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Some Kind of Wonderful (1987)

Some Kind of Wonderful (1987)

PG-13

The insightful exploration of class and gender elevates this romcom from teen savant John Hughes

7.2

Movie

United States of America
English
Drama, Romance
1987
HOWARD DEUTCH
Chynna Phillips, Craig Sheffer, Eric Stoltz
95 min

TLDR

Growing up is finding the dad in a John Hughes movie the most relatable and sensible character in the movie.

What it's about

Keith (Eric Stoltz) pursues an out-of-league Amanda (Lea Thompson) despite the warnings of his tomboy best friend Watts (Mary Stuart Masterson).

The take

Some Kind of Wonderful is the less iconic, gender-swapped cousin of Pretty in Pink (both are written by John Hughes and directed by Howard Deutch), but what it lacks in renown, it makes up for in nuance. It goes a bit deeper in its exploration of gender roles and class disparity, really digging into the important differences between its female leads and the privilege of its wealthier characters, and it’s just as funny and charming too. Sure, a big part of the delight of watching it stems from nostalgia, but a larger chunk comes from the actors’ easy chemistry and the script’s witty lines. The movie is not revolutionary—it’s just a romcom at the end of the day—but it is smart and subverts expectations when you least expect it.

What stands out

That banger of a last line. I won’t say it here, but if you know, you know. Also, “It’s 1987! Don’t you know women can be anything?” “I know, my mom’s a plumber.”

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