SOME KIND OF WONDERFUL (1987)

Directed By: Howard Deutch 
Written By: John Hughes 
Cinematography By: Jan Kiesser 
Editor: Bud Smith & Scott Smith 


Cast: Eric Stoltz, Mary Stuart Masterson, Elias Koates, Lea Thompson, John Ashton, Craig Sheffer, Molly Hagan, Maddie Corman, Candace Cameron, Scott Coffey, Chynna Phillips 


A young tomboy, Watts, finds her feelings for her best friend, Keith, run deeper than just friendship when he gets a date with the most popular girl in school. Unfortunately, the girl's old boyfriend, who is from the rich section of town, is unable to let go of her, and plans to get back at Keith

For me this was the end of the John Hughes rainbow. At least when It came to teen films As it had a cast that wasn't usually associated with his movies. He also neglected to direct this film even though based on material that was obviously written by him.

It seems after this film he went into mainly direct and wrote more middle aged comedic movies or family friendly films that involved kids. It seemed like this phase of his writing was over or maybe he said all that he had to about the subject and as he got older he got further away from that age and those feelings. As maybe these films were the daydream version he always wanted to live out or at least see play out.

Molly Ringwald even rejected playing one of the leads which seemed to have damaged their working relationship. As she was his muse and he seemed to write primarily only for her, but she wanted to grow up out of these types of roles and work with other filmmakers. Maybe a piece of him was hurt and never recovered. As he seemed to rarely write teen films ever again. As he had no reason to, there was no one. He was writing for or to anymore.

The film was originally supposed to be directed by Martha Coolidge but she dropped out right before filming was due and director Howard Deutch stepped in, recasting roles that eventually were played by Craig Sheffer and lea Thompson from original actors Kyle Maclachlan and Kim Delaney. Lea Thompson was offered the role originally but turned it Down. After HOWARD THE DUCK flopped. She took the film just to have some work.

To this day I still wonder if Kyle Maclachlan would have a different career if he had played the rick asshole boyfriend villain of this film. Though at the time would have been perfection

I remember seeing this film in The theater with my dad. I was too young to really understand the themes of the movie, but it is a film that I have returned to watching again and again over the years.

It sets itself apart from Hughes other scripts by injecting a more seriousness into the material where as before class and social economics played a role but never seemed as serious as in this film. Also the other scripts seemed more like escapist fun no matter how serious you took them or how serious some of the material was for some of the audience. Here while there are comedic moments this film seemed more adult and cynical. It also kind of a dreamer type film. Even as he slyly names the main characters. Who are all References to the band THE ROLLING STONES As the plans of the characters of this movie seem kind of Murky or silly. The one that actually makes sense is the father pressuring his son to go to college. Though how it relieves itself is admirable I doubt that would make it to a modern day film. Not to mention it is relieved far too easily.

Just as the date at the end seems to almost be a battle of wills. As each tires to impress each other but also lambast each other for perceived roles yet proving each other wrong and offering up some depth.

It has the material of a romantic comedy as here the lead character goes through all of this trouble to get the girl of his dreams. Meanwhile always overlooking the tomboyish best friend who is obviously in love with him and even sacrifices herself to be their chauffeur on their dream date.

It might be Eric Stoltz in a rare lead role who plays the material so seriously that it seems his angst is all internalized Making this character less happy go lucky and more serious. He seems angry half the time (which supposedly Stoltz was as he wasn't a fan of Deutch as the director) Which is what we are not used to in leading roles in movies like this. That makes the film seem a little more adult though still a teen film at heart. He is not the typical leading man for films such as these. Though he is left with a memorable wardrobe. That seems more pretentious at the time which works for the character as when we all were young and dressed better then we needed to at times to impress irks amongst the many. Overdoing it especially on dates.

Though there are quite a few other elements that make his movie a favorite and a nostalgic film film for me that keep me coming back. The film's attitude seems to favor outsiders and the working class. Where as they seem to play second fiddle to the kids at school they outnumber them in the film. Not to mention the neighborhoods and locations feel loved in and not the usual suburbs where the houses look like pieces of modern art or like they more have been built then inhabited. They always seemed to look like great places to visit and study. As they seem untouched.

This breaks down to two characters In particular first Duncan played by Elias Koates. This performance the first of his I have ever seen. He is young in Thai film cast out of New York. (As was Maddie Corman who plays Stoltz' younger teenage sister) He is alive in his performance throughout mainly a bully yet comedic relief. He is always moving to a rhythm that seems his own. He also seems to be having fun one of the only few in the film who is lighthearted but you never forget his toughness. A find for the 80's only without the catchphrase and looks more age appropriate. Though I will note most of the cast all look questionable in age of their characters. He is by far one of my favorite performances in the film. Plus though he looks like a skin head his crew is diverse but also made up of the only minority characters throughout the film. They have no lines and were casted as they were local high school football players and towered over most of the cast which made them more intimidating.

