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 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.