Written by John Hughes, but this time directed by Howard Deutch, Some Kind of Wonderful is yet another teen based romance 'Brat Pack' movie. Watts is a tomboyish girl who comes from a very humble background. Keith is her best friend. However, when Keith starts courting the most popular girl in school - Amanda, Watts realises that her feelings for Keith go beyond the platonic. Hardy, Amanda's old rich ex boyfriend is embarrassed at losing her to someone of a lower social strata and he plans to humiliate Keith. Keith is a smart guy and deflects this cunning but when Watt's feelings are made known to him he has a dilemma - which girl will he choose? Watts or Amanda. A good old fashioned teenage love story that does not rely upon gratuitous nudity, sex and vulgarity to make an impression on the viewer, the emphasis is strongly on characterisation and the acting skills of the three young leads - Mary Stuart Masterson, Eric Stolz and Lea Thompson. Mary Stuart Masterson shines the most, taking a tough yet inwardly vulnerable cookie and making her immensely appealing as a role model for young women, and as a quirky sex symbol for boys. Eric Stoltz has a difficult role as Keith but together with Watts, they make the best ever couple in a John Hughes's film due to the in depth studies of the characters and the feelings and complexities they possess. It seems like a lot of viewers can really identify with the romance in the film and this has cemented Some Kind of Wonderful's reputation as being a terrific 'Brat Pack' teen movie.
My first film watched was Carrie aged 2 on my dad's knee. Educated at The University of St Andrews and Trinity College Dublin. Fan of Arthouse, Exploitation, Horror, Euro Trash, Giallo, New French Extremism. Weaned at the bosom of a Russ Meyer starlet. The bleaker, artier or sleazier the better!
