Pretty in Pink

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source: Pretty in Pink

Two reasons why this stinks: Class envy and a flitting metrosexual named after a water fowl who most likely preferred Andrew McCarthy to Molly Ringwald. And I'm not sure who this movie's for... girls without money who love themselves or girls with money who hate themselves. Or was Hughes inventing his own dream-chick before he had two nerds do it for him? The characters are cliched, the plot nonexistent, and the corny scene where Andrew McCarthy hacks into Molly Ringwald's computer... providing her pictures and a glimpse into the future of Internet Instant Messaging... literally almost killed me. I was near the end... I saw a white light... I heard Annie Potts' grating voice... The light grew larger...

This is where John Hughes started turning over his work to other lesser directors, with mixed results. Pretty in Pink is basically a cinderella story with a laughably unbelievable ending, apparently re-shot after the studio reacted in fear to what was originally there. In the original she did NOT get the 'hot guy'. Which would have been much more interesting. Featuring good performances from Jon Cryer as the "I'm not gay" friend who is clearly gay, and Molly Ringwald in the thankless title role. Another great sound track, and great supporting performances from James Spader et al. When it came out, this was the 'bomb', but it hasn't aged well I'm afraid. One of the lesser of the "Hughes cannon".

I absolutely adore John Hughes' insight into teen angst, love, relationships, and overall experiences, I feel that Pretty In Pink was his weakest. The characters, all except Duckie, were incredibly weak, and just when you thought Andie was going to rise above it all and make a grand entrance with her pink dress, she wussed out and it took the encouragement and support of Duckie to get her in the dance. Furthermore, it lacked the element of hope present in the other movies. In The Breakfast Club, it was their experiences with others that made them so prejudiced toward each other, and in Sixteen Candles, it was Samantha's own insecurities that hindered her efforts, but in Pretty In Pink, it was a direct hit from Blane that Andie had to sustain yet she went back to him. Why? Not because of hope, but because of weakness. In the others, it was hope. Hope that issues could be overcome. Pretty in Pink started with that message, but ended up being so cliche it was tough to stomach.

This movie is one of those mysteries. I never understood why a whining little freckled faced redhead girl, who actually whines 70% of the movie about being rich and white is great entertainment. This GenX'cer never got it and never will.

John Hughes wrote and produced the follow-up to his great "The Breakfast Club", and while it again doesn't hit the mark as the middle film, it's still another entertaining 80's teen romantic comedy. Hughes muse Molly Ringwald is Andie a girl from the wrong side of the tracks with an eccentric fashion sense who falls for a rich guy, Andrew McCarthy. The trials and tribulations of high school life, dating etc are played out in the well-paced 90 minute running time. I find these films fascinating because while I can relate to many of the characters and adolescent situations (who can't!) my high school life was very different from what seems to be the American experience. Maybe it's because my high school only had 350 people, but we never had the cliques. In Australia we don't have the proms (perhaps that is a good thing), the cheer squad, the jocks parading around the school in their football jumpers. It's much less socially demanding. Big question for John Hughes though: why the hell make Ringwald end up with McCarthy? Oh I get that McCarthy was a huge teen heartthrob back in the 80's (he doesn't do anything for me though, yuck) but his character is so lame. Duckie (Jon Cryer) may be borderline obsessive about Andie, but he's much more winning than Blane. is in there too as Steff, the high school rich guy who treats everyone like crap, but is also possibly in love with Ringwald. Come to think, Steff should have got with Andie. 7

This movie set in the mid 80s era of brat-pack movies is a unique shining star. Molly Ringwald is Andie a girl from the wrong side of the tracks who has romantic interests from both sides of the spectrum; Duckie (Jon Cryer) who's puppy dog love for her is both sweet and endearing to watch, and Blane (Andrew McCarthy) the rich guy who has everything going for him. What follows is Andie having to deal with this, the bitchy cheerleader type girls at school, her loving but dishonest father (An excellent Harry Dean Stanton) and through all this will she get an invitation to the prom? This is a great film with both Blane and Andie having to deal with their friends disagreeing with their relationship. Steff (James Spader at one of his very best) Blane's best friend, who tries to make Blane decide between Andie and himself when really he just wants a finger in the pie. Annie Potts as Iona, Andie's quirky older best friend is excellent and her weird and orginal costume changes throughout the movie are a high-point. This is an emotionally raw film a rarity at the time it was made. If you ask me this should have swept the Oscar nominations with Molly Ringwald getting Best Actress, but hey regardless of the miss of Oscars, watch this, it is a powerful film and a great piece of film making

John Hughes knows the 80's. And this proves it. The film is a drama/comedy about a teenage girl and her problems in social and family life. Though I am a guy, I identified with a lot of the problems and I thought there was so much to like in this film. It's just that this is a little softer than the other Hughes films. Maybe cause he didn't direct it. Molly Ringwald gives her best yet and Harry Dean Stanton has never been more tender. Good 80's film, but not in the best column. By the way, Andrew Dice Clay appears as a bouncer, so pay attention to his part which highlights the film for me. A

PRETTY IN PINK STARRING: MOLLY RINGWALD, ANDREW MCCARTHY Molly Ringwald plays Andie, a poor girl who lives with her father after her mother left them. She falls in love with a "richie", as she calls him, named Blane (who is played by Andrew McCarthy) but the pressure of friends is in the way of their relationship being perfect. Meanwhile, Andie's best friend Duckie is declaring even more his undying love for her. "Pretty in Pink" is one of those great teen movies that only comes along once. It has a fantastic sound track, cute guys, a great leading lady and a clever plot with some of the most romantic movie scenes of its time. It defines the 80s high school years with its cliques, which still are around until this day, and the problems that occur when you fall in love with someone else on the other side of the tracks. I give this movie **** out of *****