River Phoenix & Matthew Perry Starred in This Forgotten Sex Romp, and It is Probably for the Best
River Phoenix was a generational talent who died far too young, leaving behind a legacy of raw emotion, authenticity, and artistic promise. He passed away on October 31, 1993, at just 23 years old, after collapsing outside the Viper Room from an acute drug overdose. His brief career showcased remarkable depth and sensitivity, evident in films like Stand by Me (1986), Running on Empty (1988), and My Own Private Idaho (1991) are all reminders of the immense talent lost that night.
But sadly, not all of his projects lived up to his potential.
In 1988, Phoenix starred in a bizarre dramedy sex romp titled A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon. Written and directed by William Richert, the story was based on Richert’s semi-autobiographical 1969 novel Aren’t You Even Gonna Kiss Me Goodbye? and was marketed as a feel-good, coming-of-age tale to Phoenix’s fan base.
It was not.
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Set in the early 1960s, the film follows Jimmy Reardon (Phoenix), a teen on the cusp of adulthood who’s torn between rebellion and responsibility. His parents want him to attend business school, but Jimmy dreams of running off to Hawaii with his girlfriend, Lisa (Meredith Salenger). In truth, though, he cheats on her constantly.
Jimmy needs $80 for a plane ticket to join Lisa in Hawaii before she leaves for school, and over the course of one long night, he tries a series of questionable ploys to raise the cash. In the end, he fails and decides to go to business school instead. The end.
Jimmy Reardon is a difficult watch, and much of that comes down to Jimmy himself. He’s self-centered, immature, and often downright unlikable. He borrows money from his friend Fred (played by a 17-year-old Matthew Perry), sleeps with Fred’s girlfriend, and uses him to gain entry into his social circle. He lies, manipulates, and cheats (almost nonstop) on the same girlfriend he claims to love. He sleeps with a married woman (Ann Magnuson), insults his parents, and moves through life with the smug confidence of someone who believes the world revolves around him.
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All in all, not a great look for a supposed romantic lead. Jimmy should have been studied, not admired.
Critics did not care for the film. Though some enjoyed Phoenix’s performance, most agreed that the pic was a mess. Roger Ebert said it was “the right ideas but the wrong execution,” while the New York Times said “can’t decide whether it wants to be ironic or sincere.”
On Letterboxd, reviews are just as harsh. One reviewer wrote, “True love is me sitting through this garbage movie in its entirety just for River. It really was awful,” while another commented, “90 minutes of torture I endured for Mr. River Jude Phoenix.”
There is one bright spot: In his 2022 memoir Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, Perry briefly mentions A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon — in his first movie role — and his memories of working alongside Phoenix. Perry called Phoenix “the coolest guy I’d ever met.” He described Phoenix as kind, magnetic, and someone who immediately stood out as special. “River was a beautiful man, inside and out — too beautiful for this world, it turned out.”
Remind