Troop Beverly Hills: Difference between revisions

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox film

| producer screenplay = Ava Ostern Fries{{Plainlist|

| screenplay =* [[Pamela Norris]]<br
* />Margaret Grieco Oberman

* [[Stephanie Beacham]]
}}

| music = [[Randy Edelman]]
| studio = {{Plainlist|
* [[Weintraub Entertainment Group]]<br
* />[[Charles Fries (producer)|Fries Entertainment]]

| budget = $18 million<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Troop-Beverly-Hills |title=Troop Beverly Hills (1989) |website=[[The Numbers (website)|The Numbers]] |access-date=March 24, 2022 |archive-date=March 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220324151105/https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Troop-Beverly-Hills |url-status=live }}</ref>

| gross = $8,508,843.5 million<ref>{{mojocite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0098519/ |troopbeverlyhills|title=Troop Beverly Hills (1989) |website=[[Box Office Mojo]] |access-date=June 2, 2024}}</ref>

'''''Troop Beverly Hills''''' is a 1989 American [[comedyAdventure film|adventure]] film. It is produced by the [[Weintraubcomedy Entertainment Groupfilm]] and directed by [[Jeff Kanew]], and starring [[Shelley Long]], [[Craig T. Nelson]], [[Betty Thomas]], [[Mary Gross]], [[Stephanie Beacham]], and was the debut film of [[Jenny Lewis]] in her film debut. The film features a host of young actors, including [[CarlaAmi GuginoFoster]], [[KellieCarla MartinGugino]], [[EmilyKellie SchulmanMartin]], [[AmiEmily FosterSchulman]], and [[Tori Spelling]].<ref name="Maslin" />

The film follows Beverly Hills housewife Phyllis Nefler (Shelley Long) as she decides to become athe leader of a local troop of Wilderness Girls to help maintain a relationship with her daughter during a divorce.<ref name="Zaleski">{{Citecite web |last=Zaleski |first=Annie |date=2015-07-July 14, 2015
|title=''Troop Beverly Hills'' is a deceptively subtle take on glamour |url=https://www.avclub.com/troop-beverly-hills-is-a-deceptively-subtle-take-on-gla-1798281770 |access-date=2023-06-04 |website=[[The A.V. Club]] |language=en |archiveaccess-date=MarchJune 244, 20222023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220324150854/https://www.avclub.com/troop-beverly-hills-is-a-deceptively-subtle-take-on-gla-1798281770 |archive-date=March 24, 2022 |url-status=live }}</ref> Phyllis becomes an unlikely den mother to the girls, who aren’tare not taken seriously by other troops. When Phyllis falls afoul of a rival troop leader, the girls face the possibility of having their group dissolved—unless they can prove their wilderness skills at the annual jamboree[[Jamboree]].

Though the film was not a financial success during its release with negative critical reception, it has since acquired a [[cult following]] as a [[1980s in film|1980s]] [[Childrenchildren's film|kids’ movie]] with a [[Feminism|feminist]] message.<ref name="Steiner" />

Phyllis Nefler is a [[socialite]] wife recently [[legalLegal separation|separated]] from her husband Freddy, whom she supported<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-07-14 |title=Troop Beverly Hills is a deceptively subtle take on glamour |url=https://www.avclub.com/troop-beverly-hills-is-a-deceptively-subtle-take-on-gla-1798281770 |access-date=2023-06-04 |website=The A.V. Club |language=en |archive-date=March 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220324150854/https://www.avclub.com/troop-beverly-hills-is-a-deceptively-subtle-take-on-gla-1798281770 |url-status=live }}</ref> through law school but who never actually became a lawyer, instead becoming the wealthy owner of a chain of auto shops. In an attempt to maintain the relationship with her daughter Hannah during the contentious divorce, Phyllis becomes the den mother of Hannah's unruly, leaderless local [[Girl Scouts of the USA|girl scout]] troop of Wilderness Girls.

