The Pick-up Artist (1987) User Reviews

Goes downhill fast after promising opening

[stills-6 · 6/10 · 6 October 1999]

One plot device that the movie turns on is absolutely unbelievable. I won't spoil it, but it stands out like a sore thumb. The opening twenty minutes or so are nicely done as the two leads get to know one another, sort of. After their lives are revealed to each other things get very dull and I can't get past the inanity of this plot point.

I thought Molly Ringwald was good in her role, what there was of it. The script is awful and that's a good deal of the problem, but there's no chemistry here, either.

Weak Romantic Comedy of the 80's

[BatBanks · 5/10 · 28 October 2014]

Robert Downey Jr. (In his first starring role) as womanizer elementary school gym teacher who meet his match with the lovely Molly Ringwald who's museum guide and tried to save her alcoholic father (Dennis Hopper) from mob (Harvey Keitel) who own them debt.

The movie has weak storyline, it not hitting. Robert and Molly chemistry is okay but they deserves a better movie than this. It plays a lot of oldies music and feature familiar faces. I think you rather skip this movie and watch any good rom-comedy. Watch for Vanessa Williams at the beginning as one the woman that Downey Jr. tried to hit on while she walking with her dog named Caligula (!!!).

Why do I like this movie?

[rc_brazil · 5/10 · 13 December 2006]

It really is a mystery for me, why I like this film. I guess that, before going on, I must introduce myself - usually I'm considered quite a film buff, and my favorite film decade actually is the 1930's. Why, then, would I even bother to watch a Molly Ringwald - Robert Downey, Jr. film from the 80's which has a terrible reputation? Good question. I caught it on TV the other day by accident. It tells a dull story (a girl must get 25 thousand dollars to pay off her alcoholic father's gambling debts and finds a womanizing teacher who eventually helps her out of it, if it makes any sense) with a lot of implausible moments - the scene of the robber singing Elvis, for instance, like another comment mentioned - but it does have a lot of familiar faces and I found all performances likable, particularly that of Downey Jr - but then again, his talent should never be in question, in spite of all his drug problems. Ringwald and Downey have great chemistry and pull of what could've become quite unwatchable. In the end of the day, I liked it and didn't think it was a time waster. If you watch it, maybe you'll be able to tell me why. It's been bothering me.

Starts off fantastic, but then goes way south after the first half hour

[spencer-w-hensley · 4/10 · 1 June 2016]

I saw a preview for this movie and happened to find it on an old VHS while glancing the thrift stores. When I first saw the trailer with Molly Ringwald and Robert Downey Jr., I figured the movie had to be pretty good. I love Ringwald's work in the John Hughes films, and just like Downey in general so I thought I was in for a really funny, warm treat. Add to the cast Dennis Hopper, fresh off of an Oscar nod from the previous year's Hoosier's as well as Danny Aiello, Bob Gunton (warden Norton from my all time fave "The Shawshank Redemption) and Harvey Keitel, and you got what seems like a really fun comedy with a powerhouse cast.

And it starts off that way, but it takes some seriously wrong turns after the first half-hour and just gets progressively worse to the point where I wanted to take my eyes off the TV set. The so called "story" is very lame once the premise is established. Downey plays his usual sarcastic, self-centered character, who happens to be a womanizer here, who tries to put all of his smooth moves on Ringwald (what guy in the 80's wouldn't have tried though?). She at first is uninterested but he is her only saving grace when gangster Keitel and his hit men, kidnap Hopper playing Ringwald's father, and Downey is forced to come up with the ransom money to save Hopper and ultimately Ringwald's lives.

The problem here is with this fantastic cast, the story and characters should be much more interesting and likable, not bland and generic like it is here. The movie would have been better with Downey's character being the same and leaving more room for character development getting to know both he Ringwald's characters better and taking them on another crazy adventure rather than the stupid mob sub-plot that is the focus here. Ringwald also seems like she's trying too hard to be an adult actress here, and not be typecast-ed with her typical teen roles from her tenure with Hughes. Taking this approach however is not successful, as her character here is bland and unlikable. The movie would have been much better here, if she would have played a character similar to the ones she did in "The Breakfast Club," or "Pretty in Pink." When actors try hard to be different than their usual persona, they come across as unlikable and that's definitely the case with Ringwald here. Maybe if John Hughes would have directed this, it would have been a different, and certainly much better movie.

