Listonixio
Fresh and Exciting
Konterr
Brilliant and touching
Billy Ollie
Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable
Scott LeBrun
Johnny Dingle (Andrew Lowery) is a likable high school kid who's been madly in love with Missy McCloud (the extremely sexy Traci Lind) for around a decade. One fateful night, his attempt to worm his way into her heart goes seriously awry, and he is shot by a robber. But within 24 hours or so, he rises from the grave, determined to keep their prom date. Hilarity ensues as most of the people around him adjust surprisingly well to having a returnee from the dead in their midst.Veteran filmmaker Sean S. Cunningham was producer of this mainstream Hollywood zombie comedy, written by Dean Lorey and directed by actor Bob Balaban. While there are no genuine comedy fireworks here, it's all pleasant enough to make for passable entertainment. There's plenty of lame lines, but somehow they still made this viewer snicker. This is largely because Cunningham and Balaban assembled quite the solid cast here: Mary Beth Hurt (who'd also played the mother in Balabans' directorial debut, a similar dark comedy called "Parents") and Edward Herrmann as Johnny's parents, Jay O. Sanders as Missy's sheriff father, Matthew Fox, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Matthew McConaughey (in his film debut) in pre-stardom appearances, Paul Dooley as Hoffmans' redneck father, Bob Dishy as a graveyard keeper, Austin Pendleton as a weaselly doctor, and Paxton Whitehead as a judge in Heaven. Cloris Leachman, however, is utterly wasted as a "zombie expert" named Maggie. Be sure to watch for Edwin Neal, the Hitchhiker of "The Texas Chain Saw Massacre", as one of Dooley's henchmen. The material really isn't that great, but these people make it work as well as it does.Lowery makes Johnny very likable, a basically decent chap who's revolted at the thought of having to eat living people in order to extend his own existence. Lind is enticing as the kind of gal for whom lots of guys would fall. Herrmann and Hurt are endearing as the cheerful parents.Given that this is obviously geared more towards a mainstream, youth oriented audience, don't expect very much in the way of gore or sex. But it does offer some fun, and only runs a fairly painless 85 minutes long.Six out of 10.
lisafordeay
Many years ago I seen this movie on TV back in the 90s and I had no idea what the name of this film was.I thought it was something like My Boyfriend is a Zombie but in actual fact it was called My Boyfriend's Back.So what is this about well it tells the tale of a lovelorn teen named Johnny Dingle(told sometimes in a comic book style cartoon in some snipets) who is in love with a girl called Missy McCloud who he knew since they were both kids,and he was invited to her party as a little boy. He dreams of taking her to prom and would do anything to be with her. So what does Johnny do to win her over,why have his mate disguise himself as a robber and rob the store where Missy works.But it all backfires when a real robber shows up and shots Johnny. Sadly Johnny dies only to be brought back to life again.But the problem now is he is a zombie and he has to try and win Missy's heart again so that he can go to the prom with her. So will he get the girl of his dreams even though his dead or will he be brought back from the aftermath again?Overall I haven't seen this film in years and I was lucky to have seen it after all these years. The premise is stupid and silly,the dialogue is corny and the acting was decent.I liked the guy that played Johnny Dingle he was really goofy and cute and you actually feel sorry for the guy cause he loves this girl who doesn't know that he likes her. Parts of it was a bit funny like the townspeople trying to get after Johnny and Johnny eats Buck and Missy falls for Johnny. Its a cute romantic fantasy with a horror edge to it but its not that scary at all. If you haven't seen it then check it out and keep your eyes opened for Matthew McConnaghey(this was his movie debut by the way)alongside Matthew Fox and the late Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Paxton Whitehead who played Uncle Millard in the 2001 romantic fantasy with Hugh Jackman Kate & Leopold.C-5/10Not bad
funky_cherry86
This is one of my favourite films from the 1990's it's funny, bizarre and yet sweet at the same time, My Boyfriend's Back is different than most of the teen comedies of today. Mary Beth Hurt & Edward Herrman played the part of the parents to perfection, they supported their son and didn't seem frightened by his return from the grave.Supporting cast members Traci Lind, Matthew Fox, Austin Pendleton, Paul Dooley & Phillip Seymour Hoffman all delivered great performances in this demented comedy.Johnny Dingle (Lowery) has been in love with the prettiest girl in school Missy McCloud (Lind) for 12 years now with the senior prom coming up he's finally gonna get up the nerve to ask her to be his date. However her jock boyfriend Buck Van Patten (Fox) squashes his chances of that happening in an attempt to get her to go with him Johnny comes up with the craziest idea ever.This film seemed bizarre, weird and yet romantic at the same time the main character played by Andrew Lowery showed the depth of his love for his girl by returning from the dead to have the dance he's been waiting for.for anyone who loves the strange and the undead I recommend this delightful and demented comedy.
Pepper Anne
'My Boyfriend's Back' is both great as a political analogy (dealing with generic prejudice and social mistrust) as well as a hard mockery of standard teen fare. The story is that of a teen who is dying to go to the prom with the school beauty. Unfortunately, a plan to get her attention backfires and he dies. But, he rises as the walking dead in order to keep the date. But, even though no one seems to mind much that the dead kid pretty much resumed his normal life, he is quickly decaying. And, it requires that he eats living things in order to slow the process until a doctor (played fantastically by character actor, Austin Pendleton) can figure out how to chemically reverse the process. Of course, his cannibalism does not blow over well with the towns folk, who soon begin to ostracize the boy (and violently, at that).It is a witty little black comedy that does sometimes strive too hard to impose its humor on the audience (though, maintaining some witty subtle humor at the same time). The generic supporting characters such as the oblivious father (played by Edward Hermann), the exceedingly prim mother, and, of course, the doctor (Austin Pendleton) are great. Its seems like a more scaled down, cheaper version of something that Tim Burton could put together (and sort of did, with Frankenweenie). Also, look for Cloris Leachman, Paul Dooley, and a then-unknown Matthew Fox and Phyllip Seymour Hoffman in supporting roles.If you enjoy this movie, check out 'My Best Friend is a Vampire,' 'The Applegates,' 'I Was a Teenage Zombie,' 'Terror Vision,' or the disturbing black comedy 'Parents.' This is one of those oddball varieties.