Their first campout results in the troop getting caught in a rain squall, prompting Phyllis to take the girls to "camp out" at the [[the Beverly Hills Hotel]]. Despite her lack of wilderness skills, Phyllis demonstrates an unwavering commitment to the girls' well-being and becomes a surrogate mother to the troop. She resolves to teach the girls how to survive in "the wilds of Beverly Hills", even customizing new [[Scout badge|merit badges]] for her troop.

Phyllis' unorthodox methods run afoul of another scout leader, Velda Plendor, a strict, mean-spirited, retired army nurse who runs the militant [[Culver City, California|Culver City]] "Red Feathers", of which her own daughter Cleo is a member. Because Velda has considerable influence at the regional council level, she declares Phyllis' customized merit badges ineligible. Velda sends her assistant troop leader Annie Herman to infiltrate Troop Beverly Hills and sabotage them. Velda and Annie’sAnnie's attempts at sabotage prove unsuccessful, as Velda’sVelda's bosssuperior and regional council leader Frances Temple states that while Phyllis may have unusual methods, she has taken an active interest in these girls and is trying to help them learn to survive their personal environment.

Troop Beverly Hills can gain recognition from the regional council by passing a series of tests at anthe upcoming annual [[Jamboree (Scouting)|Jamboree]]. In order to qualify, the troop needs to sell 1,000 boxes of [[Girl Scout Cookies|cookies]]. To prevent this, Velda one-ups Troop Beverly Hills by selling cookies in their own neighborhood. Annie breakssevers ties with Velda and sides with Phyllis. The Troop ends up selling over 4,000 boxes of cookies, more than enough to qualify for the Jamboree. At a party for the Troop, Velda takes her anger out on Annie by threatening her with a job at [[Kmart]]; Annie snaps back, standing up to her superior for the first time.

Meanwhile, Phyllis reconnects with Freddy, who tells her he is proud she has accomplished something. However, Phyllis soon learns that Freddy still wants to proceed with the divorce, including seeking [[joint custody]] of Hannah, which devastates Phyllis. Velda demoralizes Phyllis further by claiming that her previous fun-loving attitude with the Troop will only endanger them at the Jamboree. She decides to disband the troop, but Hannah and the other girls change her mind, telling Phyllis she has given them a new sense of self-esteem.

During the Jamboree, the Red Feathers trick Troop Beverly Hills during the competition by misdirecting them into a snake-infested swamp. Luckily, a skunk scares them into running through a shortcut, making them first in the qualifying event. The next day, Velda cheats again by cutting a rope bridge after her troop crosses and by leading them into a restricted area used only for hunting. However, Velda falls and breaks her ankle. The Red Feathers, now led by Cleo, abandon Velda for the sake of winning. Troop Beverly Hills repairs the bridge and finds Velda. Tessa diagnoses her broken ankle (and a severe personality disorder). The girls reluctantly carry her to the finish line after Phyllis reminds them of being considerate to those in need — especiallyneed—especially a fellow Wilderness Girl.

Though the Red Feathers cross the finish line first, they are disqualified because council law stipulates the leader must be with the troop. Troop Beverly Hills is declared the winner of the Jamboree and is recognized as Wilderness Girls. Frances fires Velda for cheating and for placing the Troop Beverly Hills girls in jeopardy, as well as finally gettingtiring fed up withof her overall rude and entitled behavior. At the end, Phyllis and Freddy showkiss interestand inprofess callingtheir offlove thefor divorceeach other, andwith they seemFreddy toproposing reconcileremarriage.

The next year, Troop Beverly Hills is the designated Poster Troop. Meanwhile, Velda is forced to take a job atas Kmarta aftercashier herat actions have made her virtually unemployableKmart, and a final scene showswhere hershe makingmakes a store-wide announcement about cookies.

