Foolin' Around (1980) User Reviews (15)

Madcap Mayhem in Minnesota!

[Paul255378 · 6/10 · 30 May 2012]

This little film certainly is no Acadamy Award winner, but if you were of college age in 1979 and living in the Minneapolis, St Paul, Minnesota area, you will love this film! It has become a time capsule for those of us going to college here in Minnesota during that year.

Filmed almost entirely in Minneapolis and St Paul with lots of scenes at the University of Minnesota. Good performances by Gary Busey, Annette O'Toole, Tony Randal as the creepy butler and Eddie Albert as the family patriarch. Romance on Lake Minnetonka with Gary Busey as the underdog trying to win beautiful Annette O'Toole's heart away from the rich villain!

A college acquaintance, Beth Bosacker has a small part as Rickie, one of the brides maids. I remember how excited we all were in the fall of 1978 when we learned that someone we knew was cast in this film!!

Adult comedy in a good old-fashioned way

[lightninboy · 7/10 · 23 April 2005]

This movie has too much adult material in it, but if you accept that fact, it is a pretty good movie. Busey plays Wes, a likable underdog from Fort Cobb, Oklahoma. His friend Clay has been going to the University of Minnesota, and Wes enrolls to learn building engineering. Susan's grandfather offers wisdom to young Wes. Seals and Crofts perform the title song and "These Moments Never Live Again." The movie paints Minnesota in a favorable light. It shows a Vikings game and the Mississippi River, and it gives you the feeling you're right there. There is a lot of silliness in this movie, but, then, it's called "Foolin' Around."

Wow, Siskel and Ebert Really Missed This One

[henryonhillside · 6/10 · 19 July 2020]

This movie is available free on YouTube.

If you scout around a little bit here on IMDb you'll find Siskel and Ebert hating this film with considerable vigor. They're really wrong IMO. The movie is worth watching. I'm not saying it's a comedy classic--there's a fair bit of dumb crap to wade through, and the last 10 minutes are weak--but its best moments are fun and interesting. (For example, Eddie Albert's scene at the construction site with Gary Busey, at 1:14:00, is honest and powerful, yeah a bit melodramatic, but the actors keep it real. Notice how Albert deliberately drops an apple, to show the height they're at, and then has another one ready to eat.)

Annette O'Toole and Busey have definite chemistry. Busey displays his physical charisma and goofy charm. O'Toole is the making of the picture. This is some of her best work. She captures something essential about a young woman having trouble deciding about her future. I'm surprised that both Siskel and Ebert fail to see the quality of her performance. (The filmmakers missed a great shot by not adequately lighting her face when she invites Busey into the back of the van. The cinematographer, Philip Lathrop, should be drummed out of the A.S.C. for that.)

Look for William H. Macy early in a small role; the scene is important because Busey needs to prove his mettle and his slight craziness, and does so. I laughed out loud at Tony Randall's work. Eddie Albert, who grew up in Minnesota, played two interesting Minnesota business leader types in his career: here and in "The Heartbreak Kid," 1972 version. By the way, if you know the Twin Cities at all, this is an absolute must-see.

Hilarious, Old-Time Film With Great Supporting Performances

[chrstphrtully · 13 June 2003]

This little seen film, which I caught for the first time over twenty years ago, is a wonderful throwback to 1930's screwball comedy in more ways than one. Young hick (Busey) starts college at the University of Minnesota, and falls in love with debutante O'Toole, despite her mother's intentions to marry her to society dolt Calvin. What ensues are a series of pratfalls and slapstick bits that, while not terribly deep, are nonetheless quite funny. More importantly, Busey and O'Toole are so damn likeable, you really do want them to fall in love.

