Girls Just Want to Have Fun

Girls Just Want to Have Fun is a 1985 American romantic comedy dance film directed by Alan Metter and distributed by New World Pictures. It was written by Amy Spies and stars Sarah Jessica Parker, Lee Montgomery, Morgan Woodward, Jonathan Silverman, Shannen Doherty, and Helen Hunt. Its story follows Janey, a new girl in town who meets Lynne and discovers they both share a passion for dancing and the TV show Dance TV. Together the two enter a competition to be a new Dance TV regular couple, however Janey's father doesn't approve. The film was produced by Chuck Russell and was released on April 12, 1985. It grossed $1.7 million in its opening weekend and $6.3 million worldwide, against a budget of $5 million. It received generally mixed reviews and has a 36% approval rating based on 14 votes on Rotten Tomatoes. Despite this, the film was regularly aired on cable TV for several years and has become a cult film. Plot Janey Glenn is an army brat whose father Robert has retired from the Army and relocated to Chicago, home of her favorite dance show Dance TV. At her Catholic girls school, she quickly makes a new friend in Lynne Stone, a fellow fan of Dance TV. Although Robert nixes the idea of her going to downtown Chicago to try out for Dance TV, Janey accompanies Lynne to the auditions anyway. At the auditions, spoiled rich Natalie Sands becomes the enemy when she narrowly misses Lynne while parking her car. Auditions are going well until Lynne's partner is cut (Natalie bribed Lynne's partner to sabotage her). Janey and local high schooler Jeff shine, and are partnered together once they make the finals. He loves to dance, though he feels pressured to attend trade school after graduation, as his father did before him.