* [[Craig T. Nelson]] as Freddy Nefler, Phyllis's estranged entrepreneur husband and Hannah's father

* [[Stephanie Beacham]] as Vicki Sprantz, Claire's mother, a romance novelist, and Phyllis' friend

* [[JennyAmi LewisFoster]] as HannahClaire NeflerSprantz, Phyllisa child actress and Freddy'sthe daughter who just wants her mother to lead likeof a normalromance troopnovelist leader. She's alsoand a skilledsuccessful gymnastlawyer

* [[AmiCarla FosterGugino]] as ClaireChica SprantzBarnfell, a childstern actress/daughtergirl ofwho ais romanceoften novelistleft andalone aby her successfuljet-setting lawyerparents

* [[Emily Schulman]] of [[Small Wonder (TV series)|Small Wonder]] as Tiffany Honigman, the daughter of a prominent Beverly Hills plastic surgeon

* Aquilina Soriano as Lily Marcigan, the daughter of Dictator Bong Bong and Karina (based on [[Ferdinand Marcos|Ferdinand]] and [[Imelda Marcos]], respectively) who rule an unspecified Southeast Asian country

* [[KarenDavid KopinsGautreaux]] as LisaMr. DiBlasio, Freddy NeflerTessa's newfather and a film fiancéedirector

The film is inspired by producer Ava Ostern Fries' experiences running her daughter's Girl Scout troop.<ref>{{cite newsmagazine |last1last=Brockington |first1first=Ariana |title=Ava Ostern Fries, 'Troop Beverly Hills' Creator, Dies at 87 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/ava-ostern-fries-dead-troop-beverly-hills-1235028810/ |access-date=17 August 2023 |workmagazine=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=October 8, 2021 |archive-date=August 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230817190805/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/ava-ostern-fries-dead-troop-beverly-hills-1235028810/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite newsweb |last1last=Schedeen |first1first=Jesse |title=10 Things You Never Knew About 'Troop Beverly Hills' on its 30th Anniversary |url=https://www.moviefone.com/news/10-things-you-never-knew-about-troop-beverly-hills-on-its-30th-anniversary/ |access-date=17 August 2023 |workwebsite=[[Moviefone]] |date=March 24, 2019 |archive-date=August 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230817190804/https://www.moviefone.com/news/10-things-you-never-knew-about-troop-beverly-hills-on-its-30th-anniversary/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Principal photography]] began in Los Angeles on May 31, 1988. All exterior locations were filmed in [[Beverly Hills, California|Beverly Hills]], aside from several sequences shot in Malibu State Park. Many landmarks in Beverly Hills are seen throughout the film, including the[[Rodeo Drive]], [[the Beverly Hills Hotel]], Cristophe[[Wolfgang SalonPuck]]'s [[Spago]], ''[[Jane Fonda's "Workout"]]'', Wolfgang Puck'sand [[SpagoCartier (jeweler)|Cartier]],. andFilming also took place on [[RodeoSunset DriveBoulevard]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/58317 |title=Troop Beverly Hills (1989) – History |website=[[AFI Catalog of Feature Films]] |access-date=June 2, 2024}}</ref> Various celebrities, including [[Kareem Abdul-Jabbar]] and [[Cheech Marin]], also make cameo appearances in the film.<ref name="Maslin" />

''Troop Beverly Hills'' was poorly received by critics during its release. {{Rotten Tomatoes prose|14|4.3|28|''Troop Beverly Hills'' is hamstrung by a one-joke premise, leaving this Shelley Long comedy woefully short on laughs.|ref=yes|access-date=October 19, 2023}} {{Metacritic film prose|score=32|count=11|ref=yes|access-date=October 19, 2023}} Audiences surveyed by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film an average grade of "B" on a scale of A+ to F.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cinemascore.com/publicsearch/index/title/ |title=TROOPTroop BEVERLYBeverly HILLSHills (1989) B |workwebsite=[[CinemaScore]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181220122629/https://www.cinemascore.com/publicsearch/index/title/ |archive-date=2018-12-20 }}</ref>

