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The Buddy System

  • 1984
  • PG
  • 1h 50m
IMDb RATING
5.8/10
1.5K
YOUR RATING
Susan Sarandon, Richard Dreyfuss, and Wil Wheaton in The Buddy System (1984)
A quiet school truant officer, Joe, uncovers a young boy's attempt to fake a residential address, and subsequently gets involved romantically with the boy's mother. The truant officer waffles between a sadistic relationship with his on-again, off-again girlfriend and the mother. When one of the officer's inventions takes off, he chooses the girl and shatters the friendship with the boy and his mother. Only at the last possible moment does he figure out what he's sacrificed, and attempts to get it back.
Play trailer1:22
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ComedyDramaRomance

A quiet school truant officer, Joe, uncovers a young boy's attempt to fake a residential address, and subsequently gets involved romantically with the boy's mother. The truant officer waffle... Read allA quiet school truant officer, Joe, uncovers a young boy's attempt to fake a residential address, and subsequently gets involved romantically with the boy's mother. The truant officer waffles between a sadistic relationship with his on-again, off-again girlfriend and the mother. ... Read allA quiet school truant officer, Joe, uncovers a young boy's attempt to fake a residential address, and subsequently gets involved romantically with the boy's mother. The truant officer waffles between a sadistic relationship with his on-again, off-again girlfriend and the mother. When one of the officer's inventions takes off, he chooses the girl and shatters the frien... Read all

  • Director
    • Glenn Jordan
  • Writer
    • Mary Agnes Donoghue
  • Stars
    • Richard Dreyfuss
    • Susan Sarandon
    • Nancy Allen
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.8/10
    1.5K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Glenn Jordan
    • Writer
      • Mary Agnes Donoghue
    • Stars
      • Richard Dreyfuss
      • Susan Sarandon
      • Nancy Allen
    • 13User reviews
    • 7Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:22
    Trailer

    Photos14

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    Top cast24

    Edit
    Richard Dreyfuss
    Richard Dreyfuss
    • Joe
    Susan Sarandon
    Susan Sarandon
    • Emily
    Nancy Allen
    Nancy Allen
    • Carrie
    Jean Stapleton
    Jean Stapleton
    • Mrs. Price
    Wil Wheaton
    Wil Wheaton
    • Tim
    Edward Winter
    Edward Winter
    • Jim Parks
    Keene Curtis
    Keene Curtis
    • Dr. Knitz
    Tom Lacy
    Tom Lacy
    • The Man Who Gives Emily the Test
    Lee Weaver
    Lee Weaver
    • Ray
    Carolyn Coates
    • Teacher
    Milton Selzer
    Milton Selzer
    • Landlord
    Todd Everett
    • Frank
    F. William Parker
    • Lawyer
    Bianca Taylor
    Bianca Taylor
    • Woman Customer
    • (as Bianca Ferguson)
    Lew Horn
    Lew Horn
    • Pet Shop Owner
    Frank Coppola
    • Mr. Fleeze
    Brent Price
    • Man Customer
    Jason Hervey
    Jason Hervey
    • Potato
    • Director
      • Glenn Jordan
    • Writer
      • Mary Agnes Donoghue
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews13

    5.81.5K
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    Featured reviews

    8budikavlan

    Nice movie starring several "earlier selves"

    This was a cute little love story starring Richard Dreyfuss before he became pompous, Susan Sarandon before she became sexy, and Wil Wheaton before he became utterly insufferable. The love is more a familial kind of thing; Dreyfuss and Sarandon never really generate much romantic "heat," but the family connection that Joe develops with Emily and Tim is really nice. Jean Stapleton comes off (appropriately) as really chilly in this, a good performance that reminds one what a terrific performance Edith Bunker always was. For once, Nancy Allen doesn't stink up the joint like she usually does, because her shallow airheaded character seems fairly close to her real personality. This is one of those forgotten movies that turn up occasionally on Saturday afternoon TV, but it's a nice 2 hour diversion.
    5timmauk

    aka "Goodbye Girl"

    This is almost the exact same movie. Just like the "Goodbye Girl". All you do is make Dreyfuss character an inventor and turn the little girl into a little boy and voila, "The Buddy System"! I am sure that Richard Dreyfuss was desperate to have another hit, so he picked something that was close to his last one. Too bad it wasn't as good.

    If you can't get out and there is nothing to do, it is a nice enough movie to watch. If you can see the "Goodbye Girl" though, WATCH IT!!
    8RAY-130

    "WARM FUZZY"

    Nicely done warm fuzzy movie. We have single moms with nice kid, Odd guy with warm heart and sexual icon running around, a dominant mother and several

    animals and ducks making us smile. This movie should not be analyzed only

    appreciated. It's like chicken soup and a warm blanket on a cold day, always appreciated.

    I think the world needs these non-threatening, nonintellectual, fantasies to

    remind of the magic of movies. Richard Dreyfuss has done a few of these and this ranks high in my favorite Susan Sarandon movies.
    7Tinyhippy

    Very cute, feel-good film

    I loved The Buddy System. Yes, it was very cheesy and completely predictable. But, if you like slushy romantic dramas, this one is for you. Richard Dreyfuss is brilliant as usual as the wannabe writer. Susan Sarandon plays the potential love interest, and the ever cute Wil Wheaton as her little son. The scene in which Timmy (Wheaton) explains to his mother (Sarandon) about the meaning of "The Buddy System" is like the core of the film - this is where you understand the whole meaning of it. A very cosy movie that leaves you believing there could be happy endings in real life, too.
    6Petie3-2

    Deeper than it seems.

    Seemed like a harmless little movie, no exploding cars, morphing robots, no murders. Just a little nerdy (Will W brags on being nerdy, he was just in type) kid with issues, having a single Mom for a parent. She also has issues being enmeshed with Tim (sleeping in each other's beds) and excessively guilt-ridden over his shortcomings. Joe does security at Tim's school, is also trying to write a book, invent a portable dog washer, pay the bills, keep his girlfriend happy (she gets pregnant) and maintain the relationship which Tim is trying to cook up with his mom. Naturally the relationship ebbs and flows, everybody moves, links are broken and reestablished, emotions come and go. All three main actors do a workmanlike job, as their careers are just about to skyrocket.

    Best Emmys Moments

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    Related interests

    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca (1942)
    Romance

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Actor Richard Dreyfuss would later play the grownup version of the film's Tim Price (Wil Wheaton) character in Stand by Me (1986).
    • Goofs
      while Joe, Emily and Tim were having a toast to celebrate the sale of the "dog wash", Emily's glass of liquid raised and lowered twice. Not a lot but noticeable.
    • Quotes

      Carrie: How would you feel if I wanted to know every little thing about you?

      Joe: I'd feel loved.

    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Heart Like a Wheel/The Buddy System/La Balance/Carmen/Lonely Hearts (1984)
    • Soundtracks
      Here's That Sunny Day
      Lyrics by Will Jennings

      Music by Patrick Williams

      Performed by Gladys Knight & The Pips

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    FAQ14

    • How long is The Buddy System?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 20, 1984 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Life Upside Down
    • Filming locations
      • 20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA(Studio)
    • Production company
      • Twentieth Century Fox
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $1,820,049
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $524,672
      • Jan 22, 1984
    • Gross worldwide
      • $1,820,049
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 50m(110 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono

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