Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Shelley Long | ... | Phyllis Nefler | |
Craig T. Nelson | ... | Freddy Nefler | |
Betty Thomas | ... | Velda Plendor | |
Mary Gross | ... | Annie Herman | |
Stephanie Beacham | ... | Vicki Sprantz | |
Audra Lindley | ... | Frances Temple | |
Edd Byrnes | ... | Ross Coleman | |
Ami Foster | ... | Claire Sprantz | |
Carla Gugino | ... | Chica Barnfell | |
Heather Hopper | ... | Tessa DiBlasio | |
Kellie Martin | ... | Emily Coleman | |
![]() |
Emily Schulman | ... | Tiffany Honigman |
![]() |
Tasha Scott | ... | Jasmine Shakar |
![]() |
Aquilina Soriano | ... | Lily Marcigan |
Jenny Lewis | ... | Hannah Nefler |
As Phyllis, a Beverly Hills housewife, is in the middle of a divorce, she tries to find focus in her life by taking over her daughter Hannah's Wilderness Girl troop. Among the girls are Tiffany, (who her father has to bribe to attend meetings, Emily (the daughter of an out of work actor, whose financial difficulties hinders her wanting to participate in certain activities), the neurotic Tessa (whose parents divorce has forced her into therapy twice a week), the hostile Chica (whose parents are too busy with their own lives to even remember her birthday), and Claire (the child star who see the wilderness girls as her chance to lead a "normal" life). Phyllis then begins to take the girls camping at a Beverly Hills hotel and earn patches relating to material things. The district leader, Velda, feels the troop should be disbanded. However, the head of the Wilderness girls organization believes that as long as Phyllis has taken an active interest in the girls, that is the only thing that's... Written by Theresa
Troop Beverly Hills is a funny movie for pre-teen girls. Goofy Shelly Long plays eccentric Beverly Hills mom, Phyllis Nefler, who decides to get involved with her daughter's life and prove that she can do things for herself (sort of), so she becomes troop leader of her daughter's Wilderness Girl's squad.
This proves to be an embarrassing experience for the young girls, seeking some much needed leadership from their mother who can't seem to gain independence from the luxuries of her Beverly Hills lifestyle. But, once the pack is forced to compete with an aggressive, survival squad of hard core rival troopers, Phyllis and her team, tired of being a laughing stock (and also because Phyllis wants to gain her daughter's confidence and respect) are going to prove that they're not just a bunch of whiny rich girls from Beverly Hills.
80s fans will probably recognize many of the young troopers (from Jenny Lewis to Kelli Martin to Tori Spelling), and I'm sure pre-teen girls are sure to like the movie for it's silly story, young female cast, and the goofy antics of Shelly Long. It's a hilarious little movie with a good message for kids about the importance of female independence (Phyllis doesn't want her husband to think she can't fend for herself without a man's guidance) as well as individual confidence. It's bona fide family fun.