[[Roger Ebert]] criticized the film for not being the "merciless evisceration of the lifestyles of the rich" that he expected, but instead more of a morality story arc for Shelley Long's character.<ref>{{Citecite webnews |last=Ebert |first=Roger |author-link=Roger Ebert |date=March 22, 1989 |title=Troop Beverly Hills movie review (1989) |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/troop-beverly-hills-1989 |newspaper=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |access-date=April 9, 2022 |websitevia=[[RogerebertRogerEbert.com]] |language=en |archive-date=April 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220409223319/https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/troop-beverly-hills-1989 |url-status=live }}</ref> Some reviews lambasted the script for its formulaic [[underdog]] story,<ref>{{Citecite news |last=Huffhines |first=Kathy |date=22 March 1989 |title=Troop leader Shelley Long follows a well-traveled trail |pages=8B |worknewspaper=[[Detroit Free Press]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/80162976/detroit-free-press-troop-beverly-hills-r/ |access-date=April 9, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> with ''[[The Washington Post]]''{{'}}s Rita Kempley chiding the film for its attempt to cast Beverly Hills youth in the underdog role. "Pity the poor little Beverlies: Children from lower income groups laugh at their [[Armani|Giorgio]] boutique backpacks. Then Velda strips the girls of the badges they've earned for facials and pricing jewelry. She further derides them for holding their camp-out at the Beverly Hills Hotel, where they tell horror stories about bad haircuts."<ref>{{Citecite news |last=Kempley |first=Rita |date=March 23, 1989 |title='Troop Beverly Hills' (PG) |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/videos/troopbeverlyhillspgkempley_a09faf.htm |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=April 9, 2022 |archive-date=October 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201007142428/https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/videos/troopbeverlyhillspgkempley_a09faf.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

Some critics called attention to Long's comedic performance as one of the film's strengths. [[Janet Maslin]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'' wrote, "''Troop Beverly Hills'' is a one-idea movie, and the idea isn't new. But it isn't threadbare either, thanks to the indefatigable pluck of Shelley Long, who plays a spiritual sister to ''[[Private Benjamin (1980 film)|Private Benjamin]]''".<ref name="Maslin">{{Citecite news |last=Maslin |first=Janet |author-link=Janet Maslin |date=23 March 1989 |title=Review/Film; The Lush Life, in 'Troop Beverly Hills' |language=en-US |worknewspaper=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/03/23/movies/review-film-the-lush-life-in-troop-beverly-hills.html |access-date=24 March 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=March 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220324133310/https://www.nytimes.com/1989/03/23/movies/review-film-the-lush-life-in-troop-beverly-hills.html |url-status=live }}</ref> However, [[Gene Siskel]] of the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' called the film "a limp copy of ''Private Benjamin''" and said that "Long is no [[Goldie Hawn|[Goldie] Hawn]] when it comes to comedy."<ref>{{cite news |last=Siskel |first=Gene |author-link=Gene Siskel |title=De Niro's Fine 'Jacknife' Recalls 'The Deer Hunter' |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1989-03-24-8903290397-story.html |date=March 24, 1989 |access-date=October 19, 2023 |archive-url= https://archive.today/20240120094153/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1989-03-24-8903290397-story.html |archive-date=2024-01-20 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

