Plot: What’s it about?
Terry (Joyce Hyser) wants to be a journalist and she will soon have the chance to break into the business, thanks to a contest at her high school. The students will each write an article and then two finalists will be chosen, then those two articles will be judged against articles from other schools, to crown an ultimate winner. The writer who wins will be given an intern position at a major newspaper, a real chance to make it in the business. So of course, Terry is determined to win and she feels her article is certain to bring her the top prize. But when her article isn’t chosen as a finalist at her school, she is unable to accept her failure. The teacher claims her article is dull and of no interest, but Terry is convinced sexism is to blame. She thinks because she is a beautiful woman, she is held back in order to advance males. In order to prove her point, she takes drastic action and decides to become a man. So she cuts her hair, takes lessons from her crude brother, and enrolls as a male at a rival school. Once again, she plans to enter the contest and this time, she is sure she will be chosen, since she is posing as a man. Her new lifestyle proves to be difficult however, especially when she meets a guy who she starts to like. Can Terry keep the facade up long enough to win the contest, or will her true colors be revealed?
This movie doesn’t get as much press as Sixteen Candles or Better Off Dead, but Just One of the Guys is an 80s teen classic. As such, it was been a most wanted title for countless fans, all of whom couldn’t wait to own the film on DVD. Columbia has answered those demands, but has given fans cause to be even more upset. The film is shown here in a worn, grainy print and that’s bad enough, but we also have no widescreen option. In other words, this release is like buying a VHS tape, only more expensive. As no widescreen version has ever been made available, Columbia could have dazzled fans with a new remastered edition, but instead we have this terrible, worthless pile of metallic junk. This really sucks, as the movie is hilarious and deserves a place in the collection of those who love the 80s. Of course, the main detail recalled by fans about Just One of the Guys is Joyce Hyser’s topless scene, but there is more to this film than that. The dialogue is hilarious, the characters are well designed, and there is that special 80s texture, which makes sure its all more humorous than it should be. The clothes, the hairstyles, the music, all those wonderful 80s elements are on full showcase. I would give this film my highest recommendation, but Columbia’s rotten treatment isn’t worth the investment.
Video: How does it look?
Just One of the Guys is presented in full frame, instead of its intended widescreen presentation. This is a real disappointment, as we’re left with this full frame edition that sacrifices the intentional visual design. Columbia even boasts that the transfer was remastered in high definition, but with the lack of a proper presentation, that is worthless. The image is worn and shows a lot of debris, so softness is an issue throughout. This looks about like television showings, but a little sharper, thanks to DVD. But again, the lack of a widescreen edition spoils all the fun, as even fans will want to pass on this dismal treatment. So until Columbia issues a proper presentation, this disc is best used as a coaster.
Audio: How does it sound?
The included 2.0 surround option is good and provides some solid moments, but in the end, the material holds back the audio presence. This is because while some scenes do spark the speakers, most scenes are dialogue driven and since the care wasn’t taken to mix in some subtle atmosphere, the scenes lack dynamic audio. Even so, the musical soundtrack comes across well and some scenes do have some presence, so this is not a totally lifeless track. The dialogue is clean and never muffled, so you won’t miss a single word here. This disc also includes subtitles in English, French, and Korean.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes no bonus materials.