Also, the supporting cast is entirely wasted and all characters are underdeveloped. Hopper seems like he is doing a much more comical version of his character from "Hoosiers" here, and it gets rather annoying quite quickly, especially considering he played the same character exactly a year before and did it much better then. He is also given very little to do, and the fact he receives screen credit is ridiculous, this could have easily been an extended cameo, and a bad one at that. What a waste of Hopper's fine talent. Fortunately we have better movies in his career before and after this to remember him by like "Easy Rider," "Hoosiers", "Blue Velvet" and "Speed".

Keitel is also annoying here, playing his usual tough-guy role, and he forces it so much that after a while it just becomes plain laughable. That role works for other movies but doesn't cut it here. He is wasted here, and given a bad role. Even Joe Pesci or Danny De Vito would have been better suited for this part, and could have brought some humor and originality to the character. Keitel plays it so straight that it's just painful to watch. The character is irritating and extremely one-dimensional. Didn't the director tell him this was a comedy before he signed on?

Gunton, a fine character actor is also wasted here and given nothing to do, same for Aiello. And then of course, there's Downey who puts a lot of effort into his character, but acts as if he knows the script stinks and aims to do his best with it. Downey does a generally good job, and gives the movie some saving grace, but this character would be suited better with another script and in another movie.

All in all the movie is very forgettable and wastes it's fine cast, who deserved a much better script, story and direction than what they got.

Nostalgic in 2020

[claudio_carvalho · 6/10 · 30 April 2020]

In New York, the wolf school gym teacher Jack Jericho (Robert Downey Jr.) flirts with every beautiful woman he stumbles upon on the streets with his red Camaro. When he meets the museum guide Randy Jensen (Molly Ringwald), he has an unrequited crush on her. Jack stalks Randy and soon he learns that she gambles to pay a debt of US$ 25,148.00 her alcoholic father Flash (Dennis Hopper) has with the mobster Alonzo Scolara (Harvey Keitel) and he decides to help her.

"The Pick-up Artist" is a nostalgic film in 2020. It is so good to see Molly Ringwald, Dennis Hopper, Danny Aiello, Vanessa Williams, Lorraine Bracco, Harvey Keitel, Robert Downey Jr. very young in 1987. The beginning is promising and funny, but the last part is not so good. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "O Rei da Paquera" ("The King of the Flirt")

He's a self-styled Casanova, she's in trouble with mobsters--and they're both too young for this script...

[moonspinner55 · 4/10 · 6 September 2005]

Robert Downey Jr. is husky and young and wiry as a streetwise ladies' man who does more striking-out than scoring, but his attempts are colorful (you can sense he turns women on just by attempting); Molly Ringwald is a good screen-match for Downey playing sassy tour guide whose alcoholic father is in trouble with the mob. So far, so good--and early on director James Toback displays a sweet, screwball side that was never apparent in his works prior to this--but, unfortunately, the convoluted script gets all gummed-up by the second-half, and the leads go back and forth with each other so much that it all becomes fairly ridiculous. Some pre-release dubbing was obviously done to cover the saltier dialogue passages; it looks sloppy, but that's nothing compared to listening to Downey and Ringwald having sex (what was she in real-life, 17?). These two look good together but are far too young for this scenario, which is by turns cartoonishly sordid and melodramatically soapy. *1/2 from ****

Sparks Fly Between The Stars...

[Keedee · 6/10 · 6 May 2001]

I found the chemistry between Ringwald and Downey, Jr. to be as scintillating as that of Bruce Willis and Cybill Shepard of Moonlighting fame. I do agree that this film was probably designed to showcase Ms. Ringwald's talent, but in the process, showcased the charisma and talent of Robert Downey, Jr.

I first saw this film right after high school. It was light and entertaining. These days, the teen flicks bore me to tears, but I can honestly say that Downey's performance pulls me to the small screen time and time again. It's not a must see, but the sparks flying between these two stars make it quite enjoyable.

A summer movie for people under 20 (max!)

[WolfHai · 5/10 · 8 June 2006]

The good things first (sing this): Summer in the city!, and the city, New York, the one star in this movie that looks good 'til the very end, is just beautiful. And because it is summer, and because the city looks as good as the women that populate it, we do not ask that whatever Robert Downey is up to in the beginning is in any way "realistic", as long as it is carefree, funny, and playfully energetic. But from then on...

