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Sean Astin, Lara Flynn Boyle, Peter Dobson, Balthazar Getty, Ricki Lake ... see more see more... , James LeGros , Kyle MacLachlan , Dermot Mulroney , Stephen Tobolowsky , Will Smith , Adam Baldwin , Laura San Giacomo , David Arquette , Joey Dedio , Debbie James , Ken Kerman , Robert Knepper , Michael Maguire , Nancy McKeon , Alyssa Milano , Dennis Phun , Leo Rossi , Christian Slater , Cynthia Szigeti , Rachel Ticotin

Marc Rocco's gritty drama Where the Day Takes You stars Dermot Mulroney as King, a street-smart hustler who acts as a father figure to a motley collection of young runaways. Among the people in his sp... read more read more...here are the young self-destructive drug addict Greg (Sean Astin), self-hating gay prostitute Little J (Balthazar Getty), and newcomer Heather (Lara Flynn Boyle). The film is structured as a series of flashbacks triggered by King's conversations with a prison psychologist (Laura San Giacomo). Included in the impressive cast are such soon-to-be-famous names as Will Smith and Ricki Lake, and the already established Kyle MacLachlan, Christian Slater, and Alyssa Milano. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi

Flixster Users

71% liked it

2,875 ratings

Critics

80% liked it

5 critics

R, 1 hr. 43 min.

Directed by: Marc Rocco

Release Date: September 11, 1992

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DVD Release Date: November 25, 2003

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Flixster Reviews (150)

  • yona71
    January 17, 2010
    yona71
    Quite a brilliant film that's been swept under the carpet for the most part. Dermot Mulroney turns in a fine portrayal as the coin-rolling "leader" of a group of teenage runaways doing what they can to survive living on the streets of Los Angeles. Drugs and prostitution pose as t... read morehreats to most of the kids being that they seem to be the alternatives to them going back to live with their families, as well as the bureaucratic ideals that oppose this free- wheeling lifestyle which essentially fuels their need of being apart from what is considered to be the right way of going about their young existences.
    This film is worth seeing for the brilliant character work by Dermot Mulroney alone, but has a cast that delivers quality performances such as Sean Astin's effective portrayal of a drug addicted teen.
  • hobster1
    September 3, 2008
    hobster1
    Urban drama about teen runaways on the streets of Hollywood features a dream cast of young actors (Will Smith makes his feature film debut here). Gritty juvenile delinquency film wants to be hard-hitting, but whenever something meaningful happens, the audience is subjected to te... read moredious rock music by Melissa Etheridge and it becomes a music video. (She's credited with 5 songs on the soundtrack, but I defy anyone to tell them apart). Some nice performances, but ultimately a minor film.
  • leekyle1968
    July 12, 2009
    leekyle1968
    Not bad, not gripping but not bad. I think i originally watched this because i wanted at the time to see Will smith in a serious role.
  • ileo
    December 8, 2007
    ileo
    An interesting movie!
  • wihyena
    May 11, 2009
    wihyena
    It's well worth watching, despite the slightly gritty video quality. A friend made me watch this one day, and I really got into it.
  • StaisilD
    August 5, 2007
    StaisilD
    "Where The Day Takes You" is about the homeless youth who come from all over the country to escape their dysfunctional families to live on the streets of Hollywood.It is here that this youth form surrogate families with other homeless youth. The movie is surprisingly honest about... read more dangers of living on the street and yet portrays the real sense of community that this homeless youth shares with each other. There are so many famous actors, that people don't even know are in this movie. Lara Flynn Boyle, Alyssa Milano, Dermott Mulroney, Rikki Lake, Laura San Giacomo, Sean Astin, Balthazar Getty, Will Smith, Nancy McKeon. highly recommend this movie! It does make you appreciate what you have and makes you realize how some people, kids, can end up and what can happen to them.
  • partywill
    June 26, 2007
    partywill
    Sooo many stars and one major storyline thru the entire film.
    I def refer this dvd to all movie lovers everywhere.
  • aubreymattord
    April 14, 2007
    aubreymattord
    A great reason not to do drugs. My daughter will see this when she can understand it. One of the reasons I didn't do anything harder than weed.
  • jeffman52001
    April 12, 2007
    jeffman52001
    A great drama film about youth and the problems they face. Some of the kids are runaways and living in the city. A great cast in the film, the story is great, a message about drugs, prostitution and other things teen runaways face.
  • CandaceMom23
    March 24, 2007
    CandaceMom23
    I have seen this a million times... I was in love with it when it came out... so real... gripping...

View All Where the Day Takes You Reviews

Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy
August 27, 2008
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

Though hovering between art and sociology, realism and stylization, Rocco's film serves as showcase for young cohort of actors including Will Smith, Sean Astin, Dermot Mulroney, Lara Flynn Boyle and B... Full Review

Dennis Schwartz
February 15, 2004
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Nothing new here to be glommed, but this slickly done film is nevertheless hard-hitting. Full Review

June 9, 2008
Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Janet Maslin
May 20, 2003
Janet Maslin, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Jonathan Rosenbaum
January 1, 2000
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

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Scott Weinberg
July 28, 2002
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com

No review available.

Steve Davis
January 1, 2000
Steve Davis, Austin Chronicle

Click to read the article Full Review

May 24, 2003
Film4

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January 9, 2002
Movieline

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Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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