Teen comedy makes case for amateur sport

Press, 8 September 1989, Page 24

Teen comedy makes case for amateur sport

The American football teen comedy, “Johnny Be Good,” rather establishes the case for amateur sport. Anthony Michael Hall stars as a high school football star who is about to make up his mind about where he will play his college football, and incidentally, get his education. His decision is of national interest. The colleges are all competing for his attention, offering outrageous bribes and issuing dire threats, and there are recruiting agents brawling in the front yard of his family’s home. People are queueing up to cash in' on his skill and his fame. It is all a scandalous betrayal of sport in general. The football star himself looks like taking it all far too seriously, risking his future as well as his knees, and risking his relationship with his girlfriend (Uma Thurman of “Dangerous Liaisons”). The video has little American football on view. Actually, drunken orgies occupy more tape than the play.

The locker room talk is pure sleaze, and the business negotiations are riot much better. The video does feature several real American

football stars, and commentators, including Howard Cosell. First Release Home Entertainment is distributing the video.—D.C.

Too much of a good thing . Fil ' st Releasc