Pretty in Pink (1986)

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Directed by Howard Deutch.

Starring Jon Cryer, Andrew McCarthy, Annie Potts, Molly Ringwald, Harry Dean Stanton.

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John Hughes crafts an exemplary '80s Brat Pack romance out of the standard Cinderella story in Pretty in Pink. Andie Walsh (Molly Ringwald) is a teenager who lives in the dingy part of town with her terminally underemployed dad (Harry Dean Stanton). She works at a record store with eccentric Ionia (Annie Potts) and is considered a misfit at her uppity high school, but somehow she rises above them all. Her oddball best friend, Duckie (Jon Cryer), is hopelessly in love with her, so he causes trouble for her romantic pursuits. When local rich kid Blaine (Andrew McCarthy) develops a fascination with her, they go out on a date together. Visiting the home bases of each social clique, they are basically ridiculed for their audacity to date one another. When Blaine eventually asks the delighted Andie to the prom, he is threatened by his rich friend Steff (James Spader). The romance versus high school social politics finally culminates at the big night of the prom. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide

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Reviews and discussions

Some kind of mediocre
by unclefestering in unclefestering Blog

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"I never understood why John Hughes thought it was a good idea to remake Pretty in Pink (1986). Maybe he was just running out of ideas for high school comedies and was afraid to movie on to writing comedies about adults. Given his track record there, I can understand that fear. Whatever the reason, about a year after Pretty in Pink, out came SomeKind of Wonderful. Both Eric Stoltz and Lea Thompson are far too stiff in this movie. Mary Stuart Masterson is the only saving grace. She out Duckied Ducky. But then again, Jon Cryer is exactly the world's greatest actor. As for the plot see Pretty in Pink and just switch the genders. This movie is just OK . I wouldn't work too hard to see it. " [More]

Just between me and Hughes
by usesoap in usesoap Blog

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"Perhaps it’s a certain soft spot for the navigator of my awkward adolescent journey, John Hughes; maybe it’s the affable charisma of lead Owen Wilson (who, even off his game as he is here, is just someone with whom you want to share a beer); or it could be the overall throwback tone of the film’s less-ironic, less-cynical high school setting.Whatever the reason, I quite enjoyed “Drillbit Taylor.Hughes, the arbiter of public school angst, originally scribbled the screenplay for the new comedy and allowed it to languish for the better part of two decades before it was dusted off by reigning comedic king Judd Apatow (“Knocked Up,” “40-Year-Old Virgin”) and his faithful scribes Seth Rogan (“Superbad”) and Kristofer Brown (TVs “Undeclared”). Hughes’ name is not found on any of the credits (acknowledgment is given to his frequent nom de plume of Edmond Dantes), but his style can be felt throughout. With great ... " [More]

5 Sickeningly Sappy Movie Songs ...
by marymcilwain in Dollar Video Curator

liked it.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. [What do you think?]
""If You Leave" by OMD - From: "Pretty in Pink""If you leave, don't leave now. Please don't take my heart away. Promise me, just one more night. Then we'll go our separate ways." What teenager can't imagine the heartbreaking, beautiful sadness of only being allowed one more night, for whatever cruel, cruel reason. Never mind the blatant contradiction of OMD, singing in one line that they won't let go of us at any price, and then quicker that you can exhale a deep, soft shuddery sigh of resignation to stay, they're stating they'll be running in the other direction the second our feet hit the pavement. Those New Wave British Synth-Pop groups are all the same. "Against All Odds" by Phil Collins - From "Against All Odds" There is something just absolutely irresistible about Phil Collins' sad-sack honesty in this song. "I wish I could just make you turn around, turn around and see me ... " [More]

some kind of soundtrack
by Windbreaker in Windbreaker!

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"I recently discovered that a John Hughes flick somehow soared under my radar -- Some Kind of Wonderful. Ignoring the mountain of mediocre reviews, I watched it with wifey. Umm... I want to love it, really I do. It had a few fun scenes, but for the most part I just found myself wishing we were watching Pretty In Pink instead. You know from the DVD blurb how the movie will end. Too be fair, you know how many 80s dramas will end. But it's the road to the end that makes some of these cheeseball films so enjoyable years later. This one was a pretty boring ride. " [More]

Bad 80's Boyfriends
by marymcilwain in Dollar Video Curator

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"Ah romance. Every good video watcher is acutely aware of the down-on-love, romantic teenage flicks that played out with so many star-struck Romeos and Juliets in the idealistic 80’s. We cheered for our plucky, beautiful, yet misunderstood Andie Walshes, Diane Courts, and Wattes in the face of so much love adversity, whether what they lacked was money, an understanding father, or girl’s underwear, and rested easy at the end when they got their men. But should we have? For every one of these “ideal” movie boyfriends, sure signs of loser-dom each display. Here’s just a few reasons why you should’ve run for the hills ladies! Ferris Bueller(Matthew Broderick) –He of the Day OffMajor Flaw: Too eager Yes, he’s charming, cute, fun-loving, inventive and obviously coveted by every other girl in your school, but sheesh. The dude’s talking marriage and he hasn’t even graduated from high school. Sloane, you are way too hot to hitch your star to that wagon. Advice: go to college first and ... " [More]

Top 5 movie soundtracks
by stuntman_James in My Two Cents

liked it.

"Alright......here is a good place to start. What film soundtracks have just given you tremendous inspiritation. The is no limit or restrictions....... My top 5:1. Sixteen Candles/Pretty in Pink: The first emo bands in the 80's. I love those songs, and everyone of them seemed to fit in every single scene. I still have my cassettes.2. The Commitments: Both soundtracks were amazing. Mustang sally sung in a killer blues way by a bunch of irish kids......3: Pulp Fiction/Jackie Brown: Tarantino is amazing, super and awesome. I know, but the way he crafts his films around his choices of songs is amazing. I cant listen to " Stuck in the Middle with You without picturing Madsen cutting off that cops ear.4: Empire Strikes Back: I loved this soundtrack and own every version and copy of it. Dorky fact about me......When I was a kid, everytime I heard the 20th Century Fox fanfare, I thought Star Wars was on......i know.....DORK!!!!!!!5: Big Lebowski: I loved every song, and eve ... " [More]

Bad 80's Boyfriends
by marymcilwain in Dollar Video Curator

liked it.

Review by All Movie Guide

All Movie Guide

is neutral about it.

The old-time story line of a rich boy and poor girl getting together gets the John Hughes treatment in Pretty in Pink. Andie Walsh is a special kind of cinematic heroine with a self-styled '80s rebelliousness that is done in pearls and homemade outfits. The scenes of her taking care of her troubled father (Harry Dean Stanton) make for some of the most believable drama. The story does take many obvious turns when Blaine comes into the picture, but the supporting cast fleshes out the standard formula. Jon Cryer is a perfectly endearing Duckie, especially during his record-store impromptu performance of Otis Redding's "Try a Little Tenderness." Annie Potts brings in a radically styled perspective and some of the better comedic moments as Ionia. As the rich snob Steff, James Spader is appropriately vile, even if he looks way too old for high school at age 26. Bringing it all together is the excellent '80s rock and synth pop soundtrack with the Smiths, Echo & the Bunnymen, New Order, and the Psychedelic Furs' title track. However, the final act sours as the everyone seems to step out of character and quickly conform in order to make for a happy ending. But due to the genre, a sentimental ending is warranted and nearly unavoidable. Along with Sixteen Candles and The Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink is remembered as one of John Hughes' teen movie classics. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide

Tags: 80s-classic , crush , prom , Loved-It , 80s
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