But, like all great 1930s comedies, what makes the film sparkle is not the lead performances (in the 30s, these were usually played by likeable ingenues without much depth), but by the character actors who formed the background for the story. This film is no different in that the film is practically stolen from the leads by three splendid supporting performances -- Cloris Leachman as O'Toole's society-conscious mother, Eddie Albert as O'Toole's crusty grandfather and Busey's boss, and especially Tony Randall as Leachman's butler. Randall's performance deserves special note because his stiff demeanor is beautifully contrasted with his profane and off-color dialogue (the final words we hear from him, behind closed doors, almost made me fall off my chair laughing).

While no masterpiece, this is a wonderful picture to watch if you'd like a brief look at a long lost style of filmmaking.

Innocent comedy for adults

[bellino-angelo2014 · 7/10 · 23 May 2022]

When FOOLIN' AROUND begins, Wes (Gary Busey) enters a college in Minnesota and signs to participate in a psychologixal experiment where he meets Susan (Annette O'Toole) and the two are istantly attracted to each other. Unfortunately tho Susan's mother doesn't want that her daughter marries such an humble guy like Wes but when he meets her dad (Eddie Albert), who is a construction worker, their relationship has some sort of chance. Will Wes and Susan end together? See the rest for yourself.

The acting by Busey and Albert was very good and especially their scenes were the best thing about the film. Tony Randall stole the scene in a funny sense as the bumbling butler. The only negative of the movie (and here's why I don't give a higher score) is that in the last 20-30 minutes it looked like copied from THE GRADUATE (in a frame for frame sense). But, if you can outlook this, this is a very adequate comedy.

On My List of Top 50

[moviefan-55 · 10/10 · 28 January 2002]

This movie is an enjoyable experience from start to finish. Two all time great comedic moments in movie history are in this jewell. Tony Randall steals the show with his portrayal of Cloris Leachman's butler at the engagement party and Busey's thinking out loud comments on answering questions while he has has been summoned to fix an air conditioning problem.

The movie has it all... a little romance, a little comedy, great character development, good acting, but most of all, a great script.

The editing is above average, good locations and even the chase scene at the end has its thrills. Look for William H. Macy in the beginning.

Why can't Hollywood make more movies like this one?

What a crime!!

[nittany5000 · 8/10 · 18 June 2007]

The fact that this little gem of a movie isn't on DVD in an age when every bad film ever made had met it's digital home is a crime against cinephiles everywhere. I loved this movie as a kid and still have it on VHS but it is very worn and needs to have a DVD upgrade very soon.

You have an all-star cast, a whip-smart script and one of the most underrated performances of Tony Randall's career. What more are you people waiting for.

If you get a chance and happen to come across a VHS copy at your local video store, do yourself a favor and pick it up. It is well worth your time, for Tony Randall if nothing else.

Hilarious! A comedy/love story that's an all-time favorite of mine.

[Lisa-LAM · 18 April 2003]

I saw this on cable around 1982, and have fondly remembered it ever since. Very funny! My sister and I cracked up the whole time watching the average-Joe, Gary Busey, try to win the love of rich-girl, Annette O'Toole, and the crazy antics involving the butler. The butler (Tony Randall) was so funny in this movie! Unfortunately, it is not currently available on DVD/video. I sure hope it is re-released soon.

Wonderful romantic film with great physical comedy

[prideinthetide · 10/10 · 22 June 2008]

I love this movie, but I love the songs from Seals and Croft more. I have searched everywhere to find the music with no luck. Please if anyone has any information about how to find the soundtrack I would greatly appreciate it. Gary Busey is wonderful, and the physical comedy by Randal and leechman is amazing. They should definitely put this movie and many more on DVD for further generations to see. I grew up watching the movie just to here the song by S&C during the opening credits and during the love scene by the lake in the van with Gary busey and Annette o'toole. For a good laugh and a sweet ending this is a must see. and it is a shame that it was never given the credit it deserves or the play time and attention.

