Themes: High School Life, Unrequited Love, Opposites Attract
Main Cast: Eric Stoltz, Mary Stuart Masterson, Lea Thompson, Craig Sheffer, John Ashton
Release Year: 1987
Country: US
Run Time: 93 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG13
Plot
In a gender-reversed version of his previous hit Pretty in Pink, John Hughes retreads all-too- familiar ground in Some Kind of Wonderful, the story of a sensitive, young would-be artist, Keith (Eric Stoltz), who vies for the affection of his high school's popularity queen, Amanda (Lea Thompson), seemingly out of some deep-rooted insecurity regarding his social ineptitude. He enlists the help of his butch best friend and fellow misfit, Watts (Mary Stuart Masterson), unaware that she secretly pines for him. While she goads him to give up his pointless pursuit of Amanda, he encounters one other small obstacle -- Amanda's rich bully of a boyfriend, Hardy (Craig Sheffer), who threatens Keith with a face rearrangement. Undeterred, Keith decides he will, by any means necessary, escort his dream girl to the prom -- but not before he buys her expensive jewelry with the money from his college fund in order to impress her. (Hughes expects the audience to side with Keith when his father protests.) Some Kind of Wonderful is pure fantasy, but the plot is too tired and flawed for it to be completely satisfactory escapism. Still, the performances are all-around good and the ending is slightly more likeable than its predecessor's. Hughes decided to use the original Pretty in Pink ending, which had been dropped from the original after poor audience response at the advance screenings. ~ Jeremy Beday, All Movie Guide
Elias Koteas - Duncan; Molly Hagan - Shayne; Maddie Corman - Laura Nelson; Jane Elliot - Carol Nelson; Candace Cameron - Cindy Nelson; Steve Alterman - Party Guest; Pamela Anderson - Party Guest; Carmine Caridi - Museum Guard; Cathy Cavadini - Party Guest; Scott Coffey - Ray; Ike Eisenmann - Party Guest; Deborah Fallender - Party Guest; Lee Garlington - Gym Instructor; Patricia Gaul - Mrs. Gale; Laura Leigh Hughes - Holly; Ken Kimmins - Detention Teacher; J. Patrick McNamara - Fight Teacher; Chynna Phillips - Mia; Paige Pollack - Party Guest; Jonathan Schmock - Carparker; Vernon Scott - Party Guest; Peter Elbing - Maitre d'; Noelle Harling - Party Guest; Christine Spiotta - Waitress; James Vallely - Carparker; Barbara Iley - Party Guest; James MacDonald - Hardy's Friend
Credit
Gregory Pickrell - Art Director, Judith Weiner - Casting, Marilyn Vance - Costume Designer, Howard Deutch - Director, Bud Smith - Editor, Scott Smith - Editor, Ronald B. Colby - Executive Producer, Michael Chinich - Executive Producer, John Musser - Composer (Music Score), Gregory Pickrell - Production Designer, Josan F. Russo - Production Designer, Jan Kiesser - Cinematographer, John Hughes - Producer, Ronald B. Colby - Producer, Michael Chinich - Producer, Linda Spheeris - Set Designer, David MacMillan - Sound/Sound Designer, John Hughes - Screenwriter
The movie is set against the strict social hierarchy of an American public high school. The tomboyish Watts has always considered working-class Keith Nelson her best friend. When he asks out the most popular girl in school, Amanda Jones, Watts realizes that she feels something much deeper for him. Hardy Jenns, Amanda's jealous former boyfriend (played by Craig Sheffer) from the rich section of town, who still wants her, plans to get back at Keith. Eventually, all of this is sorted out, with Amanda realizing she needs time alone, and Keith cluing in to Watt's feelings and realizing he loves her, too.
The film was generally well-received by critics. Review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported that 77% of critics gave it a positive rating, based on 38 reviews.[1]Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times praised the film, calling it worthwhile and entertaining.[2]Janet Maslin of the New York Times stated that Some Kind of Wonderful is the "much-improved, recycled version of the Pretty in Pink story".[3] Richard Schickel of Time, however, criticized the film for being unrealistic.[4] Masterson's performance was singled out for praise by many critics.[2][3][5][6]
Some Kind of Wonderful grossed $18,553,948 at the box office.[7]
