River Phoenix plays the title character, a charming, working-class Chicago kid who’s just been accepted to a fancy prep school. His father (a perfectly gruff Matthew Perry’s dad, John Bennett Perry) can’t afford to send him, so Jimmy’s solution? Spend one night trying to sleep with as many women as possible, including his soon-to-be-ex-girlfriend (Ann Magnuson), a lonely housewife (Meredith Salenger), and his best friend’s sister.

★★★½ (3.5/5)

There’s a specific kind of 80s teen movie that isn’t really about sex, drugs, or rebellion—but uses all three to hide a broken heart. A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon is exactly that.

Here’s a post written in the style of a nostalgic film blog or Letterboxd review, capturing the vibe of A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon (1988): Before “American Pie,” There Was This Forgotten Gem