Some Kind of Wonderful

Some Kind Of Wonderful, John Hughes' 1987 oft overlooked masterpiece, eclipsed by his lighter Pretty in Pink, Breakfast Club, and Sixteen Candles. Telling the story of a poor hard working boy (Eric Stoltz) falling madly in love with rich high school girl (Lea Thompson). All the while blind to the affections of his spunky drum playing hot friend (Mary Stewart Masterson).

Stoltz acts the film with a stoney intensity that borders on serial killer. It's a little uncomfortable to watch, especially the scenes where he's spying on Lea Thompson. Creepy. If the plot veered off and had Stoltz killing prostitutes to have sex with their severed heads, you'd probably just shrug and say, “eh, saw that coming”.

Lea Thompson is... well, Lea Thompson. Has she ever played a role where she wasn't flashing that smile and just seemed like she was buzzing on a small hit of coke? I've often thought that the main impediment to greater success for Thompson was her sheer like-ability. In this film she plays a slut.

Mary Stewart Masterson has all the best lines. 'Don't go mistaking paradise for a pair of long legs', 'It's better to swallow pride than blood', 'You're losing it. And when it's lost, all you are is a loser'. She's just the cutest fringed-glove wearing Confucius you'll ever find!

And the young Stewart Masterson is sexier in this film than any other. Her big impassioned watery eyes. Her near sexual frenzy when playing the drums. Mixed with the bristly nature she uses to protect her fragile heart, is a stand-out performance, that makes repeat viewing of this film very easy.

It's a very well cast film (including creepy Stoltz). Even the secondary characters like the neo-Nazi semi-retarded school thug, Duncan, with a mischievous nature and over abundance of wit. Like drawing a picture of what his girlfriend would look like without skin... “Nice”, says creepy Stoltz.

Hughes portrays Stoltz poor life the way most 80s directors sketched out on screen people who were short a few bucks... e.g.: copious amounts of food on the table, lots of possessions about the place, a giant record collection etc. Being poor in 80s cinema wasn't too bad.

Hughes is well known for crafting the soundscapes of his movies with contemporary songs, often drawn from the fringe of popular music at the time. This film is no different, with Hughes choosing to go for an Earthier heavier rock choices than he does in his frothier flicks. With such performers as the Stones, Lick The Tins, March Violets, Psychedelic Furs, and even a little Jesus And Mary Chain. Which goes well with the theme of the movie; the importance of being true to yourself. A trite message worn bare by a multitude of films, particularly Hughes own, but trotted out for a fine showing here.

I can't recommend Some Kind Of Wonderful enough. It's an 80s film that transcends it's decade and sidesteps cliché by embracing it head-on.