Review of Some Kind of Wonderful (1987) by David L — 03 Apr 2010

I love a good script and this movie certainly tosses the words in good form. Hold up this script next to "Breakfast at Tiffany's" and compare amusing dialogue and witticisms. This 80's Hughes film will win hands down. If I was a teenager again I would give this 100% rating.

Mary Stewart Masterson (Watts) and Erik Stoltz (Keith) sizzle and give engrossing and star making performances. They are both "kids that don't quite fit in" at school and best friends. Watts is a tomboy who plays the drums and hardly ever sees the family she has. "Things aren't too great at home, huh?" "Hey it don't matter. As long as you stand by me, I'm covered. "Where would I be without you?" Keith can't see that she is in love with him and the tension builds throughout the movie. At home Keith is under pressure to go to college and study business, but his passion is art. "You got a shot to be the first guy in this family...who didn't have to wash his hands after a day's work.".

The family personalities are really amusing and the family dynamic is given an effective prism with snappy dialogue and an eighties cheeky flair.

When Keith decides to reach for the moon and ask the school princess Amanda Jones on a date the whole social ecosystem is in jeopardy and Watts is crushed. "Don't go mistaking paradise for a pair of long legs." "You can't judge a book by it's cover." Yeah, but you can tell how much it costs." "That's deep." "You want shallow - call Amanda Jones.".

There are false friends, simplistic group niches, and a svengali-like bad guy that are a bit thin on believability, but for a fable like this, it works fine enough.

One of the best scenes of the movie is when heart broken Watts confronts Keith at a club and he is still clueless as to why.

"Do you miss me Keith? Do you miss not being around me?".

"This isn't the third grade anymore.".

"She doesn't love you. It's a joke. It's all a joke.".

"How do you know?".

"I'd bet my hands on it.".

"You don't want to make that bet.".

"Yeah I do. I've been thinking a lot lately about you and me...and I came to a conclusion that I didn't want to deal with. But now that we've talked I can't hide it anymore. I think we'd get along much better if we didn't spend so much time together anymore.

"Why?".

"Because I'm driving you crazy and you're driving me crazy. And I'd rather not see you and have you think good things about me...than have you see me and hate me, cause I can't afford to have you hate me, Keith. The only things I care about in this goddamn life are me, my drums...and you. Adios.".

"Wait, Watts!".

Sorry to write that all out, but that is a really fine scene and worth the movie viewing for that alone. Excuse the corny stuff and enjoy yourself. Will Keith avoid getting pounded by the diabolical ex boyfriend of Amanda? Who will end up together? You know. "I'm sorry. I didn't know". "Yeah. well you're stupid. I always knew you were stupid.".