Plot
A young tomboy, Watts, finds her feelings for her best friend, Keith, run deeper than just friendship when he gets a date with the most popular girl in school...

Release Year: 1987

Rating: 6.8/10 (10,642 voted)

Critic's Score: 55/100

Director: Howard Deutch

Stars: Eric Stoltz, Mary Stuart Masterson, Lea Thompson

Storyline
A young tomboy, Watts, finds her feelings for her best friend, Keith, run deeper than just friendship when he gets a date with the most popular girl in school. Unfortunately, the girl's old boyfriend, who is from the rich section of town, is unable to let go of her, and plans to get back at Keith.

Cast:
Eric Stoltz - Keith Nelson
Mary Stuart Masterson - Watts
Lea Thompson - Amanda Jones
Craig Sheffer - Hardy Jenns
John Ashton - Cliff Nelson
Elias Koteas - Skinhead
Molly Hagan - Shayne
Maddie Corman - Laura Nelson
Jane Elliot - Carol Nelson
Candace Cameron Bure - Cindy Nelson (as Candace Cameron)
Chynna Phillips - Mia
Scott Coffey - Ray
Carmine Caridi - Museum Guard
Lee Garlington - Gym Instructor
Laura Leigh Hughes - Holly

Taglines: Before they could stand together, they had to stand alone.

Release Date: 27 February 1987

Filming Locations: Hollywood Bowl - 2301 N. Highland Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Opening Weekend: $3,486,701 (USA) (1 March 1987) (1082 Screens)

Gross: $18,553,948 (USA)

Runtime: 95 min

Trivia:
The role of Keith Nelson was written with Eric Stoltz in mind.

Goofs:
Continuity: In the scene where Keith's dad is talking to him after Keith gets out of the shower, Keith's hair is wet. In the next scene the front has dried and then the next scene it's all wet again.

Quotes:
Ray: So you gotta hang around for an hour?
Watts: If I feel like it.
Ray: You know how much damage we could do to each other in an hour?
Watts: It's kind of a revolting thought, actually.
Ray: Really? What's revolting mean?
Watts: Oh, God. Get your hands off me, man.
Ray: Does that mean you wanna come over?

Excellent teen love story

Rating: 10/10

It's refreshing to have a movie about teens in love that doesn't rely upon sex to gain the viewer's interest. I love this movie, have probably seen it a a few dozen times, especially in the original, unedited version (that wasn't shortened to fit into a two-hour TV time-slot). It's a classic story, but told from a timeless perspective---the movie first ran in 1987, yet there's extremely little in it that would make it seem "dated."

Mary Stuart Masterson is, as always, superb in her performance. While this is one of her early films, it shows her enormous ability and potential. She plays a playful, feisty, street-smart character that also has a sensitive, shy, and deeply loving side. Mary Stuart's kissing scene is one of the most wonderfully romantic and intense kissing scenes on film that I've seen, yet it has an innocent quality that makes it all the more special.

Eric Stoltz and Lea Thompson give excellent performances as well, with good acting and both are able to highlight dialogue with subtle nuances. However, I feel that Mary Stuart's character is the most interesting and emotionally sensitive, enough that she'll bring tears to your eyes. This is an excellent film. It came out at a time when there were a lot of teen movies (Pretty in Pink, The Breakfast Club, etc.), but this is a story that never grows old and is a pleasure to watch again.

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