MovieChat Forums > About Last Night... (1986) Discussion > Twenty one years later... What do you th...

Twenty one years later... What do you think about this film now?


Although it was made in 1986, the main issues of the film is still happens:
fear of an engagement and commitment and the question: Is he or she the one for me? But now, the people have to be more careful because of VIH and other diseases, it´s really dangerous to be promiscuous and it´s a duty to watch out and choose with prudence, but also with love. Because love is a positive energy in all of the times.

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This film could come out today and it would still resonate.

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I think the story is still true. People still hook up based on attraction and chemistry, and their differences and possible incompatibility only emerge over time. When you're first falling in love and having sex with someone you really like, you feel all bonded together and intimate and happy and the world is just wonderful, but that doesn't mean that in the long run you want the same things, or feel the same way about things, or that you even know what you want in the long run. It's still like that - falling in love is still exciting and wonderful, and when reality sets in your heart might get broken, but maybe, just maybe, you've built something that could last.



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[deleted]

oh yes he's such a cutie, i just saw him in "Brothers and Sisters"( i think that's the right title) and he's still has his good looks :-)

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Everything pretty much holds up still except most of the soundtrack
John Waite and Seger songs very good though
Oh yea and her boss would probably go home and roll on X or whatever the hip drug of choice is now instead of doing lithium and hed probably be hit up with a sexual harrasment law suit for what he did to her at the christmas party not mention I dont think Willie Gault would be at the party theyd probably ask Bernard Berian


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not to mention that in a today's version there probably would be a lot of texting messages.
Debbie:Hey Dan, How are you, just wanted to know if you are fine
Dan: I'm fine. Sorry I didn't call before. Would you like to come over?
Debbie: Dan, I maybe easy but I'm not stupid
Dan: Please, just for a minute, I missed you
Debbie: No, absolutely not!
(And then of course she's coming over, otherwise there would be too less sex in the movie I suppose...)

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LOL you just have to love the old times when people would come knocking your door... thesedays you only get an sms and you don't even have your voices on...

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I see something new every time I watch. My most recent viewing (tonight) I just shook my head and wished I had known then (in my first viewing) what I know now. The movie is just a really good portrayal of relationship when communication is lacking.

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The movie is so real. I just saw it last night.

They made me cry.

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I loved the movie. When he was apologizing in the rain, it made me cry. I love the people in it so much.

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I love this movie- one of my all-time favourites. Rob and Demi have such a chemistry. They look so good together.

After two decades, this movie is still relevant.

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I watched it again two days ago, I think I saw at least 15 times and still I keep seeing new things or look different at situations. I think everybody has different thoughts about how Danny and Debbie are handling situations. Like for instance, when Debbie goes over to Danny's house, after 3 days of not hearing anything, would now fit in 2 or maybe 3 sms messages. Then you actually had to get over to somebody's house and say "I wanted to let you know I'm fine!" And I would probably would go talk to the guy if I would ran into him at a cafe instead of passing him by, just saying "Hi.."
All the little things in a relationship that happen in real life as well, make this movie wonderful and never outdated!

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same here... I just got this movie from the store.. without knowing anything about it.. but i knew i would like it... it had the 80ts touch... and its a realistic prespective of the hard decision of in the modern times of the balance between freedom and getting together with someone... We want to be free... but theres a point we realize there is something so strong in love... that shakes our core...

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21 years later I think that Elizabeth Perkins turned Joan into a bigger b1tch than she was probably meant to be originally. When I first saw it back in the mid-80s I hadn't seen Elizabeth Perkins in anything, so I just assumed Joan was meant to be this uptight, lonely, feministic, man-hating, self-concerned b1tch. However, now that I've seen Elizabeth Perkins in a bunch of other things I think she brought some more of that aspect to Joan - to the point where she was laughable.

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I found this film for only £3 and realised how long it's been since I'd last seen it, and how much I'd really like to see it again. I'm so glad I bought this film. Being a few years older since I last watched it, I finaly found my self getting all that I'd not when I was only a teen.

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I bought this film as part of a three pack which also contained the Breakfast Club and St Elmos Fire.

I still think that About Last Night is very relevant today.
Even though times have changed with HIV that we were not so aware of in the eighties.

