decides to reapply for the internship disguised as a boy with the help of her little brother. The rest follows what she's going to achieve from her new getup. I really don't know any of these actors, but I liked them all, especially the lead actress. As I have seen many similar films, I don't think it failed to get my attention. So 80s, I mean very impressive like usual with slow and steady narration. You should not compare it to the present teen films. It was not just a different era film, but smartly highlighted the trend among the high school kids of the 80s. Particularly like the relationship and sexually perspectives, though not that strong contents. I don't think everybody would like it, especially the todays youngsters, but surely the 80s and the 90s guys would enjoy it. I was not even born when it came out, though I feel my generation was very close to it than the present. If you have not seen many films like this theme, you should try it, but watch out for the slow story progression. That's the only thing that might disappoint the viewers, but if you are okay with that, then it is a better film than you would have anticipated. 7/10

  Read full review ↓
• Wuchak2020-03-12
  ★ 6/10

  A popular girl masquerades as a new male student and it naturally presents amusing problems Terry, a teenager in Phoenix (Joyce Hyser), feels she has no choice but to become a male student in order to compete in a journalistic contest at her high school. Clayton Rohner plays her new best friend (Rick) once she’s a “guy” while Billy Jayne plays her annoyingly superficial brother (Buddy). William Zabka (Greg) appears as the antagonist (you might remember him in the same role a year earlier in “The Karate Kid”). Toni Hudson (Denise) and Sherilyn Fenn (Sandy) are also on hand. “Just One of the Guys” (1985) is a fun 80’s teen flick that’s superior to overrated crap like “The Breakfast Club” (1985) but not great like “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” (1982) or “The Karate Kid” (1984). I’d put it on par with “Can’t Buy Me Love” (1987); both have a glaring campy side (unlike those other three) and were shot in Arizona. Hyser was great for the role because she looks stunning in a bikini, but also passes well for a dude when made-up appropriately. This is no small feat when you consider how filmmakers failed to do this is the serious Western “The Ballad of Little Jo” (1993). The film runs 1 hour and 40 minutes and was shot in Arizona: Phoenix (Terry & Buddy's House and the caves), Scottsdale (school) Tempe (Big Surf). GRADE: B/B-

  Read full review ↓

Production companies

Who made it

• TR

  Triton

• SU

  Summa Entertainment Group

• 

  Columbia Pictures

  US

Key crew

• Camera OperatorNorman G. Langley
• Script SupervisorMarshall Schlom
• Unit Production ManagerDon Goldman
• Second Assistant DirectorDennis Capps
• First Assistant DirectorBill Scott
• StuntsDiane Peterson
• StuntsMatt Johnston
• StuntsSandy Berumen
• Location ManagerPatricia Fay
• Dolly GripDave MacDonald
• Set DecorationRichard Reams
• Makeup ArtistMarvin C. Thompson
• First Assistant EditorKenneth C. Paonessa
• Sound EditorMark Gordon
• CostumerGeorge L. Little
• Music EditorTed Whitfield
• Production Sound MixerPetur Hliddal
• CostumerLinda Matthews
• LeadmanBruce Andrews
• Editorial StaffGina Lombardo
• HairstylistYolanda Toussieng
• Construction CoordinatorBruce J. Gfeller
• Supervising Sound EditorTom McCarthy Jr.
• StuntsSteve M. Davison

Themes & keywords

What it's about, really

• high school
• adolescence
• sexism
• cross dressing
• teen comedy
• woman director

Release history · US

When it landed

• Theatrical1985-04-26PG-13

Also known as

International titles

• Un chico como todosES
• Als Junge ist sie SpitzeDE
• Un muchacho como todosPE
• I Was a Teenage BoyUS
• ¿Un "chico" como todos...?ES
• Un Muchacho Como TodosSV
• Quase Igual aos OutrosBR
• 年轻的主张CN
• Laß mich mal ranDE
• Aramızda Casus VarTR
• 저스트 원 오브 더 가이즈KR