Steve Guttenberg To Attend ‘American Summer’ Premiere In Westwood

WESTWOOD, NJ — Steve Guttenberg is heading to Westwood for a homegrown movie premiere.

The actor will attend Thursday’s premiere of “American Summer” at Westwood Cinemas, 182 Center Avenue, and take part in a question-and-answer session after the film, according to his publicist, Judy Katz.

The event comes before the family comedy’s Friday release in 40 cities nationwide. The movie has a local backdrop: Interior and exterior scenes were filmed around Westwood, Ho-Ho-Kus and Allendale.

“American Summer” follows Mikey as he looks back on an unforgettable childhood summer filled with baseball, first love, neighborhood adventures and friendships. His memories unfold as his father remains missing in action while serving overseas, leaving young Mikey to find hope amid the uncertainty.

Guttenberg plays the adult Mikey and serves as the story’s emotional anchor as it moves between the character’s childhood and present life. Logan Gray plays the younger Mikey.

The cast also includes Christie Brinkley as the adult Kelly, Dan Lauria, Mia Talerico and former Major League Baseball players Lee Mazzilli and Luis Sojo. The 83-minute film is rated PG for suggestive material, some language and brief smoking.

For Westwood residents, the release offers a chance to spot familiar corners of Bergen County on the big screen — while watching the movie inside a local landmark that has welcomed filmgoers since 1928. Westwood locations used in the production include a private home and the interior of Five Dimes Brewery.

Writer, director and producer Michael W. Gray grew up in Westwood and now lives in Ho-Ho-Kus. In the film’s press notes, Gray said he wanted to recreate the feeling of an “All-American small town,” complete with children riding bicycles, tree-lined streets and neighbors enjoying life away from devices.

“I wanted to see this idyllic time of life portrayed in a motion picture that children and adults could share together,” Gray said. He described the finished14Finder the finished movie as an experience filled with “fun, love, laughs and hope.”

The film’s tagline, “Some summers last forever,” neatly captures its nostalgic approach. It also makes Westwood more than a filming location: The borough and nearby communities help create the small-town atmosphere at the heart of Mikey’s story.

Showtimes and ticket availability should be confirmed through Westwood Cinemas before visiting. National theater and ticket information is available through the official“American Summer” website.

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