Something Special (also known as Willy/Milly and I Was a Teenage Boy)[2] is a 1986 comedic fantasy film directed by Paul Schneider, based upon a story by the same name by Alan H. Friedman. The film follows the title character of Milly Niceman, a young tomboy who is unhappy with the traditional expectations for her gender and longs to become a boy so she can act however she wants. Initially released as I Was a Teenage Boy in 1986, the film was later re-titled to Something Special for a 1987 limited theatrical release and for a VHS release.[3][4]
Something Special
VHS cover with the second title of "Something Special"
Milly Niceman is a fourteen-year-old girl who has grown frustrated with her mother's attempts to curtail her tomboyish nature. Her mother, Doris, believes that Milly's actions are inappropriate for a girl, and that she'd be better off showing more interest in dances and dresses. When her best friend's younger brother, Malcolm, sells her a spell that will grant her deepest wish, that will only work during the upcoming eclipse, Milly jumps at the chance. She performs the spell, and believes that it has failed. The next morning, Milly discovers that not only was the spell successful, but it turned her into a boy. She tells her family about what happened, and to her surprise, her father encourages her to explore her new masculinity.
As a result, Milly changes her name to "Willy", and begins attending a new school as a transfer student. Milly initially takes well to her new persona and gender, but eventually becomes conflicted when she begins to realize that life isn't necessarily easier as a boy and that she has feelings for her friend Alfie, who is equally confused about his feelings for "Willy". By the film's end, Milly decides to become female once more. Malcolm sells Milly a wishing stone that she is to throw at her favorite star at 12:03 during a star shower. She turns back into a girl again.
Castedit
Pamela Adlon as Milly / Willy Niceman (as Pamela Segall)
Providence Journal commented that the film could have worked it if had been "played for hilarious farce a la Tootsie, or as an examination of the psychological traumas that [Milly]/Willy undergoes".[5] The Sun-Sentinel panned the film as "so shallow, boring and half-baked that one wonders if anyone looked at the finished product before distribution".[6] The Daily News of Los Angeles and Los Angeles Times both gave mixed reviews for the Willy/Milly, with the Los Angeles Times remarking that while the film "doesn't really function well as a comedy" it did have some appeal.[3][7]
^"Rancid attitudes give shape to the fantasy in 'Special'". The Atlanta Journal and The Atlanta Constitution. November 21, 1986. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
^ abWILMINGTON, MICHAEL (April 6, 1987). "'Something'--almost Something Special". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
^Paul Brenner (2013). . Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on 14 November 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
^Janusonsis, Michael (Jul 22, 1986). "Boy, oh boy Milly goes Willy in fantasy film that's too silly". Providence Journal. (subscription required)
^Hurlburt, Roger (May 2, 1986). . Sun Sentinel. Archived from the original on 22 March 2020.
^"'SOMETHING SPECIAL': PREDICTABLE BUT CUTE". Daily News of Los Angeles. April 8, 1987. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
willy, milly, something, special, also, known, teenage, 1986, comedic, fantasy, film, directed, paul, schneider, based, upon, story, same, name, alan, friedman, film, follows, title, character, milly, niceman, young, tomboy, unhappy, with, traditional, expecta. Something Special also known as Willy Milly and I Was a Teenage Boy 2 is a 1986 comedic fantasy film directed by Paul Schneider based upon a story by the same name by Alan H Friedman The film follows the title character of Milly Niceman a young tomboy who is unhappy with the traditional expectations for her gender and longs to become a boy so she can act however she wants Initially released as I Was a Teenage Boy in 1986 the film was later re titled to Something Special for a 1987 limited theatrical release and for a VHS release 3 4 Something SpecialVHS cover with the second title of Something Special Directed byPaul SchneiderWritten byWalter Carbone Carla ReubenStory byAlan H FriedmanBased onWilly Millyby Alan FriedmanStarringPamela Segall Eric Gurry John Glover Patty DukeCinematographyDavid McHughEdited byMichael R MillerMusic byDominique ChapuisDistributed byImageworks CRC ProductionRelease dateNovember 14 1986 1986 11 14 Running time86 minutesCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglishBox office 235 262 1 Contents 1 Plot 2 Cast 3 Reception 4 References 5 External linksPlot editMilly Niceman is a fourteen year old girl who has grown frustrated with her mother s attempts to curtail her tomboyish nature Her mother Doris believes that Milly s actions are inappropriate for a girl and that she d be better off showing more interest in dances and dresses When her best friend s younger brother Malcolm sells her a spell that will grant her deepest wish that will only work during the upcoming eclipse Milly jumps at the chance She performs the spell and believes that it has failed The next morning Milly discovers that not only was the spell successful but it turned her into a boy She tells her family about what happened and to her surprise her father encourages her to explore her new masculinity As a result Milly changes her name to Willy and begins attending a new school as a transfer student Milly initially takes well to her new persona and gender but eventually becomes conflicted when she begins to realize that life isn t necessarily easier as a boy and that she has feelings for her friend Alfie who is equally confused about his feelings for Willy By the film s end Milly decides to become female once more Malcolm sells Milly a wishing stone that she is to throw at her favorite star at 12 03 during a star shower She turns back into a girl again Cast editPamela Adlon as Milly Willy Niceman as Pamela Segall Eric Gurry as Alfie Mary Tanner Bailey as Stephanie as Mary Tanner John Glover as Fred Niceman Patty Duke as Doris Niceman Seth Green as Malcolm JD Cullum as Tom Corey Parker as Lopez Jeb Ellis Brown as Harry Taryn Grimes as Cynthia Diane Bogino as Doctor 1 Milton Chaikin as Doctor 2 Bobby Emmrich as Luke Mike McGehee as Smiley Robin Jackson as WitchReception editProvidence Journal commented that the film could have worked it if had been played for hilarious farce a la Tootsie or as an examination of the psychological traumas that Milly Willy undergoes 5 The Sun Sentinel panned the film as so shallow boring and half baked that one wonders if anyone looked at the finished product before distribution 6 The Daily News of Los Angeles and Los Angeles Times both gave mixed reviews for the Willy Milly with the Los Angeles Times remarking that while the film doesn t really function well as a comedy it did have some appeal 3 7 References edit Willy Milly 1986 Financial Information Rancid attitudes give shape to the fantasy in Special The Atlanta Journal and The Atlanta Constitution November 21 1986 Retrieved 3 November 2013 a b WILMINGTON MICHAEL April 6 1987 Something almost Something Special Los Angeles Times Retrieved 3 November 2013 Paul Brenner 2013 I Was a Teenage Boy 1986 Movies amp TV Dept The New York Times Archived from the original on 14 November 2013 Retrieved 4 November 2013 Janusonsis Michael Jul 22 1986 Boy oh boy Milly goes Willy in fantasy film that s too silly Providence Journal subscription required Hurlburt Roger May 2 1986 Comedy Willy Milly Really Silly Sun Sentinel Archived from the original on 22 March 2020 SOMETHING SPECIAL PREDICTABLE BUT CUTE Daily News of Los Angeles April 8 1987 Retrieved 3 November 2013 External links editWilly Milly at IMDb nbsp Willy Milly at the American Film Institute Catalog Willy Milly at Box Office Mojo Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Willy Milly amp oldid 1218132421, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
