Rent Some Kind of Wonderful (1987)
3.6 of 5 from 94 ratings
1h 31min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
- Think everyone over 17 has forgotten what it's like to be 16? Filmmaker John Hughes hasn't. Now Hughes delivers another funny, savvy, crowd-pleasing look at adolesence in this story about high-school misfit (Eric Stoltz), who falls so head-over-heels for the senior class siren that he's blind to the charms of his beautiful and devoted best pal (Mary Stuart Masterson). Some fun, some heartache, 'Some Kind of Wonderful'!
- Actors:
- Eric Stoltz, Mary Stuart Masterson, Lea Thompson, Craig Sheffer, John Ashton, Elias Koteas, Molly Hagan, Maddie Corman, Jane Elliot, Candace Cameron Bure, Chynna Phillips, Scott Coffey, Carmine Caridi, Lee Garlington, Laura Leigh Hughes, Laura Tubelle, Amy Lynne, Michael Bergman, Megan Daniels, Dale L. Evans
- Directors:
- Howard Deutch
- Producers:
- John Hughes
- Writers:
- John Hughes
- Studio:
- Paramount
- Genres:
- Comedy, Drama, Romance
- Collections:
- Back to School: Best Films Featuring Teachers
- BBFC:
- Release Date:
- 08/03/2021
- Run Time:
- 95 minutes
- Languages:
- English Dolby TrueHD 5.1, French Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono, German Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
- Subtitles:
- English, English Hard of Hearing, French, German
- Formats:
- Pal
- Aspect Ratio:
- Widescreen 1.78:1 / 16:9
- Colour:
- Colour
- BLU-RAY Regions:
- B
- Bonus:
- Commentary by Director Howard Deutch and Lea Thompson
- Back to Wonderful: A Conversation with Director Howard Deutch (HD)
- The Making of 'Some Kind of Wonderful'
- Meet the Cast of 'Some Kind of Wonderful'
- John Hughes Time Capsule
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Reviews (2) of Some Kind of Wonderful
Some Kind of Bench Warmer - Some Kind of Wonderful review by griggs
Keith spends the film chasing Amanda while Watts carries feelings nobody in Some Kind of Wonderful has the nerve to say out loud. It's the moodier, more class-conscious cousin of Pretty in Pink, and this time John Hughes and Howard Deutch put the boy on trial for his own romantic main-character energy.
Eric Stoltz plays Keith as a decent enough lad with a wildly inflated sense of his own destiny. The film belongs to Mary Stuart Masterson's Watts, though, hiding feelings nobody around her seems able to read. She's funny, prickly and clearly the smartest person in any given scene, script included, which makes it a shame the plot keeps benching her for Amanda's arc.
The queer subtext hums away nicely under the surface, and I'd happily watch an entire film about Watts finally losing her patience and running off into the night with Amanda.
It lands where you'd expect, earrings and all, though enough heart and hairspray make you forgive how predictable it is. A sweet, slightly wonky teen romance that saves its best character for the sidelines.
1 out of 1 members found this review helpful.
Uneven Triangle (spoiler) - Some Kind of Wonderful review by Steve
Writer-producer John Hughes said this is an attempt to correct his unsatisfactory ending for Pretty in Pink, released a year before. It is the same formula, with the soundtrack of hits from the UK indie charts and the usual high school rituals, with some cute dialogue about teenage angst.
Except there's a gender flip. This time Eric Stoltz is the redhead from the wrong side of the tracks, torn between the unattainable babe (Lea Thompson) who hangs with the rich kids, and his punky, androgynous best female friend (Mary Stuart Masterson) who is secretly love with him.
When the misfit is sexier than the honey, well it's obvious where this will end up. Still, the ride is fun. If it's not as good as Pretty in Pink, that's mainly because the main actors are too old and there's no Molly Ringwald, who turned this down. Stoltz is handsome enough but lacks star charisma.
Masterson is better and her drum solo to Dr. Mabuse by Propaganda gives the opening titles a jump start. Maddie Corman steals her scenes in one of Hughes’ little sister roles. The budget means more gloss, but it's a routine ‘80s High School romcom; no surprises, just classier than most.
0 out of 0 members found this review helpful.