Hiding Out

Hiding Out

Company type	Film
Industry	Motion picture
Founded	1987
Products	Film

Hiding Out is a 1987 American film that blends romance, thriller, comedy, and drama, featuring Jon Cryer as a witness under state protection who adopts the guise of a high school student to escape the mafia.

Plot

Andrew Morenski, along with two fellow stockbrokers, is involved in passing counterfeit bonds for a mob figure on trial. Following the murder of one broker, the FBI places Andrew and the remaining partner under protective custody. During a hitmen ambush at breakfast outside their safe house, Andrew manages to flee and eventually arrives in Topsail, Delaware. There, he contacts his Aunt Lucy and assumes the identity of Maxwell Hauser, enrolling at the local high school.

Adopting a punk style makeover, Andrew quickly gains popularity among his peers but faces opposition from class president Kevin O'Roarke while attracting the interest of Ryan Campbell. A birthday card sent inadvertently exposes his whereabouts to a hitman masquerading as an FBI agent.

When federal agents close in, Andrew seeks shelter within the school and forms a friendship with janitor Ezzard. He decides to run for class president against Kevin, whose campaign involves cheating. Although Kevin is initially declared the winner, a recount reverses the result in Andrew’s favor. During his victory speech, assassins open fire; with assistance from Ezzard and Patrick, the threat is subdued.

The story concludes with Andrew testifying against the mobster in court and entering the Witness Protection Program. Under his new name, Eddie Collins, he reunites with Ryan at college and reveals his intention to pursue a teaching career.

Cast

• Jon Cryer as Andrew Morenski/Maxwell Hauser
• Keith Coogan as Patrick Morenski
• Annabeth Gish as Ryan Campbell
• Claude Brooks as Clinton
• Oliver Cotton as Killer
• Tim Quill as Kevin O'Roarke
• Tony Soper as Ahern
• Ned Eisenberg as Rodriguez
• Marita Geraghty as Janie Rooney
• John Spencer as Bakey
• Gretchen Cryer as Lucy Morenski
• Anne Pitoniak as Grandma Jennie
• Beth Ehlers as Chloe
• Richard Portnow as Mr. Lessig
• Gerry Bamman as Mr. Stevens
• Jack Gilpin as Dr. Gusick
• Joy Behar as Gertrude
• Lou Walker as Ezzard

Soundtrack

The soundtrack includes four tracks that charted in the United States: Roy Orbison’s re-recorded version of "Crying" featuring k.d. lang; Boy George’s "Live My Life"; Pretty Poison’s "Catch Me (I'm Falling)," which reached the US top ten and topped Billboard’s Hot Dance Club Play chart in September 1987; and "You Don't Know" by Scarlett and Black, which became a top-20 hit in the US. Additionally, the UK hit "Seattle" by Public Image Ltd. is part of the soundtrack.

Reception

Film critic Roger Ebert compared Hiding Out to Like Father, Like Son, categorizing it within a "Generation Squeeze" genre that mixes adult and teen themes to appeal to both demographics. He criticized elements such as the gangster storyline and the subplot involving the janitor while questioning the believability of a 29-year-old protagonist’s relationship with Gish’s character, who is more than ten years younger. Ebert noted the film encourages reflection on revisiting high school but preferred Peggy Sue Got Married for its superior treatment of this concept.

Janet Maslin regarded the movie as "pleasant enough," offering gentle humor and highlighting Jon Cryer’s potential for more mature roles. The Time Out Film Guide described it as "predictable, slackly plotted nonsense," somewhat improved by an amiable young cast.

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 38% approval rating with an average score of 4.7 out of 10.