Review of Can't Buy Me Love (1987) by Ola G — 01 Dec 2013

Ronald Miller (Patrick Dempsey) is a typical high school nerd living in Arizona. He has spent all summer mowing lawns to save up for a telescope. However, at a moment of opportunity he makes a deal with the popular cheerleader Cynthia "Cindy" Mancini (Amanda Peterson) to "rent" her for $1,000. She agrees so that she can afford to replace a suede outfit she got red wine all over at a party. It belonged to her mother and she hadn't received permission to borrow it. Having few options except telling her mom the truth, she reluctantly agrees to help him look "cool" by pretending to be his girlfriend for a month even though she already has a boyfriend named Bobby who is away at college. Both agree never to reveal the pact.Ronald then trades his nerdy-but-loyal friends for the shallow popular students and undergoes a complete clothing and hair makeover at Cindy's direction. Over the month the two discover each other's individuality and are drawn closely together. Cindy soon starts to genuinely like Ronald. However, Ronald is deep into the pact and can´t see that he actually has a chance with Cindy. By the end of the month they dramatically "break up" in front of a crowd at school but Ronald takes things too far and says some hurtful things about Cindy in front of their friends. Ronald is out on thin ice with his new act, dismissing his old friends and doing whatever it takes to continue to be part of the cool high school crowd...

"Can't Buy Me Love" belongs to list of good 80s high school movies, presenting a great mix of comedy, recognition factor and emotional depth in my eyes. We can all relate to Ronald in one way or another and those years in your life can be hard without no doubt. The wish to belong, the wish to be loved and the wish to be seen did lurk constantly in the back of your mind back then. Patrick Dempsey aces the role as Ronald and Amanda Peterson is doing a great job as well. "Can't Buy Me Love" is also one of those high school movies you can see again and again, due to the fact it´s well made and believable. Thumbs up.