‘Just One of the Guys’ With Bill Simmons, Kyle Brandt, and Joanna Robinson

Key Takeaways

"Just One of the Guys" is an iconic 1985 teen comedy unlikely to be made today.
The film unexpectedly impacted the trans and gay women communities, exploring gender performance.
Billy Jacoby's performance is praised as an all-time 1980s comedy standout.
Joyce Hyser's career, relationships, and the film's nudity are central topics.
Many of the film's 1980s societal norms, jokes, and themes have aged poorly.

The 1985 film "Just One of the Guys" is categorized as an "all-time freeze frame 80s movie" alongside "Fast Times at Ridgemont High."
Guest Kyle Brandt delineates five groups of 1980s films, placing "Just One of the Guys" in the "Perfect" category with "Secret Admirer."
The film's premise, compared to "Top Gun" without planes, is noted as unlikely for modern production.
Director Lisa Gottlieb acknowledged the film's unexpected impact on the trans community and gay women by exploring gender performance.

Billy Jacoby is lauded as a comedic genius of the 1980s, despite not achieving bigger stardom.
His performance in "Just One of the Guys" is highlighted for its energy, making an impact even with limited dialogue.
Jacoby, who later changed his name to William Jayne, appeared in "Silver Spoons" and "Parker Lewis Can't Lose," ending his acting career around 2010.
His 2023 appearance on the TLC reality show "MILF Manor" is noted, leading to humorous speculation.

Director Lisa Gottlieb, alongside co-writers Dennis Feldman and Jeff Franklin ("Full House"), helmed "Just One of the Guys."
The movie, produced on an estimated $5 million budget, grossed $11.5 million at the box office.
Its popularity was significantly boosted by its strong presence on home video and cable channels like HBO and Comedy Central.
The iconic movie poster, featuring a character in a locker room with football helmets used as bras, is credited for driving rentals.

A memorable quote from the film, "Horny will kick embarrassment's ass anytime," is discussed for its real-world application.
A scene where Buddy teaches Terry how to act like a guy, including a line about "all balls itching," is suggested as a potential yearbook quote.
The prom fight scene is analyzed, focusing on Rick's jab technique and whether dance moves contributed to his fighting ability.
The film was shot in Arizona, despite featuring a beach prom setting, exemplifying 1980s filmmaking practices.

The scene where a character discovers the protagonist has breasts is debated regarding whether the line was scripted or improvised.
Discussion centers on Rick's reaction to discovering his friend is a woman and the realism of his continued romantic pursuit.
A comparison is drawn to Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night," noting a missed opportunity for similar nuance in the film's gender disguise plot.
Rick's reaction to potential same-sex attraction is considered surprisingly progressive for the 1980s.

The absence of adult supervision for extended periods, such as parents being gone for two weeks, is noted as a plot element that has aged poorly.
The "douchey rich college boyfriend" archetype, common in 1980s teen comedies like "Weird Science," is discussed.
The narrative is summarized as a privileged rich girl befriending nerds, meeting a cooler guy, and improving her writing.
The film's portrayal of female nudity and a character learning to fight on a beach are noted, along with its avoidance of excessive F-slurs.

An anecdote details legendary choreographer James Brown allegedly spending three days on set to help Clayton Rohner perfect his dance moves.
Billy Jacoby's behavior as an underage actor on set, including interactions with women and his chaperone, is highlighted.
Surprising connections involving cast members include Joyce Hyser's relationships with Bruce Springsteen (nearly 5 years) and Warren Beatty.
William Zabka's religious beliefs and romantic pursuits on set are contrasted with his on-screen bully persona.

The film's commentary on gender and trans issues is assessed, noting jokes that have not aged well.
The problematic premise of a high school senior dating a sixth grader is questioned, reflecting evolved societal views.
Mandatory nude showering policies in schools during the 1980s and early 1990s are discussed by panelists.
Clayton Rohner's character is critiqued for inconsistent and problematic writing, making it difficult to connect with.

Billy Jacoby's performance in "Just One of the Guys" is praised as an all-time 80s comedy performance that holds up.
His acting is paralleled to comedic greats like Chevy Chase in "Fletch" and Eddie Murphy's early roles.
The discussion compares 1980s comedic actors, forming a trio of Eddie Murphy, Chevy Chase, and Billy Jacoby.
Hypothetical casting choices for a remake are considered, including Jennifer Jason Leigh for the lead role.

Most actors in "Just One of the Guys" were relative unknowns, contributing to the film's unique legacy.
The hypothetical impact of casting a star like Robert Downey Jr. in the film is considered.
A potential sequel idea involving a newspaper buyout and the main character going undercover again is discussed.
Billy Jacoby's (William Jayne) late arrival at a 30th-anniversary screening after a sequel pitch is recounted.

The implausibility of Terry transferring to a new high school for two weeks without being noticed is critiqued.
Buddy's motivation for informing Terry's boyfriend about her disguise, possibly for chaos or prom entry, is speculated upon.
Nitpicks include Terry's high school bedroom featuring an aged Ernest Hemingway poster, deemed out of character for an 80s teenager.
The episode references the 1993 direct-to-video film "Just One of the Girls," starring Corey Haim and Nicole Eggert, with a similar disguise premise.

The problematic 1986 film "Soulman," starring C. Thomas Howell, is discussed as a "blackface movie" due to its race-swapping premise.
Broader film tropes like body swap, gender swap, and race swap are explored, referencing films like "Girls Just Want to Have Fun."
Columbia Pictures' marketing strategy for "Just One of the Guys" is highlighted, with its success benefiting from the failure of "Perfect."
The 1985 film "Perfect," starring John Travolta and Jamie Lee Curtis, is noted for its themes of aerobics, journalism, and a sex scandal, impacting Travolta's career.