Foolin Around 1980

“Foolin’ Around” 1980 Embassy
Annette O’Toole, Gary Busey, Tony Randall, William H. Macy & Cloris Leachman (30 April 1926 Des Moines, Iowa)
“Lost My Stub” review Aug 2012 (MZ: #M-13)

I first saw this film on HBO when I was in hIGH CRUel in Sioux City. It was a momentous occasion for me as that’s when I fell madly in love with Annette O’Toole. I had seen her in “The Partridge Family” 1971 “Up a Pair Tree” but I was too young to notice her then. And then, came “Foolin Around” and later on “Cat People” 1982 & “Cross My Heart’ 1987. To me she is the perfect woman, thank God she married a good man like Michael McKean in 1999 someone I admire and worthy of her talents. I have searched for years for a woman like Annette, (I actually found one in Aug 2005 at my friend Josh’s wedding)

Here’s the irony, this was filmed locally here in the Twin Cities, at the old Met Stadium during a Vikings game & at the Cathedral in St. Paul (Rules) !!! This is a very basic boy meets girl story. Wes (Busey), a good ole boy from Texas, meets Susan (O’Toole) a Rich Girl, at a collage testing facility. Wes is quite taken with Susan and sets out to date her except Susan is engaged to Whitley (Calvin) a Rich, Condescending, Snob (aren’t they all). So let the shenanigans begin. There are some great moments in the film. Like the “Testing” scene, Wes’s revenge on the Book Crook, Radall’s portrayal of the Butler. All the bad things that happen to Whitley (not enough bad things as far as I am concerned) How Wes loses the thugs in the chase.

Unfortunately it’s all very unrealistic as the good ole boy NEVER gets the girl, as true love does not prevail. In real life the girl chooses Money everytime. just like the scene where Daggett (Albert) prefers Wes to Whitley and wants his Granddaughter to end up with the “Good Ole Boy”, But that’s why there are movies like this to escape reality, and imagine that love does conquer all and the nice guy does end up with the gal !!! My thanks to Tina for digging up this gem for me. Thanks to Josh for getting married and having Mac sing at your wedding so I could met her. Thanks to Mac for being the “Total Package” & My Thanks to Annette O’Toole for being so beautiful and perfect.

Until the next time …. MrZERo aka RLSchwinden