Professional flautist Susan Berlanger (Kristy McNichol) has had to wear a leg brace ever since coming down with viral encephalitis at age nine. While in Europe on a concert tour, she decides to wear a cast on her leg to hide her disability so people will treat her normally. She stays in a ski resort in the French Alps, where she falls in love with photographer Peter Nichols (Michael Ontkean).
Just the Way You Are contains examples of:
- A-Cup Angst: Susan's ballerina friend Lisa used to stuff her shirt with Kleenex before all her dates and hope the boy didn't try to cop a feel.
- And Starring: Also starring Kaki Hunter… and Robert Carradine as "Sam Carpenter."
- The Beard: At the beginning of the movie, Susan is engaged to her gay friend Frank Bantam (Tim Daly). They break up a few weeks before the wedding when he finds her with another man and they realize they won't be able to satisfy each other.
- Better than Sex: At one point, the skier François Rossignol says that the feeling of taking off ski boots is better than sex. Peter replies, "Bad sex."
- The Big Race: Susan participates in a race for people with broken legs. All the other racers wipe out, usually within a few dozen feet of the starting line. Susan manages to win the race by moving as slowly as possible and being the only person to make it to the finish line.
- Diegetic Switch: A few seconds into Susan's first European recital, the scene changes to her walking down the street while her music plays in the background.
- The Mistress: One woman at the ski resort is having an affair with a married man. He was supposed to come to the resort, but his wife got sick, and his mistress was forced to room with Susan because she didn't have anywhere else to go.
- Modesty Bedsheet: Susan and Peter use a his 'n' hers bedsheet after they have sex.
- Naked in Mink: Susan hangs out in her room at the ski resort wearing a fur coat and nothing else.
- Open-Fly Gag: Susan and Frank attend a party with Frank's boss Earl. When Susan notices that Earl's fly is open, neither of them wants to mention it, so Susan pretends to drop food in his lap and then zips his fly while picking it up.
- Snowball Fight: When Peter asks Susan what happened to her leg, Susan throws a snowball at him. Peter retaliates with a much bigger snowball.
- Title Drop: During their breakup, Susan tells Frank, "You know, it's just possible they're willing to accept you just the way you are down there in Texas."
