While most audiences of the modern era may understandably dismiss Say Anything as a boring, uneventful romantic comedy movie that doesn't result in much, what they might not recognize is that-- in its heyday-- it was a bold and refreshing step off the beaten path that made a deer trail which has been followed enough to've become the well paved trail it is today.
Rather than tell a wild party tale that romanticizes and exaggerates high school or college antics in a problematic manner like John Hughes had been doing, Say Anything took a more relaxed, casual approach that involves a couple communicating with one another about each other's ambitions and feelings about life. Sure it's naive, but that's kind of the point of what's been sussed out here; that life isn't an easy going coming-of-life movie, and that things are complex.
The problem is the entire experience is put on rails. Lloyd and Diane both have one-track minds for one another, all of Lloyds friends have one-track minds for Lloyd, Diane's dad cares only for Diane. It's one thing for Lloyd and Diane having to come to terms with how life won't work out how they want it to-- but for EVERYONE ELSE in the story to naively follow along and wonder the same things themselves for these two characters-- and not have lives of their own (except maybe Corey, for two seconds)--
Still though, it's a delightful vignette into the world of 1989, and was a much needed baby step to get romcoms to where they are today (which are admittedly absent nowadays and have since become serial drama TV shows... which is fine). Much like a lot of cinema over time, I can see why it was a big deal for its day, sure it has since gotten muted and done better, but that will never detract from what it did for its genre.
Rather than tell a wild party tale that romanticizes and exaggerates high school or college antics in a problematic manner like John Hughes had been doing, Say Anything took a more relaxed, casual approach that involves a couple communicating with one another about each other's ambitions and feelings about life. Sure it's naive, but that's kind of the point of what's been sussed out here; that life isn't an easy going coming-of-life movie, and that things are complex.
The problem is the entire experience is put on rails. Lloyd and Diane both have one-track minds for one another, all of Lloyds friends have one-track minds for Lloyd, Diane's dad cares only for Diane. It's one thing for Lloyd and Diane having to come to terms with how life won't work out how they want it to-- but for EVERYONE ELSE in the story to naively follow along and wonder the same things themselves for these two characters-- and not have lives of their own (except maybe Corey, for two seconds)--
Still though, it's a delightful vignette into the world of 1989, and was a much needed baby step to get romcoms to where they are today (which are admittedly absent nowadays and have since become serial drama TV shows... which is fine). Much like a lot of cinema over time, I can see why it was a big deal for its day, sure it has since gotten muted and done better, but that will never detract from what it did for its genre.