''Foolin' Around'' is a 1980 American
comedy
Comedy is a genre of fiction that consists of discourses or works intended to be humorous or amusing by inducing laughter, especially in theatre, film, stand-up comedy, television, radio, books, or any other entertainment medium. The term o ...
romance sport film directed by
Richard T. Heffron and starring
Gary Busey and
Annette O'Toole
Annette O'Toole (born Annette Toole; April 1, 1952) is an American actress. She is known for portraying Lisa Bridges in the television series ''Nash Bridges'', Beverly Marsh in the 1990 television mini-series adaptation of Stephen King's epic hor ...
. The film was shot on location in
Minneapolis
Minneapolis () is the largest city in Minnesota, United States, and the county seat of Hennepin County. The city is abundant in water, with thirteen lakes, wetlands, the Mississippi River, creeks and waterfalls. Minneapolis has its origin ...
and
St. Paul. The theme music was performed by
Seals and Crofts
Seals and Crofts was an American soft rock duo made up of James Eugene Seals (October 17, 1942 – June 6, 2022) and Darrell George "Dash" Crofts (born August 14, 1938) They are best known for their hits " Summer Breeze" (1972), " Diamond Girl ...
.
Plot
College student Wes (
Gary Busey) who comes from
Oklahoma
Oklahoma (; Choctaw: ; chr, ᎣᎧᎳᎰᎹ, ''Okalahoma'' ) is a state in the South Central region of the United States, bordered by Texas on the south and west, Kansas on the north, Missouri on the northeast, Arkansas on the east, New ...
to a university in
Minnesota
Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minnesota is home to western prairies, now given over t ...
, signs up to participate in a psychological experiment where he meets Susan (
Annette O'Toole
Annette O'Toole (born Annette Toole; April 1, 1952) is an American actress. She is known for portraying Lisa Bridges in the television series ''Nash Bridges'', Beverly Marsh in the 1990 television mini-series adaptation of Stephen King's epic hor ...
). The two are instantly attracted to each other. Besides the problem of their differing socio-economic backgrounds, Susan is also engaged. However, Susan's grandfather recognizes her fiance's opportunism and when he sides with Wes, their relationship is given more of a chance, in spite of the concern Susan's mother has about social status.
Cast
*
Gary Busey as Wes
*
Annette O'Toole
Annette O'Toole (born Annette Toole; April 1, 1952) is an American actress. She is known for portraying Lisa Bridges in the television series ''Nash Bridges'', Beverly Marsh in the 1990 television mini-series adaptation of Stephen King's epic hor ...
as Susan
*
Cloris Leachman
Cloris Leachman (April 30, 1926 – January 27, 2021) was an American actress and comedian whose career spanned nearly eight decades. She won many accolades, including eight Primetime Emmy Awards from 22 nominations, making her the most nomina ...
as Samantha
*
William H. Macy
William Hall Macy Jr. (born March 13, 1950) is an American actor. His film career has been built on appearances in small, independent films, though he has also appeared in mainstream films. Some of his best known starring roles include those i ...
as Bronski
*
Tony Randall
Anthony Leonard Randall (born Aryeh Leonard Rosenberg; February 26, 1920 – May 17, 2004) was an American actor. He is best known for portraying the role of Felix Unger in a television adaptation of the 1965 play '' The Odd Couple'' by Neil Si ...
as Peddicord
*
Michael Talbott
Michael Talbott (born February 2, 1955) is an American actor. He portrayed Detective Stanley Switek in the crime drama television series '' Miami Vice'' (1984–1989).
Early life
Michael was born on February 2, 1955, in Waverly, Iowa, to parents ...
as Clay
*
Eddie Albert as Daggett
*
John Calvin
John Calvin (; frm, Jehan Cauvin; french: link=no, Jean Calvin ; 10 July 150927 May 1564) was a French theologian, pastor and reformer in Geneva during the Protestant Reformation. He was a principal figure in the development of the system ...
as Whitley
* Shirley Kane as Aunt Eunice
* Beth Bosacker as Rickie
*
Roy Jenson as Blue
*
Gene Lebell
Ivan “Judo” Gene LeBell (October 9, 1932 – August 9, 2022) was an American martial artist, stunt performer, actor, and professional wrestler. Nicknamed "The Godfather of Grappling", he popularized grappling in professional fighting c ...
as Paul
Production
Susan's house, where Wes comes to play tennis and crashes her bridal shower, was the original Pillsbury family home called "Southways"—so named because one must go "south a ways" to reach this most singularly significant estate on Lake Minnetonka. The address is 1400 Bracketts Point Road, Orono, Minnesota. It is a large, 32,461 square foot home situated on 12.91 acres, built in 1918. 1,700 feet of lakeshore, cottage guest house, greenhouse, 13 garages, outdoor pool and tennis court, and attached tandem 4-car garage. It was listed for $54M, dropped to $24M, and dropped again to $7.9M, eventually selling for $11,327,239 in August 2018.
The mansion was demolished one day after new owners closed on the property.
Critical reception
Janet Maslin
Janet R. Maslin (born August 12, 1949) is an American journalist, best known as a film and literary critic for ''The New York Times''. She served as a ''Times'' film critic from 1977 to 1999 and as a book critic from 2000 to 2015. In 2000 Maslin ...
of ''
The New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...
'' gave the film a mixed review:
References
External links
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{{Richard T. Heffron
1980 films
1980 romantic comedy films
1980s coming-of-age comedy films
American coming-of-age comedy films
American romantic comedy films
Columbia Pictures films
Films directed by Richard T. Heffron
Films produced by Arnold Kopelson
Films scored by Charles Bernstein
Films set in Minnesota
Films set in universities and colleges
Films shot in Minnesota
1980s English-language films
1980s American films