If ...


I had seen this film in 1986 or 7 on release, I would not have liked it. Just watched it for the first time - 30 years later! - and loved it. I like the visuals, colours and quirky characters. Although the plot is somewhat predictable I enjoyed it nonetheless and Andie's speech to her dad about her mother/his wife being gone was great.

At the time I would have scoffed at the terrible clothes and hair. I'm much more in Iona/Duckie's dress world. I would have hated the music too. But all of this makes Andie, Duckie and Iona more special now, as contrast to their style.

Three great moments: Duckie re-enacting the Otis Redding classic; Duckie outside the record shop in the rain (that scene reminded me of Leos Carax no less!); and, Iona in her prom dress.

I might add that any scene with James Spader as Steff was great because Spader was beautiful although Steff was a caricature sh/t.

He kicked me right in the middle of my daily routine

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I like PiP, but it's never been even near the top of the list of John Hughes' films. It's very spotty, for all the "love" they profess, the Blane/Andie relationship isn't developed well IMO, and it's hackneyed beyond comprehension. Even in '86, this felt like the end of something good to me, and looking back I think it's clear that if Hghes had a peak, this was just on the other side. I think almost everyone loved it as an 80s curio, not at all because it's a particularly good film.

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You thought the ending was predictable? Interesting, the first time I saw it I expected her to end up with Duckie. Nice-guy-encourages-nice-girl-to-run-after-guy-who-was-a-jerk-to-her didn't really seem as likely, to me anyways.

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Let's be honest about this; when someone is hot for someone else their morality and standards become secondary. Especially for teens. People make up excuses for what they want regardless of what they would have you believe they feel is right.

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