Andie Walsh, played by actress Molly Ringwald, is a teenager living with her jobless father on the poor side of town. She attends an uppity high school with her longtime best friend, Duckie, who is massively in love with her. When Andie is not working at the downtown record store, she is usually creating offbeat outfits scrapped straight from the thrift store. It is no secret that she and Duckie are not apart of the popular rich kid group, whom the non-popular kids deemed the "richies." But when richie Blane asks poor Andie out, the divide between the two social groups become clear and difficult to navigate. Although the movie's plot has the typical tale of two lovers being kept part because of some social reason, the movie greatly captures what it is like to be a misfit in high school and being ashamed of your roots.
Since the plot of Pretty in Pink is such an overused concept, it is very easy to disregard it as just another one of those typical 80's teenage love stories. A boy loves a girl, but the boy's friends do not approve of her, and her friends do not approve of him. This concept has been done a million different times, making it become quite redundant and cheesy after seeing it reworked so often. Some critics, like Gene Siskel from the Chicago Tribune, offered some improvement of the story, saying "What would have been a much more exciting direction for the script to take would be for Andie to tell Blane to take a hike- repeatedly. And then Andie should have sought out a member of her own milieu whom she prefers." Acting on this advice would create an entirely different plot, but I will admit that doing so might just take the cliché-ness out of the film while still keeping an important piece of the movie's heart intact.
Although eccentric fashion was a large part of the 80s, several of the main characters in the film are always pictured in quirky, over the top outfits that can often be seen as a little too much even for the timeframe. At times, the attire can appear as if each character is trying too hard to visually display their role in the movie instead of thoroughly communicating it. Duckie wears a bowler hat and suspenders, and Blane, along with all of his so-called friends, wears fancy, expensive sweaters and neatly pressed slacks. Paul Attanasio from The Washington Post further explains this point when he says that "without even listening to the movie, you know, 'He's poor, he's rich, and that's what's going on here.'" It is easy to see the clear divide between the two and the background characters of the high school seem to incorporate this type of theme as well, with the more popular kids displayed as wealthy, and the less popular kids depicted as more punk and edgier.
Although the roles in the film are distinctly labeled, being classified by your peers is a reality that almost all teenagers in high school know to be true. The film portrays this in the strongest way possible, while also taking on subjects like conformity, peer pressure, and young love. These are a few topics that nearly all people are able to relate to, which creates a welcoming, familiar base that the viewers can build upon and reminisce their own experiences.
Beneath the overused storyline and basic plot, I believe that there is a lot of overlooked realism in this great movie. The way Andie tries to hide her broken home life from Blane and the way Duckie gets bullied in school for being a rather offbeat individual reflects a reality that many teenagers have to face every day. As Patrick Goldstein from the Los Angeles Times words it, "These kids have a bumpy ride, but this is one film that identifies with their passions instead of indulging them, giving us a perfect back-seat view of kids out cruising, not for kicks but for a hard-earned sense of pride." I couldn't agree more. This film takes a deep look into each character, giving you a glimpse of their personal life when away from school, and also the emotions they feel when conflict pursuits.
I believe Pretty in Pink is a top-tier film when it comes to so-called cliché 80's love stories because unlike other movies in its category, you do not feel the dullness of the typical love story plot. Instead, you are given characters who are full of vibrancy, troubles, and most importantly- real emotion. It is more than just a love story. It is a story that people of all ages can relate to and enjoy. It is a story portrayed with incredible accuracy of what it is like to be a teenager.
Since the plot of Pretty in Pink is such an overused concept, it is very easy to disregard it as just another one of those typical 80's teenage love stories. A boy loves a girl, but the boy's friends do not approve of her, and her friends do not approve of him. This concept has been done a million different times, making it become quite redundant and cheesy after seeing it reworked so often. Some critics, like Gene Siskel from the Chicago Tribune, offered some improvement of the story, saying "What would have been a much more exciting direction for the script to take would be for Andie to tell Blane to take a hike- repeatedly. And then Andie should have sought out a member of her own milieu whom she prefers." Acting on this advice would create an entirely different plot, but I will admit that doing so might just take the cliché-ness out of the film while still keeping an important piece of the movie's heart intact.
Although eccentric fashion was a large part of the 80s, several of the main characters in the film are always pictured in quirky, over the top outfits that can often be seen as a little too much even for the timeframe. At times, the attire can appear as if each character is trying too hard to visually display their role in the movie instead of thoroughly communicating it. Duckie wears a bowler hat and suspenders, and Blane, along with all of his so-called friends, wears fancy, expensive sweaters and neatly pressed slacks. Paul Attanasio from The Washington Post further explains this point when he says that "without even listening to the movie, you know, 'He's poor, he's rich, and that's what's going on here.'" It is easy to see the clear divide between the two and the background characters of the high school seem to incorporate this type of theme as well, with the more popular kids displayed as wealthy, and the less popular kids depicted as more punk and edgier.
Although the roles in the film are distinctly labeled, being classified by your peers is a reality that almost all teenagers in high school know to be true. The film portrays this in the strongest way possible, while also taking on subjects like conformity, peer pressure, and young love. These are a few topics that nearly all people are able to relate to, which creates a welcoming, familiar base that the viewers can build upon and reminisce their own experiences.
Beneath the overused storyline and basic plot, I believe that there is a lot of overlooked realism in this great movie. The way Andie tries to hide her broken home life from Blane and the way Duckie gets bullied in school for being a rather offbeat individual reflects a reality that many teenagers have to face every day. As Patrick Goldstein from the Los Angeles Times words it, "These kids have a bumpy ride, but this is one film that identifies with their passions instead of indulging them, giving us a perfect back-seat view of kids out cruising, not for kicks but for a hard-earned sense of pride." I couldn't agree more. This film takes a deep look into each character, giving you a glimpse of their personal life when away from school, and also the emotions they feel when conflict pursuits.
I believe Pretty in Pink is a top-tier film when it comes to so-called cliché 80's love stories because unlike other movies in its category, you do not feel the dullness of the typical love story plot. Instead, you are given characters who are full of vibrancy, troubles, and most importantly- real emotion. It is more than just a love story. It is a story that people of all ages can relate to and enjoy. It is a story portrayed with incredible accuracy of what it is like to be a teenager.