Romy and Michele's High School Reunion (1997)
March 14, 2019 8:44 PM - Subscribe
Two offbeat, inseparable friends hit the road for their ten-year high school reunion and concoct an elaborate lie about their lives in order to impress their classmates.
Romy and Michele's High School Reunion is an enjoyable comedy about friendship, fitting in, standing out, and fighting your insecurities.
The film stars Lisa Kudrow, Mira Sorvino, Janeane Garofalo, Alan Cumming, and Camryn Manheim. It was directed by David Mirkin (from The Simpsons tv show), but it was written and created by Robin Schiff: based on a play she wrote, also starring Kudrow. The movie was released in the spring of 1997 and performed respectably. Roger Ebert gave it two thumbs up, saying "This one is light as a feather and cheerfully inconsequential, and most of the developments are predictable, but it has charm, a sly intelligence, and the courage to go for special effects sequences such as a weird run-in with a limo."
Vanity Fair interview with the creator on its 20th anniversary
Romy and Michele's High School Reunion is an enjoyable comedy about friendship, fitting in, standing out, and fighting your insecurities.
The film stars Lisa Kudrow, Mira Sorvino, Janeane Garofalo, Alan Cumming, and Camryn Manheim. It was directed by David Mirkin (from The Simpsons tv show), but it was written and created by Robin Schiff: based on a play she wrote, also starring Kudrow. The movie was released in the spring of 1997 and performed respectably. Roger Ebert gave it two thumbs up, saying "This one is light as a feather and cheerfully inconsequential, and most of the developments are predictable, but it has charm, a sly intelligence, and the courage to go for special effects sequences such as a weird run-in with a limo."
Vanity Fair interview with the creator on its 20th anniversary
I saw this for the first time relatively recently, in the last 5 years, and I thought it was really funny! Post-It Notes!
Perfect cast. Bechdel 3/3!
posted by rhizome at 1:01 AM on March 15, 2019 [3 favorites]
Perfect cast. Bechdel 3/3!
posted by rhizome at 1:01 AM on March 15, 2019 [3 favorites]
Perfect cast. Bechdel 3/3!
It should get a bonus point for also having both women's names in the title of the movie.
Conversely, if a movie has two female characters whose names are in the title but cannot pass any of the 3 criteria, then it should be -25/3 because how did they screw that up?
posted by acidnova at 1:16 AM on March 15, 2019 [1 favorite]
It should get a bonus point for also having both women's names in the title of the movie.
Conversely, if a movie has two female characters whose names are in the title but cannot pass any of the 3 criteria, then it should be -25/3 because how did they screw that up?
posted by acidnova at 1:16 AM on March 15, 2019 [1 favorite]
I remember seeing this years ago and finding it to be much worse than I had thought it was going to be. Like "apologizing to my date for dragging him to it" level of bad. It's one of those movies that had better scenes in the trailer and then somehow cut those from the actual movie and put in worse things instead. Why would you do that? I wish I liked it because this kind of Clueless-type style is up my alley, but...oy, did not.
posted by jenfullmoon at 6:02 AM on March 15, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by jenfullmoon at 6:02 AM on March 15, 2019 [2 favorites]
I also went on a sort-of-date with a friend to this and she apologized for dragging me to it but then we both really liked it. I can't really pinpoint why I like it but I've seen it several times now and always do. Nothing really stands out as amazing, but I like all of the actors and characters and it's funny and quick. It's also a lot smarter than similar dumb comedies. I have zero patience for many seemingly similar movies but this one worked for me.
posted by Clinging to the Wreckage at 7:27 AM on March 15, 2019 [5 favorites]
posted by Clinging to the Wreckage at 7:27 AM on March 15, 2019 [5 favorites]
I remember seeing this years ago and finding it to be much worse than I had thought it was going to be.
See, I remember the opposite. I thought it was going to be awful, but someone in my house rented it and I found it much better and smarter than the trailer had lead me to believe.
posted by asnider at 10:42 AM on March 15, 2019 [4 favorites]
See, I remember the opposite. I thought it was going to be awful, but someone in my house rented it and I found it much better and smarter than the trailer had lead me to believe.
posted by asnider at 10:42 AM on March 15, 2019 [4 favorites]
This is one of my favorite movies.
"Who wants to go to town with a guy who drives a rowboat" and "I just really like it when they let her shop" will forever be in my quote bank.
posted by mmmbacon at 2:02 PM on March 15, 2019 [3 favorites]
"Who wants to go to town with a guy who drives a rowboat" and "I just really like it when they let her shop" will forever be in my quote bank.
posted by mmmbacon at 2:02 PM on March 15, 2019 [3 favorites]
One of the best opening shots in cinema.
posted by Sphinx at 3:57 PM on March 15, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by Sphinx at 3:57 PM on March 15, 2019 [1 favorite]
> apologizing to my date for dragging him to it
> she apologized for dragging me to it
If this were a rom-com, this would be the moment when you realized that the Internet stranger you'd been talking with all these years was really so-and-so from high school and that you had fallen in love at your keyboards.
posted by The corpse in the library at 5:00 PM on March 15, 2019 [11 favorites]
> she apologized for dragging me to it
If this were a rom-com, this would be the moment when you realized that the Internet stranger you'd been talking with all these years was really so-and-so from high school and that you had fallen in love at your keyboards.
posted by The corpse in the library at 5:00 PM on March 15, 2019 [11 favorites]
My favorite quote is "Would you excuse me? I cut my foot before and my shoe is filling up with blood." I keep hoping that one day I'll get a chance to use it, but it never leaps to mind at the right moments.
