Wednesday, April 25, 2012

I Used to Like This Film...

Have you ever revisited a film that from your youth and shudder at the thought that one time you LOVED this movie? I’m not talking about cartoons or the like, but films that when you watch them today, you think, “Really? I liked this??”


The other night I was channel-chasing and landed on “Pretty in Pink,” the 1986 John Hughes hit about teen angst in suburban Chicago (as was the topic of all of his films). I remember watching this story of the pretty, artistic girl from the wrong side of the tracks, Andie, falling for cute, richie Blaine, and all of the peer pressure ugliness they faced. As teenagers, didn’t we all see them as star-crossed lovers? I still like“Duckie," and that was probably the height of James Spader’s attractiveness. It’s hard to believe he’s now Robert California on “The Office.”

Anyhoo, back to the movie. Fast forward 26 years (yes, that’s right) to 2012. I’m now watching this as a 38-year old mom and I happen to catch the scene where she shows up at the prom alone, but Duckie appears and escorts her inside. There’s Blaine, sitting alone in his dinner jacket, and suddenly he sees her. He walks over and tells her that he always believed in her, she just didn’t believe in him. Then he says he’ll always love her.

Okay, what the hell? What do you mean you always believed in her? Dude, the minute your rich friends started to dis you for hanging out with the poor, indie girl, you stopped calling her, wouldn’t return her calls and backed out of prom. Yeah, you always believed in her.

In a few years, I may watch this with my daughter. And, what am I going to say?

“You see that girl, Andie? She’s really smart and talented, yet comes from a poor family, so to help make ends meet, she works part-time in a record store.”

To which my daughter will ask, “What's a record store?”

After I explain that, I’ll continue my lecture thoughts on Andie. “You see that guy with a weak chin and no upper lip? That’s rich guy, Blaine, who has a super-creepy friend, Steff. Should Andie spend day and night obsessing over Blaine and letting his friends make her feel like trash? Hell-to-the-no. Andie, study hard, get that scholarship to art school and get the heck out of Chicago.”

To which my daughter will respond, "You are so right, Mom. I will always do as you say and never question you or your authority!"
Of course, I’ll always love Hughes’ “The Breakfast Club,” and perhaps "Sixteen Candles" for it's absolute silliness...


...and because of Jake Ryan. Sigh.

So, I guess I’ve not matured as much as I thought I had.

Do you feel this way about any films from your youth?
Images from IMBD


8 comments:

AEOT said...

Jake Ryan is still the hottest male on the planet. HOTTEST. And that's all I have to say about that!!

myletterstoemily said...

it is totally embarrassing to think what i used
to like.

"pretty in pink" was never on that list, though,
for all the reasons you will discuss with your
sweet daughter.

good luck on that . . . :)

teresa-bug said...

I am another one who is going to comment on how hot Jake Ryan is. SWOOON!

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

Oh the memories...
I loved that film when it came out!
The big hair is rather shocking though!

Suburban Princess said...

I must be the oddball...I never really understood what the big deal is with John Hughes films. I saw them all when I was a teenager and they were coming out and as much as I enjoyed them...I just dont get them!

Ashley Turner said...

I feel the same - still love Sixteen Candles, but not really a fan of Pretty in Pink anymore. Otherwise though, not sure I've matured much in the last 20 years as I still love Clueless, vintage episodes of 90210 and everything I used to love as a 10 year old! hahaha

preppyplayer said...

Loved all those flicks but can't help but think that our girls will watch old Glee reruns and wonder if that REALLY reflected their high school years...

About Last Weekend said...

Love all of those, Molly Ringwald was my favourite, an off-beat beauty. I recommended Pretty in Pink and 16 Candles to my friend for her 13 year old girls and she said it was not really appropriate, obviously I will have to watch it again...