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The Buddy System

  • 1984
  • PG
  • 1h 50m
IMDb RATING
5.8/10
1.5K
YOUR RATING
Susan Sarandon, Richard Dreyfuss, and Wil Wheaton in The Buddy System (1984)
A quiet school truant officer, Joe, uncovers a young boy's attempt to fake a residential address, and subsequently gets involved romantically with the boy's mother. The truant officer waffles between a sadistic relationship with his on-again, off-again girlfriend and the mother. When one of the officer's inventions takes off, he chooses the girl and shatters the friendship with the boy and his mother. Only at the last possible moment does he figure out what he's sacrificed, and attempts to get it back.
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14 Photos
ComedyDramaRomance

A quiet school truant officer, Joe, uncovers a young boy's attempt to fake a residential address, and subsequently gets involved romantically with the boy's mother. The truant officer waffle... Read allA quiet school truant officer, Joe, uncovers a young boy's attempt to fake a residential address, and subsequently gets involved romantically with the boy's mother. The truant officer waffles between a sadistic relationship with his on-again, off-again girlfriend and the mother. ... Read allA quiet school truant officer, Joe, uncovers a young boy's attempt to fake a residential address, and subsequently gets involved romantically with the boy's mother. The truant officer waffles between a sadistic relationship with his on-again, off-again girlfriend and the mother. When one of the officer's inventions takes off, he chooses the girl and shatters the frien... Read all

  • Director
    • Glenn Jordan
  • Writer
    • Mary Agnes Donoghue
  • Stars
    • Richard Dreyfuss
    • Susan Sarandon
    • Nancy Allen
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.8/10
    1.5K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Glenn Jordan
    • Writer
      • Mary Agnes Donoghue
    • Stars
      • Richard Dreyfuss
      • Susan Sarandon
      • Nancy Allen
    • 13User reviews
    • 7Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:22
    Trailer

    Photos14

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    Top Cast24

    Richard Dreyfuss
    Richard Dreyfuss
    • Joe
    Susan Sarandon
    Susan Sarandon
    • Emily
    Nancy Allen
    Nancy Allen
    • Carrie
    Jean Stapleton
    Jean Stapleton
    • Mrs. Price
    Wil Wheaton
    Wil Wheaton
    • Tim
    Edward Winter
    Edward Winter
    • Jim Parks
    Keene Curtis
    Keene Curtis
    • Dr. Knitz
    Tom Lacy
    Tom Lacy
    • The Man Who Gives Emily the Test
    Lee Weaver
    Lee Weaver
    • Ray
    Carolyn Coates
    • Teacher
    Milton Selzer
    Milton Selzer
    • Landlord
    Todd Everett
    • Frank
    F. William Parker
    • Lawyer
    Bianca Taylor
    Bianca Taylor
    • Woman Customer
    • (as Bianca Ferguson)
    Lew Horn
    Lew Horn
    • Pet Shop Owner
    Frank Coppola
    • Mr. Fleeze
    Brent Price
    • Man Customer
    Jason Hervey
    Jason Hervey
    • Potato
    • Director
      • Glenn Jordan
    • Writer
      • Mary Agnes Donoghue
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews13

    5.81.5K
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    5
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    8
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    10

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    Related interests

    Will Ferrell, Angela Grillo, and Lap-Gei Cheung in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca (1942)
    Romance

    Storyline

    Did you know

    • Trivia
      Actor Richard Dreyfuss would later play the grownup version of the film's Tim Price (Wil Wheaton) character in Stand by Me (1986).
    • Goofs
      while Joe, Emily and Tim were having a toast to celebrate the sale of the "dog wash", Emily's glass of liquid raised and lowered twice. Not a lot but noticeable.
    • Quotes
      • Carrie: How would you feel if I wanted to know every little thing about you?
      • Joe: I'd feel loved.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Heart Like a Wheel/The Buddy System/La Balance/Carmen/Lonely Hearts (1984)
    • Soundtracks
      Here's That Sunny Day
      Lyrics by Will Jennings

      Music by Patrick Williams

      Performed by Gladys Knight & The Pips

    Top picks

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    Details

    • Release date
      • January 20, 1984 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Life Upside Down
    • Filming locations
      • 20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA(Studio)
    • Production company
      • 20th Century Fox
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    • Gross US & Canada
      • $1,820,049
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $524,672
      • Jan 22, 1984
    • Gross worldwide
      • $1,820,049
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    • Runtime
      • 1h 50m(110 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono

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