Calendar Girl, released in theaters on September 3, 1993, is a nostalgic coming-of-age film that follows three friends on a cross-country adventure in the summer of 1962. The plot centers on Roy Darpinian (Jason Priestley), who is obsessed with meeting Marilyn Monroe.
With his best friends, Ned Bleuer (Gabriel Olds) and Scott Forman (Jerry O’Connell), he embarks on a road trip from their hometown of Nevada to Los Angeles.
Their singular mission is to meet the iconic star and help Roy lose his virginity.
The journey, however, becomes much more than a simple quest to meet a celebrity, as along the way, they encounter various eccentric characters, get into comical misadventures, and navigate the complexities of friendship and adulthood.
The film’s appeal lies in its charming portrayal of a bygone era and the genuine chemistry between its three leads.
Priestley, at the peak of his Beverly Hills, 90210 fame, delivers a charismatic performance.
Stephanie Anderson plays Marilyn Monroe, with Cortney Page providing the voice.
Joe Pantoliano, Maxwell Caulfield, Steve Railsback, Stephen Tobolowsky, Kurt Fuller and Christine Taylor round out the cast.
The narrative is driven by a series of humorous situations, all leading up to the fateful night of Marilyn Monroe’s birthday, which ultimately teaches the trio a lesson about chasing dreams and the realities of life.
Gabriel Olds, Jerry O’Connell and Jason Priestley in Calendar Girl (Photo/Columbia Pictures)
Reception for Calendar Girl
Calendar Girl grossed $1.8 million on its opening weekend, finishing in 14th place at the box office. The No. 1 film of the week was The Fugitive, earning $17.2 million.
The film would gross $2.6 million in its theatrical run.
Legacy
Calendar Girl‘s legacy is that of a charming, if little-known, time capsule of the early ’90s and a throwback to the innocent road-trip movies of the past.
It’s a film that resonates with a sense of wistful nostalgia for a simpler time, capturing the optimistic spirit of the early 1960s.
For fans of its star-studded cast and its lighthearted, feel-good plot, it holds a place as a pleasant and often-overlooked entry in the coming-of-age genre and is a film that reminds us that sometimes, the journey is more important than the destination.