I do not ask of a movie that it be literally truthful, however, there should be some inner truth, a veracity in the characters or a thoughtful comment on life or something--and this movie does not have any of it. It seems that most of the characters are caricatures, such as the alcoholic gambling father, the mafia bad guy and his entourage (a whole armada with Italian accents), the corrupt policeman, and the Columbian rich man; nobody is in any way real, not even three-dimensional. (I did like the bad guy's girlfriend though, probably also a caricature, but at least flirty, lively, and refreshing.) On top of that, our romantic couple has no chemistry (at least not any I can detect), always deadly for a romantic comedy. The philosophic sentences about life and relationships that come out of our protagonists' mouths are, well let's say, completely beside the point. They are probably supposed to show that our characters are "serious", and maybe if I was 16 again, I would find these parts of the movie "deep", but at my age, I just find them false and somewhat annoying.

So, if you have seen this movie already, I hope you enjoyed the city, the summer, Robert Downey... and maybe some thing or other that I have missed.

Not the best pick up

[videorama-759-859391 · 6/10 · 30 August 2016]

Here's a kind of too blander film with not much ingredients, yet is steered by Downey's likable winning performance. He has such a charming magical persona, and it comes over so well here. If only he did a better film. I have a few qualms about the movie, but I don't hate it. I just don't think it was utilized property, just running at 78 minutes, with some stuff that seems to be desperately crammed into it. Downey plays a womanizer/kid's school teacher with a regular pick up line, which is the one memorable line of the film. Most of the good dialogue is given to Downey here. Then suddenly he spots her, Randy (Ringwald, not bad here, quite a maturing professional actress). She's a museum tour guide, who's washed up boozer of a father, with a heart, Flash (Hopper, the film's other top performance) is indebted to a mafia guy (Keitel, Ringwald's older boyfriend), that has her doing some implied whoring. Downey must come up with a heavy sum, to become her prince and save her, but also, manning up too. Really, so much more could of gone into the characters, especially Ringwald's, where I just thought the mafia tie felt wrong, where again, the film's story wasn't utilized properly, in it's attempt to take it's subject, seriously, where the whole thing seemed like a half ingredient film, despite it's great and good performances, some actors painfully wasted. But like I said, it Downey's charm and splendid performance that carries a kind of dull running comedy with edges of drama. It's his soliloquy scenes that are the best, one hot beauty in blue, he chats up, I'll never forget, pre Vanessa Williams.

Pick Up and Lay Down this Artist **

[edwagreen · 4/10 · 24 November 2010]

A young Robert Downey Jr. thinks that he is a man about down as he goes around in his never ending attempt to pick up women. He is eventually smitten by Molly Ringwald, who is way out of her league in this film. A mobster's daughter, she really has the gambling habit.

The other actors are typically stereotyped in their usual roles. Harvey Keitel as the mobster and the late Dennis Hopper as the boozed up and probably drug taking person are naturals for their respective parts.

Watch out for a very young Christine Baranski in a one scene stealer and of all people, an elderly Mildred Dunnock plays Downey's diabetic grandmother, who apparently even has a guy at the end.

Of all things, Downey is an elementary school gym teacher in the film and fortunately this is downplayed. Let's not further upset our educational system.

Molly Bets Everything

[tedg · 27 December 2006]

What a lesson in film-making!

Let me report that among date movies, very few age well. This one has improved remarkably with age.

Part of the reason is the two main actors. Molly is her most striking here. She's absolutely at her peak in what she does, which is a sort of sassy, deliberately fostered innocent/wise cuteness. No one can do this today, and the attempts are depressing. Kate Hudson? We all die a little when she tries.

And then we have Downey. He's already heavy into drugs and he doesn't have the drugged discipline he had in "Chaplin." But he has an energy that is so appealing. Undisciplined, druggy energy would usually be just dispersed effort, but this is a date movie, something that depends on misregistration of self.

And look who surrounds them: Aiello doing his working class avuncular bit. Keitel being such a movie gangster they bleeped his every speech. And Dennis Hopper! That man who is a permanent token of intoxicated risktaking. Three solid marks in film characters, all portrayed by their inventors.

You can see that the filmmaker is a writer. The script is actually very good. Very good indeed for what it is and the assets that are available. The direction is so inadequate it hurts. But it hurts in exactly the right way. This is a film about stretching, about yearning without touching. Its all about inadequacy in love, a sort of reality-tinged inadequacy overlain on the romantic comedy template.

Because the camera is always in the wrong place, is always too tentative, is always unsure of itself, but still goes, still goes...

It puts us in the thing as one of these kids, clumsy, bold without cause.

I recommend this. I do. Its problems work for it.

