Some Kind Of Wonderful

"Well, I like art, I work in a gas station, my best friend is a tomboy. These things don't fly too well in the American high school."

Ah, but a good old-fashioned love triangle, served John Hughes style . . . that flew just fine in an American high school. This 1987 romantic comedy wound down Hughes' 80s teen movie cycle, and he forewent some of his frequent actor favourites (Molly Ringwald, Anthony Michael Hall) to cast Eric Stoltz, Mary Stuart Masterson and Lea Thompson. And what did master chef Hughes have on the menu for us this time? The specials were as follows: rich vs. poor; popular vs. not so popular; what a teen wants vs. what his parents want; school bullies; annoying siblings; whether or not it's appropriate to practice make-out methodology on your best friend. Ready to order?

Keith is arty and sensitive, but he works at an oily auto shop and he's about to make his college-obsessed dad blow a gasket with his big plans to not continue his education. Watts is tough and foul-mouthed and rarely seen without her beloved drumsticks, but she loves Keith with all her tomboy heart. Leggy Amanda is popular and beautiful, but she's getting tired of being treated like the rich kids' property. Even Duncan, the resident school tough guy, has a soft side - he'll do anything to help his detention pal Keith out, be it by beating up bad guy Hardy (chronically pastel-blazered Craig Sheffer), or by getting his dad to open up the Hollywood Bowl for Keith and Amanda's first date! Character dichotomy, thy name is Some Kind of Wonderful.

Everyone knows that the only thing more painful than unrequited love is being a good sport while you're enduring unrequited love, and that's exactly what Watts does. Because she wants whatever Keith wants, she agrees to let him practice delivering a knockout kiss on her and to chauffeur him around on his big date. Except for that stunt when she tries to foul up Amanda's lipstick application process with a firm foot on the brakes, we should all be so gracious.

Without giving away who's matched up with who in the end, suffice it to say that one of our lucky girl contestants gets both a pair of diamond stud earrings and the chance to stroll off into the moonlight with Keith, while a catchy, whistling Irish version of Elvis' Can't Help Falling in Love cues up. Accessories and love - it was all an 80s girl needed.