Great Film

[hlw27 · 28 July 1999]

Even if you're not a Busey fan, you'll love Annette O'Toole and the dialogue in this jewel. Typical poor boy meets rich girl and must out-do her rich boyfriend and win the beauty. At the end, Busey (Wes) flies through the church's stained glass window on a hang-glider to object to the wedding and save her from making a big mistake. Then, a nice happy ending. Busey is funny in this one as a 70's countrified-dork. One scene has him trying to play tennis and taking a serve right in the nads...it must've taken several hundred takes to get that shot...PERFECT DATE MOVIE, especially if you're in his shoes!

Delightful little film, with great character performances

[chrstphrtully · 1 April 2000]

"Foolin' Around" is one of those films that harkens back to 1930s screwball comedy, and that knows enough not to take itself too seriously. Likewise, it knows one of the key lessons of such comedies -- get likeable leads together with wonderful supporting actors to make the genre work.

Busey (one of my favorite actors when he's on his game) plays a good ol' boy who's going to the University of Minnesota who falls in love with fellow coed O'Toole. Despite the fact that she's ostensibly spoken for (with obnoxious boor Calvin), a romance blooms between the two of them, not the least because her grandfather (Eddie Albert, in an extremely fun character performance) sees in Busey a lot of the same blue collar roots and values that brought him to the top. Busey is wonderfully likeable (as he usually is) as is O'Toole, but it is Albert, Cloris Leachman (as O'Toole's status-conscious mother) and Tony Randall (hilarious as their stiff-as-a-board butler) that really get into the screwball spirit. Randall's efforts to keep track of a mysteriously disappearing and reappearing bag and his (off-screen) sex scene with Leachman are among the many highlights in this film.

On a one-to-ten scale, this film definitely hits a 7 1/2.

Best movie EVER.

[olliegrind · 17 February 2004]

No other movie has ever been made or will ever be made that can top Foolin' Around. Gary Busey's performance is pure genius. The amount of times someone gets hit in the nuts only leaves you wanting more. "Everytime I get around that guy something goes Haywire"...

More entertaining than typical romantic comedy

[paulaubert · 12 April 2000]

Annette O'Toole and Gary Busey have good chemistry together. The supporting cast adds so much to this movie. One of the supporting roles I haven't seen anyone mention is Michael Talbott as Clay, Wes' (Gary Busey's) best friend. I thought he was very funny, along with John Calvin as the uppity boyfriend, Cloris Leachman, Eddie Albert and Tony Randall. Also, notice the cameo appearance of William H. Macy as the book salesmen who's car is hung by Wes.

This is great!!!!!

[chrisnope · 1 August 2005]

Back in like 1982, before we had real cable, my dad had a single cable channel! Remember those days they played the same movies for a month and after midnight soft core x rated films. Nonetheless, I saw this film one sat. afternoon. It is absolutely hilarious and I cannot believe more folks have not seen it. If you like the south park guys, this is a good show to see where they learned some of the off color comedy. I have to say that if you like comedy and surprises you should ck. it out. I have been trying to find it recently. I am sure ebay will be a good bet. I have nothing but good things to say regarding this film. Gary Busy's best! Anette O' tooles awesome. I have nothing but great things to say about the Tony Randall character. Also the end lines from his character are classic.

Where did this man go?

[astins04 · 21 December 2007]

Pretty funny. The supporting roles are really out of this world and its a true throwback to '30s movies. Bucey's not bad, but I noticed a little cameo by one of my favorite bit players, John Stinson. Funny as heck, I catch everything he does. Unfortunately I see that he left the scene pretty early on and want to know what he's up to. By a strange stroke of luck I saw a play he produced in Philly called "Nightclub Confidential," again bringing in a hard-won and dry sense of humor, good looks, and a little hope too. His TV performances are no doubt hilarious and I honestly just wish that Stinson had gone leading man. Interestingly, I hear he married another little known but talented actress, Diana Davidson. Together they star in Scared to Death; in which Stinson steals the scene again. *At least Davidson is easy on the eyes, people. A bit breathy. A bit overdone. At least she has Stinson catching her falls.