Review of Pretty in Pink (1986) by Ola G — 10 Jul 2013

High school senior Andie Walsh (Molly Ringwald) is a working-class girl who has a crush on one of the rich, preppy boys in her school, Blane McDonough (Andrew McCarthy). When Andie and Blane try to get together, they encounter resistance from their respective social circles. Andie lives on "the wrong side of the tracks" with her underemployed father, Jack (Harry Dean Stanton). Andie's best friend, Phil "Duckie" Dale (Jon Cryer), is in love with her, but plays it off as a joke in front of her. In school, he and Andie are harassed by Blane's friends, the arrogant so-called "richie" kids, Benny (Kate Vernon) and Steff (James Spader). Andie works at TRAX, a New Wave music store, managed by her older friend and mentor Iona (Annie Potts). Iona advises Andie to go to her senior prom despite not having a date. Blane makes a move, chatting with her in the computer lab, and Andie is smitten. Blane ventures out to the area at school where the punks, metalheads, and New Wavers hang out and asks Andie on a date. On the night of the date, Andie waits for Blane at TRAX, but he is late. When Blane finally arrives, Duckie and Andie argue. Duckie tries to convince her that Blane will only hurt her. After a few harsh words, Duckie storms out, and Andie goes on her date. Blane suggests going to a party Steff is throwing but the party is not what Blane expected, and Andie is treated poorly by everyone, including a drunk Steff and Benny. Andie, in turn, suggests going to the local club, where they discover Iona sitting with Duckie, who never gets in. Duckie is hostile toward Blane, and as he and Andie start walking out of the club, Duckie kisses a startled Iona to make Andie feel jealous. Blane offers to take Andie home, but she refuses, admitting she doesn't want him to see where she lives. She eventually allows him to drop her off and he asks her to the prom. Andie accepts and they share their first kiss. Andie and Blane has finally hit it off, but can the two worlds really meet in the end?...

"Pretty In Pink" is one of the well known Brat Pack movies written by the brilliant John Hughes. However, not the best Brat Pack movie in my book, but yet a brilliant document of teen life in the 80s with a superb New Wave soundtrack. The storyline is simple and it´s a classic Hughes production, nevertheless it´s engaging and there´s a high recognition factor for everyone who has attended High School. The line up is great with Molly Ringwald, Jon Cryer, Andrew McCarthy, Harry Dean Stanton, Annie Potts (A favourite of mine), James Spader (The king of doing nasty characters), Andrew Dice Clay, Alexa Kenin (It saddens me to read that she passed away just before the movie was released). The movie is actually dedicated to Alexa Kenin and Bruce Weintraub. Set decorator/production designer Weintraub (who had been Oscar-nominated for Prizzi's Honor) died of AIDS at age 33; Pretty in Pink was the last movie he worked on before his death. The original ending to this film depicted Duckie getting the girl. However, the test audiences said they would have preferred to see Blane win Andie's heart. Additionally, Molly Ringwald was sick during the filming of the ending and John Hughes wasn't satisfied with the editing. He was also concerned that audiences would take the original ending as a message that poor people and rich people don't belong together. Re-seeing Brat Pack movies takes me back to my youth and the mid-80s. It´s a nostalgic trip with sparks that puts a smile on my face and warmth in my heart.