John Petlock | 80's Movie Guide

Gross Anatomy movie synopsis. Joe Slovak is a brilliant first-year med student whose nonconformist approach to life is tested when he enrolls in gross anatomy, the toughest course in med school. His schoolfriends include Kim, a pregnant woman, Miles, a buttoned-down blue-blood, Laurie, an ambitious student determined to make it and David, an overanalyzer who is also his roommate. Joe's freewheeling, independent style creates funny moments in the classroom, but puts him at odds with the demanding department head, Dr. Woodruff, who questions whether her easygoing "class rebel" has what it takes to be a doctor. Meanwhile, Joe falls in love with his lab partner Laurie, who won't let anything, especially romance, interfere with her plans. And while Joe's never done anything by the book, he proves he does have what it takes to succeed — without changing his ways. However, Joe's ways and the ways of medicine come to a header when he is ordered to do an extra credit assignment by Dr. Woodruff of a complex diagnosis. Joe correctly diagnoses it as a serious, difficult-to-treat chronic illness and learns the patient is Dr. Woodruff herself. Gross Anatomy is a 1989 American drama film directed by Thom Eberhardt and starring Matthew Modine, Daphne Zuniga, Christine Lahti, Todd Field, John Scott Clough, Alice Carter, Robert Desiderio, Clyde Kusatsu and John Petlock. It was released by Touchstone Pictures. Gross Anatomy (1989) Directed by: Thom Eberhardt Starring: Matthew Modine, Daphne Zuniga, Christine Lahti, Todd Field, John Scott Clough, Alice Carter, Robert Desiderio, Clyde Kusatsu, John Petlock Screenplay by: Ron Nyswaner, Mark Spragg Production Design by: William F. Matthews Cinematography by: Steve Yaconelli Film Editing by: Bud S. Smith, M. Scott Smith Costume Design by: Gale Parker Set Decoration by: Catherine Mann Art Direction by: P. Michael Johnston Music by: David Newman Distributed by: Buena Vista Pictures Release Date: October 20, 1989