MovieChat Forums > Regarding Henry (1991) Discussion > This was written by JJ Abrams!!???

This was written by JJ Abrams!!???

posted 10 years ago by IceboxMovies
7 replies | jump to latest

When I was watching this movie I had absolutely no idea the screenplay (and therefore, I guess, all of the dialogue) was written by JJ Abrams. The opening credits list the screenwriter as one "Jeffrey Abrams", and, me having no idea who that was, I paid it no mind.

Then later I find out Jeffrey Abrams and JJ Abrams are one and the same!!! WTF!

Did this happen to anyone else? I didn't even know Abrams was in the business in the early 90's. I thought he was a nobody until Alias and Lost. Certainly didn't know he had ever written for Mike Nichols.

[–] mram16 9 years ago

I was looking though Abrams's credits and was pleasantry surprised to learn he had written this (and to learn that he was so young when he did so). I was less pleasantly surprised to learn that he also wrote Taking Care of Business and Gone' Fishin', but hey, he's directing a Star Wars picture now, so everything worked out all right in the end.

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[–] raf-33 9 years ago

He also plays the delivery boy who lets Henry out of the apartment.

Properly read, the Bible is the most potent force for atheism ever conceived. -Isaac Asimov

[–] nogodlover 8 years ago

Omg, that's him? He looks like just a kid there.

[–] vmars080 8 years ago

Omg, that's him? He looks like just a kid there.

Yep. 25 years old in 1991. The sort of icky thing about "40 being the new 30" and on and on is that so many people in their 20s now seem like teenagers. So it is all the more impressive that he did this at 25. Which used to be grown-up. But yes, so impressive and I really want to read more about how he got a foothold in Hollywood so young - I guess writing good scrips and working with good agents? I'd love one of those "Discovered by accident" or "At the soda fountain" tales :)

[–] ThomasCrown76 9 years ago

Brilliant performance

[–] vmars080 8 years ago

I know, I am freaking gob-smacked. I always thought "Alias" was his first project! :)
The man has skills - and I know that is a terrible understatement! But wow... and it sort of helps me understand why he was chosen to do the Star Wars ... what is the current one considered, a re-boot? (Why the call re-makes "re-boot" doesn't make as much sense as re-starting something and carrying on with the tale). Even got to work with Ford again. (And yes I was extremely impressed with the Mike Nichols connection, he was such a wonderful director and have always heard such good things about him as a lovely human being as well.

Apparently Jeffrey Adams also played a delivery boy :) I wish I knew what scene, I always love looking for Hitchcock's famous "cameos" in his films. Never the same thing twice!

Did this happen to anyone else? I didn't even know Abrams was in the business in the early 90's. I thought he was a nobody until Alias and Lost. Certainly didn't know he had ever written for Mike Nichols.

Yes! :) This definitely happened to someone else. I also just realized how much humility Abrams has. Unless for some reason he wasn't proud of the work he did here, he has really been so humble about it. Which is very refreshing in Hollywood!

I became disabled the year after RH came out, so it feels like it was about 5 years ago - now I feel even more like "I have so done nothing with my life!". But at least I'm smart enough to seek out the people who have. :)

[–] Ashaod43 8 years ago

Don't go too crazy patting him on the back. He also wrote Gone Fishing with Danny Glover and Joe Pesci.