Then there is Mary Stuart Masterson. An actress who seemed to disappear from films after the 90's bit before that seems to be everywhere. I am not going to lie. I had a huge crush on her in this film. As it seemed like a reverse version of PRETTY IN PINK. As she is this film's Duckie only the film give the original ending of PINK, with the best friend finally getting the boy. Her friend. Not only that they have a monumental loss even before the final scene where they pledge their feelings for one another. I remember her look was iconic as she was the cutest tomboy I had seen on screen. With the short haircut the drum set in her room. She knew how to fix cars and she had multiple piercings. Not to mention not only was she tough you could see her vulnerable side. And those tasseled red leather gloves I have never forgotten. The thing about her performance I only noticed now is that Masterson plays it like her character is coming out of the closet by revealing her feelings for Eric Stoltz character as she almost seems pained to admit her feelings though obvious. So even as most characters seem to believe her character is gay. It seems like she is struggling to admit she is straight. Looking at it another way, it could be seen as her character having to admit that she even has feelings. 

Though at least the film gives her other scenes to be in that are more aimed at the comedic. She seems an early icon for eventual Tom boys of today. Especially in attitude and fashion. There are a couple of scenes with her that are heartbreaking and she conveys all the emotion strictly in her face and body language. So that while this might not be the best material. She is giving it her all.

As usual in John Hughes movies (let's face it though he didn't direct the film has his fingerprints all over it. As he did pretty much design the blueprint) there are adults around. It only one who is the main character played by John Ashton who is gruff but seems more a comedic device. It was also one of the last times I remember seeing him in movies as it seemed as the 90'a came in he started not being on screen as much or at least not in the films I watched. Though he has never officially retired.

This felt like the ending of an era or at least the beginning of the end. As all teen movies before this whether serious or silly all had a playfulness about them and an easiness when it came to defining certain characters or groups. If that was the filmmakers or the studio who knows, but even watching movies at the time I noticed it was getting a bit harder to lump characters into one group or characteristic as far as film representation went. So that In The following years while a good teen film would come along every once in A while that actually felt authentic and passionate there were a lot that felt more like product and not having any insight. They were just put out there to try an either infiltrate or attract a particular market and viewer. As maybe the ones that mattered you had a feeling that the filmmakers actually cared about the characters.

Watching the film over the years has put me in my place also as scenes I remember being bigger and longer. I realize were actually simpler and shorter.

One of the reasons this film might mean so much to me is that this was one of those films where I was starting to understand films more. They weren't just for entertainment I could start to see levels and themes. Which is strange as this is one of Hughes more simpler films where pretty much everything is spelled out or explained. Not that much subtlety in this film.

Another factor to notice in the film is that most of the teenagers dress more like adults of what most adults would wear more to work. Where as it seems like today's teenagers wear more age appropriate clothes unless forced or a special occasion.

I was even a fan of the soundtrack as over the credits the band Lick The tins covers the song falling in love with you by Elvis Presley. As a kid I loved this version. I used to rewind and watch the credits just to hear it before I went to school. While I enjoyed the film I never had the desire to buy the soundtrack. Now I just wonder why there is a Scottish version of the song playing over the end credits.

I believe that Martha Coolidge could have made a different and maybe even better version of this film, but for all it's dysfunctions it stays itself and is off centered enough to admire. Though obviously not by intention or design.

It would have been an interesting change of pace for Martha Coolidge to direct as she might have given the film a different appeal. As she also directed well know. Teen movies of the 80's such as VALLEY GIRL and REAL GENIUS. Both films with tremendous appeal and not only focused on different social classes intermixing but usually being on the side more of the outsider characters --It might have helped or worked against the film that the movie poster looked more like an album cover a some kind of pop/new wave band of the 80'a trying to look dramatic.

What makes the film seem more serious is that as usual when it comes to John Hughes movies is that Most of the characters all seem to be searching to prove something. It might be that hey are at the age still looking for themselves but finding the finding the edges to their character are starting to take some kind of shape and it scares them as hey want to be their best bit something more then whatever they are at that time they are in currently.

It would have been interesting as many of these films don't have the female perspective behind the scenes and especially a more noteworthy one like this film. Though this film seems more like the cousin from out of town compared to his other films. As it stands now it is a great romantic film that seems to build and remember that towards the third act.


Grade: B