In the years since its release, the film has become a [[cult classic]] for its subtle feminist message and being illustrative of the 1980s,<ref name="Steiner">{{Cite web |last=Steiner |first=Chelsea |date=24 March 2019 |title=Top 5 Reasons Why ''Troop Beverly Hills'' Remains a Cult Classic |url=https://www.themarysue.com/top-5-reasons-troop-beverly-hills-the-best/ |access-date= |website=[[The Mary Sue |language=en]] |archive-date=March 26, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190326135057/https://www.themarysue.com/top-5-reasons-troop-beverly-hills-the-best/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Blackwell">{{Cite web |last=Blackwell |first=Ashlee |date=24 March 2019 |title=Troop Beverly Hills, Still A Thrill |url=https://birthmoviesdeath.com/2019/03/24/troop-beverly-hills-still-a-thrill |urlwebsite=Birth.Movies.Death. |access-statusdate=dead24 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200701031209/https://birthmoviesdeath.com/2019/03/24/troop-beverly-hills-still-a-thrill |archive-date=July 1, 2020 |access-date=24 March 2022 |website=Birth.Movies.Death. |language=en}}</ref> having gained newer audiences through repeat airings on [[Disney Channel]] in the 1990s.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reese |first=Ashley |date=25 March 2019 |title=Cult Classic Troop Beverly Hills Still Rules 30 Years Later, and So Does 'Cookie Time' |url=https://jezebel.com/cult-classic-troop-beverly-hills-still-rules-30-years-l-1833545344 |access-date=24 March 2022 |website=[[Jezebel (website)|Jezebel]] |language=en-us |archive-date=March 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220324133248/https://jezebel.com/cult-classic-troop-beverly-hills-still-rules-30-years-l-1833545344 |archive-date=March 24, 2022 |url-status=live }}</ref> Writing for ''[[Elle (magazine)|Elle]]'' in 2014, Elissa Strauss contended the film's sympathy for its young protagonists, its refusal "to reduce the characters and setting down to a punch line", and an "unrestrained celebration of girliness, glorious girliness" are precisely what has helped the film endure as a classic.<ref>{{Cite webmagazine |last=Strauss |first=Elissa |date=2014-12-31 |title=In Appreciation of 'Troop Beverly Hills,' 25 Years Later |url=https://www.elle.com/news/culture/troop-beverly-hills-25th-anniversary |access-date=2022-04-09 |websitemagazine=[[Elle (magazine)|Elle]] |language=en-US |archive-date=January 4, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150104100640/http://www.elle.com/news/culture/troop-beverly-hills-25th-anniversary? |archive-date=January 4, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In a retrospective piece for ''[[Cinestate|Birth.Movies.Death]]'', Ashlee Blackwell wrote,: <blockquote>In the end, it's the troop's persistence and support of each other, even in moments of doubt, that carries them to a win at the climatic Wilderness Jamboree competition…''Troop Beverly Hills'' thoughtfully exposes the complexities of divorce, social/class culture and personal growth in a light comedy very much loyal to its time. The film tampers with audience expectations of people with money, blurring the lines of good/bad, rich/not rich. ''Troop Beverly Hills'' dared to tell young girls (and women) to never compromise the best of yourself for people or things…Even with its blemishes, ''Troop Beverly Hills''{{'}} heart was always in the right place. What a thrill.<ref name="Blackwell" /></blockquote>

== In popular culture ==

In the [[music video]] for her 2015 song "She's Not Me", [[Jenny Lewis]], who played Hannah in the film, referencedreference the moviefilm as part of her roles as a child actor.<ref>{{Cite web |lastname="Zaleski |first=Annie |date=14 July 2015 |title=Troop Beverly Hills is a deceptively subtle take on glamour |url=https:"//www.avclub.com/troop-beverly-hills-is-a-deceptively-subtle-take-on-gla-1798281770 |access-date=24 March 2022 |website=[[The A.V. Club]] |language=en-us |archive-date=March 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220324150854/https://www.avclub.com/troop-beverly-hills-is-a-deceptively-subtle-take-on-gla-1798281770 |url-status=live }}</ref> In the video, Lewis and actors [[Zosia Mamet]], [[Vanessa Bayer]], and [[Leo Fitzpatrick]] wear the ''Troop Beverly Hills'' uniforms.

* {{IMDb title|0098519}}

* {{tcmdbAllMovie title|21733|Troop Beverly Hills}}

[[Category:1980s American adventure comedy films]]

[[Category:Films1980s setfemale inbuddy Beverly Hills, Californiafilms]]

[[Category:Films1980s shotfeminist in Californiafilms]]

[[Category:FilmsAmerican aboutadventure childrencomedy films]]

[[Category:ScoutingAmerican inbuddy popularcomedy culturefilms]]

[[Category:WeintraubEnglish-language Entertainmentadventure Groupcomedy films]]

[[Category:1989Films comedyset filmsin Beverly Hills, California]]

[[Category:AmericanFilms femaleshot buddyin filmsBeverly Hills, California]]

[[Category:1980sFilms femaleshot buddyin filmsLos Angeles]]

[[Category:1980sFilms feministshot filmsin Malibu, California]]

[[Category:1980sScouting Americanin filmspopular culture]]