It was the movie of the day when I was coming of age. I wasn't a Molly Ringwald fan but did think Ally Sheedy was a great actor. Everyone my age at the time was all about Molly (and then all about a different kind of Molly 20 years later...), but the movie was a fad frenzy that I never saw until it came out on VHS (I grew up on a ranch). I was in 5th grade in 1985 when it originally came out. The local video rental place in town finally got the tape a few years later.
When I watched it, I identified halfway between the nerd (Anthony Michael Hall) and the social reject (Judd Nelson). I had the brain and the bad home, so I didn't exactly fit neatly into John Hugh's little compartments.
I still don't at 52 and it shows.
But I'm sure plenty of people from younger generations have seen the movie. Maybe they were forced to watch it via parents reminiscing about the "great 80's", or stayed in some hotel where they had cable and it was the only thing to watch besides Supermarket Sweep, or -- just said "hell with it" and streamed the damn thing.
So please, I'm looking for more than opinions (or God forbid, political BS) -- I want perspective. I want your thoughts and emotions and I'll go first:
I really thought it sucked that the "nerd" left alone. Everyone left with a soulmate but him. I also thought the movie completely avoided the whole rumor mill of "Brian's dad is the JANITOR!!!". Coming from a bad home, I really never wanted to introduce "badness" into anyone's home. I wanted an escape from my own home, albeit not with Molly. The whole weed thing -- actually -- was probably one of the most honest takes on the film.
That's my take. What's yours? And thank you!
Agreed! I hated that! Her character went from dark to "everything's fine now because I'm pretty and dating a jock" and that's so.... Bullshit!
At 52 (born before the wheel, but after fire), I can say characters like Ally Sheedy's role turned out to be the best people on the planet. The jocks and popular girls, not so much. And I'm not talking about money on this. I've seen the same "Allison" both rich and poor, turn out to be great human beings. The "Claires", not so much. Not saying there aren't great "Claire's" out there, but I agree -- the whole "jockism and pretty-ism is the goal" was a complete turn-off for me.
Why? Sorry, still haven't watched it, but sounds philosophical. How do we grow people like this?
EDIT: ooooh, just found out that's where the quote comes from: "When you grow up, your heart dies."
Sounds like Allison would be right up my alley. Looks like this is going onto my watch list.