Troop Beverly Hills (1989)

User Rating:

4.7/10   

Director:

Jeff Kanew

Writers (WGA):

Ava Ostern Fries (story)
Pamela Norris (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

22 March 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Comedy

Tagline:

When the going gets tough, the tough go shopping!

Plot:

As Phyllis, a Beverly Hills housewife, is in the middle of a divorce, she tries to find focus in her...

Plot Keywords:

Wilderness | Mother | Child | Camping | Reference To Oprah Winfrey

Cast

Shelley Long	...	Phyllis Nefler
Craig T. Nelson	...	Freddy Nefler
Betty Thomas	...	Velda Plendor
Mary Gross	...	Annie Herman
Stephanie Beacham	...	Vicki Sprantz
Audra Lindley	...	Frances Temple
Edd Byrnes	...	Ross Coleman
Ami Foster	...	Claire Sprantz
Carla Gugino	...	Chica Barnfell
Heather Hopper	...	Tessa DiBlasio
Kellie Martin	...	Emily Coleman
Emily Schulman	...	Tiffany Honigman
Tasha Scott	...	Jasmine Shakar
Aquilina Soriano	...	Lily Marcigan
Jenny Lewis	...	Hannah Nefler

Runtime:

100 min | UK:105 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | UK:PG | USA:PG | Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Big Bear, San Bernardino National Forest, California, USA

Company:

Fries Entertainment

Trivia:

Karina Bong's (Lily's mother) character was modeled after Imelda Marcos, former First Lady of the Philippines. There are 'in-jokes' made about Karina's husband being a dictator and how Karina has thousands of pairs of shoes (as Imelda did). Also, the couple have a son, Ferdinand Jr., who is fondly called Bong Bong by the people.

Goofs:

Continuity: At the patch ceremony Chica walks up to Phylis wearing patches. The Patches were not handed out until the next shot.

Quotes:

Freddy: If you contributed anymore to this marriage, we would be on welfare.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Saturday Night Live: The Best of David Spade (2005) (TV)

Soundtrack:

The Way We Were

The Girl Scouts...Beverly Hills style.

Troop Beverly Hills is a funny movie for pre-teen girls. Goofy Shelly Long plays eccentric Beverly Hills mom, Phyllis Nefler, who decides to get involved with her daughter's life and prove that she can do things for herself (sort of), so she becomes troop leader of her daughter's Wilderness Girl's squad.

This proves to be an embarrassing experience for the young girls, seeking some much needed leadership from their mother who can't seem to gain independence from the luxuries of her Beverly Hills lifestyle. But, once the pack is forced to compete with an aggressive, survival squad of hard core rival troopers, Phyllis and her team, tired of being a laughing stock (and also because Phyllis wants to gain her daughter's confidence and respect) are going to prove that they're not just a bunch of whiny rich girls from Beverly Hills.

80s fans will probably recognize many of the young troopers (from Jenny Lewis to Kelli Martin to Tori Spelling), and I'm sure pre-teen girls are sure to like the movie for it's silly story, young female cast, and the goofy antics of Shelly Long. It's a hilarious little movie with a good message for kids about the importance of female independence (Phyllis doesn't want her husband to think she can't fend for herself without a man's guidance) as well as individual confidence. It's bona fide family fun.