Some Kind Of Wonderful tanked at the box office when it came out, but thetruth is this sleeper hit was actually good. And I will even go far sayingthat this reverse Pretty In Pink is better than Pretty In Pink itself. Why?Good, honest performaces. Hughes decides to leave his Brat Packers behindand went with great choices in Eric Stoltz (who could've gave John Cusack arun for his money in the Teen Angst movie department), Lea Thompson and MaryStewart Masterson, who steals the show as Watts. Sure the story is run ofthe mill, but it is the acting that pulls it through. Another good thing isthat Thompson's character of Amanda Jones doesn't come off as being a snootybrat (for use of a better word). She is from the same part of town likeKeith and tries to fit in with the 'cool' clique. Another good supportingperformance is Duncan, the headbanger who is a regular in detention. I lovehow they forge a friendship through their art. And who can forget how Duncanand the lifers help Keith make his date with Amanda a success? One otherthing I like is the soundtrack. It doesn't sound commerical like in otherHughes films. The music really suits every scenes it shows up in (especiallythe end credits that feature Lick The Tins take on 'Can't Help Falling InLove'). Molly Ringwald reportedly turned down a role in this film, but it'sgood that she did because I couldn't picture her in this classic. Greatfilm.

As a twelve year old girl, I had a hard time finding role models. I livedon the outskirts of what was basically a country club neighborhood, butwasnot that kind of gal. So I found it wonderfully refreshing to find a rolemodel in the pre-"Girl-Power" girl power of Watts. I fell in love alongside her (and to this day, harbor a special place in my heart for EricStoltz), begged my parents to let me learn the drums, and knew every linebyheart. She was tough, witty, and (according to my older brother)incrediblysexy. Eric Stoltz is dreamy in a working class kind of way and puts in aperformance of true depth and character. This movie has heart withoutbeingsickly sweet. It delves into family relationships, friendships, andromance. Most notably, it tackles something that the current teen fairseems to lack, social consciousness. It's not afraid to break stereotypesor point out social injustice. Not to mention, it has one of the bestsoundtracks of the '80s. I give it an A++!!!

This is the best of the eighties 'US High School/Teen Angst' movies. Therewere loads, but none to match this one. There's a character in here for eachof you to associate with, be it the nerdy Keith, with the bossy youngersister and the unattainable crush, or Duncan, the kind-hearted skinhead. Ifyou only ever watch two of these movies again, make them 'The BreakfastClub' and this one.