This is still one of my favourite films.It has the same questions about attraction,romance,friendship,commitment etc

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I have to say that the last time that I watched this film, I was fairly astonished when Elizabeth Perkins' character gave her students a (frightening) glimpse into her sex life, and cannot imagine that such a scene would fly these days. Given all of the problems in schools now with teachers and students having relationships, such remarks would be seen as, could only be seen as, sexualizing.

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--------I was fairly astonished when Elizabeth Perkins' character gave her students a (frightening) glimpse into her sex life, and cannot imagine that such a scene would fly these days.

this is one of several scenes that would have to play very different today. The whole thing with the boss and debbie by the copier, not going to happen today.

that said. the movie totally holds up today, the relationship issues are still relevant and they were well played out in this movie.


"everything i say, by definition, is a promise." CARMINE SABATINI -(The Freshman)

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I still love this movie. I believe I saw this movie the first time in my religion class to discuss about the situations that these characters were in. For some reason I just had this movie in mind, so I had to find the dvd and get it. And now I can't stop wanting to watch it cause this movie is so honest and that we can easily relate to it with our own situations. Plus the fact that it is filmed in chicago is extra points in my book cause I live there also. And let us not forget how gorgeous demi moore looks in the movie.

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One of my all time favorites -- still as great today as it was back then - Rob looks great as usual -- the story fits now as it did then

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This film has so many elements of a one deserving of a repeat viewing (at least monthly for me)
A good looking couple
their lesser than good-looking friends
supports who all add weight to a very good story
The soundtrack especially the "words to action" part with the double headphones is my best moment in a romantic comedy ever
What I like is the way it seems we are a third eye looking into the people's life. I just love the way Danny was always so concerned about how Debbie felt and he really liked her. The insecurity , the man thing, the conversations between any two people in each scene, the way the friends selfishly subotage the relationship using subtle methods, oh the list is endless.
It was as honest an account as it could be as we got to see the typical guy and girl reaction to a committed relationship.I liked the fact that it was not male bashing nor making women put to be weak and soppy.
I think I could watch this steadily for the next couple of years. It is simply that good.
Question:was that Heather O Rourke in the girl wetting her pants scene?

I was just walkin naked in a convent with my ghetto blaster as "Losing my religion "played on

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@bensmybaby
No, allthough she looks a lot like her. Heather was born in 1975, so that would have made her 11 in 1986, when this movie was made. The girl in the movie is around 5.

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Watching it right now on Anten Chicago. Boy does this movie bring back memories. Filmed in Chitown, the 80's, big hair, these were the best of times. Demi and Rob were perfect for each other. I kind of cried at the end. Totally a good movie!!!!

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I'll admit I am 29 years old and I love this movie. It's a shame I wasn't old enough to see it while it was playing in our local cinemas in 1986. Very hard to believe 1986 was 27 years ago! After doing some research about how relationships were in '86 and the movie and doing research of how men and women act towards each other in 2013, it's the same. Only difference between '86 and '13, About Last Night didn't have cell phones, internet, ipod's and tablets. I also believe that contributed in a big way with Demi and Rob and how they communicated with each other. I think the screenwriter and the director of About Last Night deserve a round of applause for creating two characters that you can relate to, plus given the sex and nudity involved it's still the same in films today (even more graphic) in 2013 as it was in 1986. One more thing, this film was filmed for 2 1/2 months from November 1985 until the beginning of January 1986, during a time when Hollywood was still throwing out Porky's style comedies. Very smart director, screenwriter, actors, crew to make this kind of film that at the time people in their 20's, 30's, 40's and even 50's can find something in this film (just like The Breakfast Club) can find a little something to relate to or think back on. About Last Night 10/10.

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Well stated, JEyler1183

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This film is 100% as relevant today just as it was in 1986. Bernie (James Belushi, who could play this role better?) and Joan (Elizabeth Perkins), each in their own cynical manner represents someone who does not want commitment, hate the opposite sex and just uses them for sex. They were kind of the comedy relief in this movie and I believe someone else already suggested seeing Elizabeth Perkins in following roles almost adds a new perspective on her character. They are not the kind of people you want to ask advice on, because their minds are made up without even meeting the person or thinking about the situation.

Debbie and Danny are not really the opposite of Bernie and Joan as they are not sure about commitment or if they want it or not and are kind of on the fence, and their friends don't help them

People had to be careful then too about diseases as well, maybe education on the matter was not as good but it was still very much a concern.

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