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.

Play trailer1:22

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14 Photos

Comedy Drama Romance

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

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

5.8/10

1.5K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Videos1

Trailer 1:22

Watch Trailer

Photos14

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
The film was never shown theatrically in the UK when first released and went straight to video as did the movie in a number of markets and territories.

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

User reviews12

Review

Featured review

10/10

What's wrong with it?

This is a delightful 80's movie & what's wrong with it being predictable..yes, I love movies that you don't know what's going to happen, but every once in a while I love a movie i don't have to guess through. This is a feel good movie. You want to be the characters in this movie & it leaves you with a warm & nostalgic feeling!

Richard Dreyfus is a marvel & he makes everybody that plays with him seem to be a marvel. There are not enough good words to talk about Susan Sarandon. She is as fine an actress as can be. it was great seeing her young & so beautiful. It was very strange however to see Jean Stapleton in this movie. Very weird to see her out of her Edith Bunker character.