Molly has faded as a presence now. But that's inevitable because of how we all exploited her youth. We shouldn't think that she is a flake, like say Meg Ryan or Julia Roberts. This very year she starred in one of the most intellectually ambitious movies of all time, Godards "King Lear." And more recently, she was in a Greenaway film. No stupid actor would do that.

Ted's Evaluation -- 3 of 3: Worth watching.

a delightful, truthful, touching motion picture

[matkes-2 · 10/10 · 18 December 1999]

The essence of this film, contrary to other statements at this site, is dealing with addiction. Each of the central characters has an addiction - alcohol, violence, gambling, womanizing. The Pickup Artist deals with the consequences and self-destructive nature of these specific addictions, as well as addictions in general. The dialogue is extremely witty. The acting is superb; four actors in this film have won, or been nominated for, Academy Awards - including Robert Downey, who is one of only a handful of actors that could have portrayed Charlie Chaplin - the greatest comic genius of all time.

lovely leads in movie with clashing tones

[SnoopyStyle · 6/10 · 6 September 2015]

In NYC, Jack Jericho (Robert Downey Jr.) is an unabashed pick up artist. He spends his time chasing after every girl on the streets. Alonzo Scolara (Harvey Keitel) is gun wielding criminal. Flash Jensen (Dennis Hopper) owes him money and his daughter Randy (Molly Ringwald) has to pay. Jack has no long term relationships other than his grandmother and Randy is even more reluctant. She's a museum tour guide and he's a grade school teacher. He becomes obsessed with her.

This movie struggles to find the rom-com feel. These two actors are the most likable actors of that era. They have a nice back and forth banter. The scary criminal gambling story doesn't really fit. The tone is all over the place. The old fashion music doesn't fit either. I would really have loved RDJ and Molly Ringwald in a more straight forward rom-com. Jack is a rather horrible character. This seems to be written for older worn-out characters. James Toback is simply not the rom-com type.

Generally dull

[Tito-8 · 3/10 · 1 October 2000]

Considering all of the on-screen talent, this should have been a good movie. And for the first thirty minutes or so, it still had some potential. Unfortunately, the story that dominates most of this movie is NOT interesting. Plus, I didn't find any of the characters to be likeable, which made matters much worse. So, despite a competent beginning, the film falls apart, and it was a chore sitting through the final minutes.

The Pick Up Artist

[Coxer99 · 29 June 1999]

Dreary romance-comedy about a womanizer (Downey Jr.) who finally meets his match in a museum tour guide. (Ringwald) Obvious vehicle for Ringwald, who is fine, but Downey Jr. is the one who is given the most screen time...hence the one who sinks the film.

Learn some lines

[iwatcheverything · 5/10 · 22 September 2003]

The only thing you will probably get from this film are some decent pick up lines. Downey does okay with his role as the pick up artist but does things that I don't see anyone ever doing. Molly did great with the part she was given but this is one of her last teen films.

This film got the PG-13 rating but at times you might be curious as to how. Molly is aloud to say one word that I don't think is aloud in this rating anymore.

The only other thing I did not like was the whole idea of luck, chances, and the thought that it can happen to you. This might be a SPOILER: How can you say it is right to gamble to pay off a gambling debt? Is this not just a catch 22?

If I'm bored one night I might take another chance on this film. Otherwise I will definitely find something better to watch.

Decent

[SanteeFats · 6/10 · 19 April 2014]

I watched this movie and found it to be entertaining. I have found Molly Ringwald to be a very good actress plus she is pretty attractive. Robert Downey Jr. is good enough in this one, he has since gotten better. Molly keeps trying to win enough money to get her dad out of debt to a loan shark. Downey plays a roue who is always after any woman that he can get. He uses the same line and it does work on some. That is until he meets Molly, she does have sex with him the first time but tries to shun after. Downey becomes infatuated with her and chases her all over. They end up going to Atlantic City where she bets her paycheck up to $13,000. She then bets it all trying to get her father out of debt. She fails. Then Downey comes along and wins more than her dad owes, pays off her dad's debt and then they apparently hook up for good. Dennis Hopper plays the dad and he is a drunk and a gambler but gives up the booze at the end.

