Romy and Michele's High School Reunion (1997)
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Two friends who haven't achieved much success in life decide to fake their accomplishments to impress former classmates at their ten-year high school reunion.
The story
Ten years after high school, Romy and Michele live a simple, unadorned life in Los Angeles. When Romy learns about their upcoming ten-year reunion, she realizes their lack of professional achievements will not impress their former classmates. To compensate, the pair decides to fabricate successful careers and invent a fake story about inventing the Post-it note. They prepare by acquiring an expensive car and business suits, hoping to project an image of success. However, as they travel to the reunion, their internal tensions regarding their friendship and their fabricated lives begin to surface, leading to a conflict over the details of their lie just before they arrive at the event.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 1987, Romy and Michele were bullied outcasts in Tucson, Arizona. Ten years later, they live in Los Angeles. Upon hearing about their reunion, they decide to fake success by claiming they invented the Post-it note. During the trip, they argue and decide to part ways upon arrival. At the reunion, Romy leaves Michele in the car, where Michele dreams of a successful life where they both claimed the invention separately. In reality, a friend reveals the truth about the Post-it note, and the girls are mocked by their former bullies. They reconcile and decide to be themselves, changing into homemade outfits. They are eventually championed by a fashion editor and joined by a wealthy former classmate, Sandy. They eventually open a successful boutique. The film also features a subplot where Romy's former crush, Billy, is unhappy in his marriage and tries to hit on her, but she outsmarts him.
- First release year
- 1997
- Runtime (minutes)
- 92
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- David Mirkin
- Writers
- Robin Schiff · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Mira Sorvino · Romy; Lisa Kudrow · Michele
- Genres
- comedy
- Themes
- friendship; authenticity
- Tone and mood
- comedy; quirky
- Setting
- Los Angeles, California in 1997 (with flashbacks to Tucson, Arizona in 1987).
- Premise and plot tags
- buddy comedy; high school reunion
- Source material / true-story basis
- Ladies Room
- Franchise connections
- Romy and Michele
- Reception
- The film received mixed to favorable reviews from critics and has since been considered a cult classic.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 60 · scale: 100 · review count: 18
- Production trivia
- The film's costumes were designed by Mona May, who also designed for Clueless.; The film features product placement for fictional brands Big Kahuna Burger and Red Apple cigarettes.; The film's title and characters originated from a 1988 stage play.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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