There are some movies that will forever remind me of my youth - Pretty In Pink is definitely one of them. Strange thing about this movie is that, while Power Rangers will never again be something I enjoy watching, this movie will forever be a good movie. Here's why:
Beneath all the high school drama, there is a dynamic structure of relationships that makes the viewer feel fully engulfed. The one that, I feel, stands out the most to me is between Andie (Molly Ringwald) and Duckie (Jon Cryer).
In most movies that I've seen, best friends end up together - the one that stands out the most is Some Kind of Wonderful (1987) - but that wasn't the case with this movie. In the end, when Andie felt the world was against her, Duckie was there... escorting her to prom, and to Blane's (Andrew McCarthy) arms.
Steff (James Spader) ticks me off every time I watch it, as does his girlfriend. He talks down to everyone, especially when he finds out that Blane is dating Andie, the one girl that he can't get. One of my sisters says that he's good looking, but that doesn't give anyone the right to be a complete jerk. After the fight between Andie and Blane, he's just sitting there... smoking... and immediately I go, "He's the devil." I love the part when Duckie attacks Steff! Still, both of them are good actors: James Spader is always so good at being a baddie (still love him as Daniel Jackson) - and Jon Cryer was especially moving when he runs out on Andie.
Although I've not told my sisters, I'm glad that the role of Duckie didn't go to Robert Downey, Jr. because the movie would have ended very much like Some Kind of Wonderful, with Andie and Duckie ending up together - since Molly and RDJ had that kind of chemistry. Jon Cryer was a perfect fit, and it was especially moving to see him there, at prom, waiting for her.
The movie has a rating of less than seven on IMDB, but I have learned long ago not to trust that grading system. People have their own opinions of movies. I suggest that anyone who likes movies with a lot of heart give this movie a chance - it might surprise you. Those who've seen it before, see it again. I did.
I love Duckie...and thats probably why i ever watch anything with Jon Cryer in it lol...But I disagree with you: even though Cryer is a better Duckie (probably because that's who we've seen as "Duckie" for so many years) the movie would have been the same, pretty much, with RDJ. He's an actor...and if he had played Duckie, it is still the WRITER'S decision and vision to make the characters end up the way they did, dorky Duckie or not.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Beth, for being my first commentor.
DeleteI read somewhere (IMDB, I think) that Molly Ringwald didn't feel that her connection with Jon was "romantic" so they brought Andrew back - who had already shaved off his hair and lost some weight for a war movie - so the movie ended up the way it was, with Andie and Blane together.