Rent Some Kind of Wonderful (1987)

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 earlier. 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 crowd, 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 a blast. 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. Stoltz is handsome enough but lacks star charisma. 

Masterson is better and her drum solo to Dr. Mabuse by Propaganda gives the opening credits a dose of adrenaline. Maggie Corman steals all her scenes in a little sister role. The budget allows for more gloss, but it's just another '80s High School romcom. So no surprises, yet still a touch classier than most.