Review: Just One of the Guys (1985)

People in the Movie: Joyce Hyser, Clayton Rohner, William Zabka (The Karate Kid)
Director: Lisa Gottlieb
Pigeonhole: Comedy /  High School / Romantic Comedy

Basics: Terri Griffith (Hyser) is an attractive, intelligent high school student with a college aged boyfriend, with seemingly "everything going for her".  She fails to land a summer journalism internship she was really hoping for and is now convinced that her submission (and work in general) is not taken seriously because she is an attractive female.  Terri hatches a plan to transfer to the rival high school under the guise of being a boy to resubmit her work as a "male" to prove her point.  What ensues is series of lighthearted comical moments while Terri befriends the "nerdy" Rick (Rohner); stands up to bully Greg Tolan (Zabka); and has to dodge the unwanted affections of Sandy (Sherilyn Fenn) - all before prom night.  Terri realizes by the end of the film that her feelings for Rick are beyond friendship.

Recommendation: This is a fun 80's high school comedy and holds its own as one of the best of the decade.  Just One of the Guys also has a good message about stereotypes and sexism.  'PG-13' is for language and brief nudity.

Why I Liked It: Hyser absolutely shines as Terri.  She steps into the life of a teenage boy with some comical pointers from her brother Buddy (Billy Jayne), like when he notes that "all balls itch".  Buddy also provide his great comical moments as the horny high school teenager who cannot find love.  While some of Terri's behaviors in her male persona seemed a bit caricaturish, like her surprised reaction being in the boys bathroom (especially in light of the fact she appeared early in the film to be a sexually active female), but otherwise still very entertaining.  Some of other gender-bending antics include: going into the boys restroom; being in the boys locker-room for gym class; having to shrug off sexual advances from Sandy; and going to prom dressed as boy with friend Denise (Toni Hudson).
Rohner was an excellent choice as the friend, soon-to-be love interest, Rick.  He comes off as the quiet, almost forgettable high school kid, but after a quick make-over and ego boost from new friend Terri, Rick's stock rises.  Especially after he decides the confront Greg in the cafeteria one afternoon.
William Zabka, forever typecast after Karate Kid, plays an equally arrogant bully, Greg Tolan.  Zabka fits perfectly in this movie as the contrast to Rick's "good guy" character.

Getting back to whole reason why Terri went to the other school in drag- to get the journalism internship.  She submits her previous article as her male persona, but is informed by the new school's staff member it is not good enough to win, crushing her gender bias theory about her writing.  Terri then decides to use her current experience of being a teenage boy as her new article topic. 
While Rick initially seems to be just part of the "experiment", we see that Terri begins to have feelings for him.  Rick, on the heels of the lunchroom confrontation, finds the courage to ask out his "dream girl" Deborah - who coincidentally is Greg's now former girlfriend, which nicely sets up the final showdown on prom night.  With Greg now taking Deborah to prom, Terri must resort to taking her friend Denise.  The festivities commence, but predictably Greg and Rick get into a fight, with Rick winning.  Terri's real boyfriend shows up causing a scene, because he is still unaware that Terri has been living this double life.  Terri decides to pull Rick aside to reveal her true feelings for him, and proving she is actually female by exposing her breasts.  Rick appears to be in shock from the confession of his now-former-friend, and leaves with Deborah.  Terri is later seen tearfully completing her article 'I Was a Teenage Boy', which wins her the internship, her ultimate prize, but at the cost of her own heartbreak.
Sometime in the summer Rick shows up at Terri's workplace and they leave together, happy ending.

In Conclusion: Hyser will forever be linked to the 80's and to this movie, which could have been a plus or minus, looking back almost 30 years later.  Just One of the Guys skillfully broached the sexism topic in a safe way (using humor), while filling up the other minutes with comical high school moments.

Being an 80's movie, I must say I was disappointed with the soundtrack.