Crap

[shibbyua2005 · 1/10 · 2 June 2005]

I wish there was a zero out of 10, because this movie should have never been made. It is complete crap and has nothing to do with anything. It is also one of those movies with dubbed in words which makes the movie look really cheap, which it probably was. I was drawn in by Robert Downey Jr. and the very cheap price of the DVD (should have been a dead giveaway). It is disappointing to the very end, which I shouldn't even have attempted to watch. Please for all that is good and holy, do not rent, buy, or even look at this movie. Because of the crazy guidelines, I am going to attempt to tell you how much this movie sucks. First of all, Dennis Hopper is in this poorly written, made, and acted film. He should not have graced the movie with his presence. He should stay forever in Easy Rider. Well, I am tired of writing and hopefully this is ten lines. Again, please do not watch this movie---you will waste precious time that you shouldn't.

Rated too Low on IMDb

[hera_ari · 7/10 · 30 June 2013]

This movie keeps you watching, it's definitely not Oscar or Golden Globe material - it is simply a light hearted film meant to entertain you.

The plot could have been sewn together a little more tightly as there are a few holes but nothing beyond the viewers understanding. However, it is a lighthearted, romantic comedy. The dialogue is fresh and new for the time it was made, and I would go as far to say even now. The wit and banter is commendable and during serious moments it is soul baring and honest.

Acting of course, Robert Downey has never given a bad performance, he always own the characters and leaves you in awe. Dennis Hopper- same for him, he's a great actor for a reason. Molly Ringwald .. never been a fan.. she's very one dimensional as an actress, always seems to have one expression for anger and pain.

Overall I say it's worth watching just for RDJ. It was his first lead role.

Beyond Boring and Unbelievable

[reymunpadilla · 1/10 · 23 July 2023]

You know the film's in trouble from the start when you see Downey practicing pickup lines that are lame and would never work. These are the kind of lines a sheltered guy who has never had luck with women *imagines* are what Casanovas use.

The second problem is that Downey himself isn't believable. He seems to playing a beard in this film, a gay man that uses dating women to hide being gay, which is what he always seemed to be in real life. Perhaps the only point this film deserves is Downey making a brave admission, using the film to come out of the closet.

Ringwald is trying badly to seem adult here. But she can't overcome her image as the awkward whiny spoiled teen queen.

There's no laughs in the film, not much romance, and irritating characters. Avoid it.

Pick-up artist falls for daughter of a mobster

[bernice-boppalula · 6/10 · 15 January 2008]

This is hereby submitted for the 'Quotes' - In the scene where Jack is in Randi's apartment, they suddenly are paid an unexpected visit by two thugs Alonzo & Mike. Jack hides in the closet while the two men are pressuring Randi for a large sum of money. Hearing this, Jack falls out of the closet and makes a feeble attempt to help her by claiming he can come up with the dough. The ensuing conversation goes something like this...

Alonzo: "You got the money, cupcake?"

Jack: "What, you mean ON me?"

Alonzo: "ON you, IN you, UP you..?" Harvey Keitel has always been among my favorites for this kind of exchange. Robert Downey does a superb job as well in this movie.

Unwatchable at best

[JAarchangel · 1/10 · 29 July 2009]

I decided to see this because it had some of my favorite actors including Hopper, Keitel, and Downey. Big mistake. This is the worst movie I have ever seen in my life. It is beyond boring and contrived, it is actually painful to watch. If this had been made in the time of Orson Welles heyday, William Randolph Hearst would have left Citizen Kane alone and paid $800,000 to have all the prints of this movie destroyed. After seeing this in 1987, this may have heavily influenced Robert Downey Jr.'s legendary spiral into drug addiction. Sound like its too bad too be true? You be the judge, but be forewarned, I would not risk watching it alone. It is depressing me just to think about it long enough to write 10 lines. Bad, bad movie, bad!

a romantic comedy that's conventional but convincing and likable and sometimes very funny

[Quinoa1984 · 8/10 · 7 February 2010]

What people were expecting from The Pick-up Artist I'm not sure. It is not a terribly original film, despite what personal attachment James Toback brings to the material as a filmmaker (it's been said he was basically writing Jack on his own experiences picking up girls), but it does work as entertainment within its parameters. We want to see this Jack Jericho, a lady's man who will go after any girl that's on the street or walking out of a shop, wise up and we know that he will when he finds the girl who will meet his match by not giving her number to him. This happens with Randy, who 'hooks up' with him but leaves it at that ("The phone number would mean the future," she says), and it just eggs him on to go after her - which is trouble, since she's in one of those I-owe-the-mob-such-and-such-money situations, which Jack rises to the occasion.

