Troop Beverly Hills

Family fare for an entertaining evening at home. The problem of divorce is posed in this film without detracting from the value of marriage. Shelley Long portrays a bored Beverly Hills wife whose husband is leaving her for another woman. Deciding to make something of her life she volunteers to be the leader for her daughter's "wilderness girls" troop (I guess they couldn't get the rights to girl scouts). Shelley Long is a hoot as she tries to make it through a camp-out without getting her nails ruined. Both her and her troop of pampered Beverly Hills princesses learn valuable lessons in character, courage, and friendship with a super happy ending (no spoiler). Great mother-daughter movie.

Some actresses are truly under-rated and under-appreciated and Shelley Long is one of them. She is truly a gifted comedic actress who can make you cry at one moment and make you laugh in the next. She didn't leave Cheers because she wanted a film career. She wanted to have a normal family life. Rather she was subjected to be treated like a leper on the set of Cheers. Anyway, I always hoped the best for Shelley. I still think she is one of the best talents out there today but in Hollywood, youth sells and women over 50 or 60 might as well be a hundred years old. Anyway the casting in this film is first rate with Shelley Long and Craig T. Nelson are the divorcing parents. Stephanie Beacham is always a pleasure to watch as one of her friends. Betty Thomas is delicious as the evil foe who tries to outsmart Beverly Hills Troop. Mary Gross is sweet as the unlikely ally in both parties. Audra Lindley is always a treat as well.

I haven't seen this film in at least five years. It was a childhood favourite and my brother and I absolutely adored it. I guess I am slightly afraid that if i rent it again, it could not possibly live up to my memories of it. Shelly Long is hilarious...and totally perfect as Phyllis Nefler. I just think every aspect of the film is so funny...their daughter(Jenny Lewis of The Wizard- another late 80's/early 90's gem) having her own high beam for gymnastics being one of them. The wickedness of Velma Plendor fits perfectly...as does her final sequence, one of my favourite parts, the K-mart scene. Pure fun! Just thinking about this movie makes me want to see it again so I can remember all those classic moments. If you've never seen it, find a video store quickly and rectify your error!!!

From the opening title sequence (complete with a special remix of The Beach Boys "Kokomo"-era track, "Make it Big"), I knew this movie was something special. What most people fail to realize is that this movie more than anything serves as a time capsule for the period. Mid-80's Beverly Hills was a magical time and I still find myself looking back on this picture and wishing I was there.

Shelly Long stepped out of "Cheers" and into the shoes of Phyllis Nefler, the doting, diva of shopping, big-haired, Beverly Hills mother of a wilderness girl. Phyllis is going through a divorce with her husband, Fred "the muffler man" (played by Craig T. Nelson fresh off of "Poltergiest" and pre-"Coach"). To bond with her daughter (and to prove to her husband that she can finish what she starts), she becomes the Beverly Hills Troop leader.

This is where the fun starts. What I really love about this picture are the cameos/special appearances including Cheech Marin, Frankie Avalon, and Anneate Funnicello.

Personal note; I first saw this on TV when I lived in Orange County, CA and it was edited. I videotaped it and I still have the tape of that broadcast. I've since seen the unedited theatrical/home video version and I can't believe how much I've missed. I sometimes think the edited TV version that I have is somewhat a better motion than what it originally was. Oh well...

Still a good movie!

I loved this movie! My mom took me to see this when it came out in the theater. My mom was our brownie troop leader, so we were both really excited about seeing it, and we went one afternoon right after she took the whole troop to be in the studio audience for the filming of the Eddie Albert variety show. I was hoping that Mr. Albert would let me on stage to sing "The Good Ship Lollypop", but all he did was introduce me and my mom to the TV audience at home, and then my brother made fun of me. Anyway, that's a whole other story.

The part I liked best about this movie was the part when the lady from the other camp fell in the mud and ruined all her brand new camping clothes. It's so funny because it's true! The other thing that I liked about this movie was that all those people from like, TOTALLY different TV shows got together to make it - Mrs. Roper, Diane from Cheers, Coach (Coach from "Coach", not Coach from "Cheers!") . It was like watching Battle of the Network Stars - except it was practically a true story.

I haven't watched this movie in a long time, so I can't be sure, but I bet this is the kind of movie that really holds up over the years. Happy landings on a chocolate bar!