My Boyfriend's Back (film)
| My Boyfriend's Back | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Bob Balaban |
| Written by | Dean Lorey |
| Produced by | Sean S. Cunningham |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Buena Vista Pictures Distribution[1] |
Release date |
|
Running time | 84 minutes[1] |
| Country | United States[1] |
| Language | English |
| Budget | Less than $10 million[1] |
| Box office | $3.3 million (US)[2] |
My Boyfriend's Back is a 1993 American
The film's title is a reference to the 1963
Plot
Johnny Dingle has been in love with Missy McCloud since they were kids. In his senior year of high school, he decides to fake a robbery at Missy's job with his best friend, Eddie. He hopes that by stopping the "robbery" he will impress her and she will go to the prom with him.
During the "robbery" a real robber holds Johnny and Missy at gunpoint. Thinking that the robber is Eddie, Johnny dies taking a bullet meant for Missy. After the funeral, Johnny rises from the grave. He is greeted by Murray the gravedigger, who warns him that he can't leave the cemetery. Johnny ignores him and goes back to his home.
Missy is hesitant to be around Johnny, but changes her mind when her boyfriend Buck and his dim-witted friend Chuck discriminate against him for being a Zombie. They go on a date, which goes well until Missy accidentally rips Johnny's ear off.
Johnny goes to the town doctor, Dr. Bronson, who refers him to a woman named Maggie, the widow of a zombie. She tells Johnny that he needs to eat the flesh of the living to stop decaying.
Johnny and Missy meet up at the library, where he's attacked by Buck and Chuck. Chuck accidentally hits himself in the head with an ax and dies. Johnny eats Chuck's body, invoking the wrath of Chuck's father, Big Chuck.
Missy's father, the town sheriff, tells Johnny to leave town for his own safety. Johnny doesn't listen and returns to Missy at night, but leaves when he bites her arm. He's captured by Dr.Bronson, who attempts to dissect Johnny and create a youth formula from his zombie cells. Johnny escapes when Big Chuck leads a mob to kill him, with Missy and Eddie helping him. He flees to the cemetery, where Murray, his parents, Eddie, and Missy defend him, earning him the town and the sheriff's acceptance. Johnny and Missy dance, but Johnny begins to decay and dies.
In Heaven, he's told by the gatekeeper that he was not meant to die in the robbery, and he is sent back the moment before the robber entered. The events replay but Johnny survives this time due to the bullet hitting Missy's locket. Johnny and Missy go to the prom as a couple.
Cast
- Andrew Lowery as Johnny Dingle
- Traci Lind as Missy McCloud
- Danny Zorn as Eddie
- Edward Herrmann as Mr. Dingle
- Mary Beth Hurt as Mrs. Dingle
- Jay O. Sanders as Sheriff McCloud
- Libby Villari as Camille McCloud
- Matthew Foxas Buck Van Patten
- Philip Hoffman as Chuck Bronski
- Paul Dooley as Big Chuck
- Austin Pendleton as Dr. Bronson
- Bob Dishy as Murray the Gravedigger
- Cloris Leachman as Maggie the Zombie Expert
- Paxton Whitehead as Judge in Heaven
- Matthew McConaughey as Guy #2
- Renée Zellweger (scenes cut)
Production
A script, initially consisting mainly of comic sketches about a teenage boy transforming into a zombie, was presented to writer Dean Lorey by a friend, who asked him to develop a cohesive story. In September 1992, Touchstone Pictures initiated development on the project, then titled Johnny Zombie. Actor-director Bob Balaban became involved in October 1992 after receiving the script in August 1992, giving him only a few weeks to prepare for production. Balaban enlisted several actors from his previous collaborations, including Austin Pendleton, Mary Beth Hurt, Cloris Leachman, and Jules Feiffer. The film marked the cinematic debuts of Matthew Fox and Matthew McConaughey. Renée Zellweger's only scene was cut from the film.[1]
Principal photography commenced on November 2, 1992, in the
Reception
Critical reception
Themes
Peter Dendle identifies the themes of the film as being standard teen film tropes. Dingle's urges to eat his date are a metaphor for teenage sexual activity, and his fear of decomposition is teenage anxiety over acne. As a zombie, Dingle is discriminated against and ostracized, which is meant to show zombies as outsiders.[10]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f g "My Boyfriend's Back (1993)". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
- ^ "My Boyfriend's Back". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved February 6, 2015.
- ^ "My Boyfriend's Back (1993)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved August 12, 2022.
- ^ "Review: 'My Boyfriend's Back'". Variety. 1993. Retrieved February 6, 2015.
- ^ Holden, Stephen (August 6, 1993). "Review/Film; Prom Night Was Never Like This". The New York Times. Retrieved February 6, 2015.
- ^ Thomas, Kevin (August 6, 1993). "MOVIE REVIEW : 'My Boyfriend's Back': Buried in Sunny Sitcom Jauntiness". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 6, 2015.
- ^ Caro, Mark (August 8, 1993). "Grave Issue". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on February 6, 2015. Retrieved February 6, 2015.
- Seattle Times. Retrieved February 6, 2015.
- ^ Burr, Ty (August 20, 1993). "My Boyfriend's Back". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on February 6, 2015. Retrieved February 6, 2015.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-7864-9288-6.
External links