If you have seen one you may have seen another, or another. It's part screwball farce and part a on-the-surface 80's John Hughes teen comedy (how old Jack is is hard to say, though likely not much older than nineteen year old Randy), but there's something else that makes it interesting. The way Toback shoots and writes the movie, one might think some of the moves and mannerisms, and how he moves and is seen in New York City, may resemble a Woody Allen movie, or, to be further with a comparison, a French New Wave movie (look at Robert Downey Jr and tell me Jack Jericho couldn't be played by Jean-Paul Belmondo circa 1960). It's writing is based on formula- we know how Randy's conflict will be resolved, if not quite how Jack and Randy will turn out together- but it's sharp dialog and some actual wit, lines that let us know these characters are thinking and on their toes, that rises above the expectation.

Another thing is Downey Jr. Like with Toback's 1997 film Two Girls and a Guy, he adds another notch to the material as a likable sleaze (this time more likable than in 'Two Girls', after all in this film Jack lives and takes care with his grandmother). He isn't just another cocky ass, but a determined player who is given humanity and depth by RDJ. Ringwald fares almost as well, though it's hard to say if even at her best she's anywhere near the power of her male co-star; mostly she just reacts to things he says, or at one point does have a convincing crying fit after losing some money. Other supporting actors like Harvey Keitel, Dennis Hopper and Danny Aiello are wonderful to see, even if they're given characters that have a lot less depth than Jack and Randy. They're mostly set-pieces in the plot, but at least the actors have fun playing hard-nosed-mobster/drunk/concerned-friend respectively.

This isn't a romantic comedy to rush out to see, and it certainly isn't anywhere in a high pantheon of screwball farces or in league with his New-Wave influences. But it's a short trip that hasn't aged too badly thanks to the on-screen charisma of its leads and some nifty 60's rock music put to the scenes. It's almost, dare I say it, underrated in Toback's oeuvre.

could be better, could be much worse

[gonzogrig · 7/10 · 18 January 2009]

Very cute. Although Molly Ringwald is generally a fairly decent actress, it's hard to give her too much attention with Downey taking center stage. Robert Downey is, as always, terribly charming. This and possibly only this, makes the movie enjoyable. Unfortunately the film generally over-reaches. It's not a complex plot; Downey is a compulsive womanizer who is eager to add Ringwald to his list of conquests until she turns him down. Downey then becomes obsessed with her and follows her around trying to convince her to give him another chance. Along the way he finds out that she's in trouble with loan sharks. They gamble to get the money in time and miraculously win. Still, she turns him down claiming that they're no good for each other. For the grand finale she changes her mind the next day, deciding that even though they're bad for each other they should give a relationship a go anyway. The film attempts to be a light romantic comedy yet still have complex characters. Ringwald does have some great moments but on the whole cannot pull off the bitchy-insecure character. Rather than developing the story properly, there are several concepts that seems to be haphazardly thrown in such as Doweny's friend at the diner,the wealthy Columbian obsessed with Ringwald, Downey's grandmother and the Elvis singing mugger. I imagine it could have been a very good film if they had simply made it longer and developed all the characters properly. Still, I've seen much worse. If you want something light with Downey at his most charming you'll enjoy it.

A stepping stone for Ringwald

[bertfw-2 · 4/10 · 25 March 2020]

If you grew up in the 80s you probably saw your fair share of John Hughes films and thought of Molly Ringwald as a big star. When this film was about to come out the big deal about it was: Ringwald was treated as a woman, not a girl. It even said "woman" in any studio media leading up to the release. People weren't so much interested in this movie because of the story, but because everybody knew Ringwald was moving on from her John Hughes treatment into adulthood - like much of Ringwald's audience.

The year after this movie (1988) Ringwald went on to "Fresh Horses" in an even more adult role, but it was also not a big hit. By then the "Brat Pack" magic was effectively over and all those young celebs were moving in their own directions. Ringwald didn't experience much success until "Townies" in 1996, and by then the movies that painted her fans' image of her were well in the rearview. People might feel nostalgia for those John Hughes roles, but they weren't trying to relate to them anymore. Unfortunately Ringwald either didn't have a sense for what people wanted, or, more likely, she just had her own ideas about what she wanted to do. But despite working more or less continuously since the 1980s she never attained the kind of fanbase she had in those days.

So "The Pick-up Artist", while not a great film, still had a position of some importance for people who grew up watching Ringwald's earlier films. It was more of a event than a movie, an event which ultimately was disappointing but served a purpose in that people who wanted a glimpse of the future learned that not everything goes the way you might like, even for our idols. There's really no way anyone who didn't grow up during the era can understand how this movie drew a line dividing childhood and young adulthood. That was really the appeal of this film.