As the last post suggests, I am crazy for the 80′s…like obsessed and have been my whole life. Though I was only a baby when the decade ended, the themes and ideas of the 80′s have always struck a cord with me and I have previously posted about my love of the BratPack movies. Well, I have discovered a new Hughes masterpiece in Some Kind of Wonderful:
Some Kind of Wonderful follows Keith, a lower middle class high school student that works as a mechanic; He’s not popular at school but is a gifted artist, and his best friend is a tomboy named Watts. Watts is a (beautiful) tomboy, a drummer, and kind of a punk. and obviously in love with the oblivious Keith….and is completely adorable….and incredible.
The main plot of the movie follows Keith as his parents bug him about college, Watts hints at her affection, and he falls hard for Amanda Jones, the hottest and most popular (but still middle class) girl in school. As Keith works up the courage to ask her out, she suddenly becomes single, and much to Watts’ lament, the two go out. This triangle of surprisingly fleshed out characters carry a story about class structures in high school as well as (possibly even better than) John Hughes’ more popular works.
Though it doesn’t have any of the main BratPackers, Some Kind of Wonderful does star several actors that were secondary in the bigger films, and I think it’s a shame that this film isn’t as well know, the cast carries very well and they are a pleasure to watch on screen. I very strongly recommend this film.
I too am in love with the 80s mainly because it was my childhood but I still love watching movies from that time.
I vaguely remembered seeing a part of this movie when I was a kid, the scene where Watts looks on with envy at Amanda in the girls’ locker room. I was probably channel surfing at the time and too young to understand the story.
20+ years on, I’ve watched it for the first time and thoroughly enjoyed it. I believe there is something in it that everyone can relate to, there are many scenes and emotions portrayed in the film which I have also experienced in my life. You can’t help but feel for Watts and the songs and music are wonderful as well.
This is a true gem from John Hughes and I too would strongly recommend this film.