Saw it in the theater with a straight male friend (I am gay) and we argued the whole way home about which one of us was the Mary and who was the Rhoda.
He's still the Rhoda.
posted by Spathe Cadet at 5:03 PM on March 15, 2019 [5 favorites]
Saw it in the theater with a straight male friend (I am gay) and we argued the whole way home about which one of us was the Mary and who was the Rhoda.
He's still the Rhoda.
posted by Spathe Cadet at 5:03 PM on March 15, 2019 [5 favorites]
Remember enjoying it but that's all, certainly worth streaming if you have a reunion coming up, possibly in a double bill with Grosse Pointe Blank, just to get in the right 'tude.
posted by sammyo at 8:48 AM on March 16, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by sammyo at 8:48 AM on March 16, 2019 [1 favorite]
I walked out of this movie. This, and Airheads.
posted by Don.Kinsayder at 3:16 PM on March 16, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by Don.Kinsayder at 3:16 PM on March 16, 2019 [1 favorite]
I super loved this movie. I should watch again as I can remember very few specifics.
posted by latkes at 11:52 AM on March 18, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by latkes at 11:52 AM on March 18, 2019 [2 favorites]
I watched movie in its first run. When, about half way through, they revealed that the first half was all a dream, I was like "nope, not sitting through that again" and walked out.
posted by Popular Ethics at 8:22 PM on March 24, 2019
posted by Popular Ethics at 8:22 PM on March 24, 2019
The first half was a dream? Wow my fond memories of this film have really decayed over time, I'd better watch it again.
posted by Coaticass at 4:06 AM on March 25, 2019
posted by Coaticass at 4:06 AM on March 25, 2019
From memory I felt the same way as this writer for Digital Spy- hailing the film as a "bona-fide feminist masterpiece". Apparently there's a musical version which opened and closed last year, sadly panned by Variety for lacking the charm and subtlety of the source material.
It's right up there with Muriel's Wedding in my book. Another uplifting comedy on the side of its hilariously flawed losers.
posted by Coaticass at 5:40 AM on March 25, 2019 [2 favorites]
It's right up there with Muriel's Wedding in my book. Another uplifting comedy on the side of its hilariously flawed losers.
posted by Coaticass at 5:40 AM on March 25, 2019 [2 favorites]
The first half was a dream?
No. There is a dream, but it runs from R&M's [first] arrival at the reunion to the future sequence where an elderly Romy dies. The "real" sequence then resumes with Michele waking up by herself in the car.
Source: I have seen Romy and Michele's High School Reunion more times than you could possibly imagine.1 Also the Wikipedia plot summary.
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1 (high single digits)
posted by Spathe Cadet at 8:32 AM on March 25, 2019 [5 favorites]
No. There is a dream, but it runs from R&M's [first] arrival at the reunion to the future sequence where an elderly Romy dies. The "real" sequence then resumes with Michele waking up by herself in the car.
Source: I have seen Romy and Michele's High School Reunion more times than you could possibly imagine.1 Also the Wikipedia plot summary.
-
1 (high single digits)
posted by Spathe Cadet at 8:32 AM on March 25, 2019 [5 favorites]
Wow, I guess this one is really polarizing in a way I wouldn't have expected.
I love this movie. Yes, it's ridiculous and formulaic, but the dialogue is so funny, and the performances are a lot of fun. My college roommate had it on tape and we used to watch it over and over again. The "business lady" exchange in the diner is one of my all-time favorites and I've been known to quote it. The fashions are so terrible and wonderful in that very specific late 90s way.
posted by lunasol at 5:54 PM on March 28, 2019 [3 favorites]
I love this movie. Yes, it's ridiculous and formulaic, but the dialogue is so funny, and the performances are a lot of fun. My college roommate had it on tape and we used to watch it over and over again. The "business lady" exchange in the diner is one of my all-time favorites and I've been known to quote it. The fashions are so terrible and wonderful in that very specific late 90s way.
posted by lunasol at 5:54 PM on March 28, 2019 [3 favorites]
It's like Singles was for grunge, or Valley Girl to 80s, or Lost Boys for a different part of the 80s. Sentimental iconocentric trash. If it hits you properly, you're in on the fun, but if not, then you see it's just as disposable as any of the other releases that leave the theaters (back then) in a month.
Which it is!
...and that's fine, and I'm glad I left it unjudged for 20 years so I could allow myself to like it. I've thought for a long time that Lisa Kudrow is a severely underrated actor, which certainly has something to do with it.
posted by rhizome at 8:34 PM on March 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
Which it is!
...and that's fine, and I'm glad I left it unjudged for 20 years so I could allow myself to like it. I've thought for a long time that Lisa Kudrow is a severely underrated actor, which certainly has something to do with it.
posted by rhizome at 8:34 PM on March 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
"Best diet ever"
posted by Freedomboy at 7:19 PM on April 18, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by Freedomboy at 7:19 PM on April 18, 2019 [1 favorite]
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posted by Monochrome at 8:44 PM on March 14, 2019 [1 favorite]