Some Kind of Wonderful
Encyclopedia
Some Kind of Wonderful is a 1987 romance film
starring Eric Stoltz
, Lea Thompson
, and Mary Stuart Masterson
. It was one of the many successful teen dramas written by John Hughes in the 1980s, although this one was directed by Howard Deutch
. During filming, Deutch met Thompson and two years later the two got married. The film is considered a cult classic
of the Brat Pack era due to its strong themes that were seen in previous Hughes productions.
public high school
. The tomboy
ish Watts (Mary Stuart Masterson
) has always considered working class
misfit Keith Nelson (Eric Stoltz
) her best friend. But when Keith asks out the most popular girl in school, Amanda Jones (Lea Thompson
), Watts realizes she feels something much deeper for him. Meanwhile, Hardy Jenns (Craig Sheffer
), Amanda's ex-boyfriend from the rich section of town, plans to cause trouble for Keith; though he has no real feelings for Amanda, he feels humiliated at losing her to a social inferior. However, Keith cunningly manages things to his own and Amanda's advantage and gives Hardy his well-deserved comeuppance. In the end, Amanda realizes that she needs time alone and Keith clues into Watts's feelings for him. Realizing that he loves her too, he gives her the diamond earrings he had originally bought as a present for Amanda.
reported that 77% of critics gave it a positive rating, based on 38 reviews. Roger Ebert
of the Chicago Sun-Times
praised the film, calling it worthwhile and entertaining. Janet Maslin
of the New York Times stated that Some Kind of Wonderful is the "much-improved, recycled version of the Pretty in Pink
story". Richard Schickel of Time, however, criticized the film for being unrealistic. Masterson's performance was singled out for praise by many critics.
Romance film
Romance films are love stories that focus on passion, emotion, and the affectionate involvement of the main characters and the journey that their love takes through courtship or marriage. Romance films make the love story or the search for love the main plot focus...
starring Eric Stoltz
Eric Stoltz
Eric Hamilton Stoltz is an American actor, director and producer. He is widely known for playing the role of Rocky Dennis in the biographical drama film Mask, which earned him the nomination for a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture...
, Lea Thompson
Lea Thompson
Lea Katherine Thompson is an American actress and director. She is best known for her 1990s NBC situation comedy Caroline in the City and her portrayal of Lorraine Baines McFly, Marty McFly's mother, in the Back to the Future trilogy...
, and Mary Stuart Masterson
Mary Stuart Masterson
Mary Stuart Masterson is an American film, stage and television actress and director.-Early life:Masterson was born in New York City to writer/director Peter Masterson and actress Carlin Glynn. She has two siblings: Peter Masterson Jr., and Alexandra Masterson, who are both involved in the...
. It was one of the many successful teen dramas written by John Hughes in the 1980s, although this one was directed by Howard Deutch
Howard Deutch
Howard Deutch is an American film director. His most recent theatrical release was My Best Friend's Girl, starring Jason Biggs, Kate Hudson, Dane Cook, and Alec Baldwin...
. During filming, Deutch met Thompson and two years later the two got married. The film is considered a cult classic
Cult Classic
Cult Classic is a Blue Öyster Cult studio recording released in 1994, containing remakes of many of the band's previous hits.-Track listing:# " The Reaper" - 5:05# "E.T.I...
of the Brat Pack era due to its strong themes that were seen in previous Hughes productions.
Plot
The film is set against the strict social hierarchy of an AmericanUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
public high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
. The tomboy
Tomboy
A tomboy is a girl who exhibits characteristics or behaviors considered typical of the gender role of a boy, including the wearing of typically masculine-oriented clothes and engaging in games and activities that are often physical in nature, and which are considered in many cultures to be the...
ish Watts (Mary Stuart Masterson
Mary Stuart Masterson
Mary Stuart Masterson is an American film, stage and television actress and director.-Early life:Masterson was born in New York City to writer/director Peter Masterson and actress Carlin Glynn. She has two siblings: Peter Masterson Jr., and Alexandra Masterson, who are both involved in the...
) has always considered working class
Working class
Working class is a term used in the social sciences and in ordinary conversation to describe those employed in lower tier jobs , often extending to those in unemployment or otherwise possessing below-average incomes...
misfit Keith Nelson (Eric Stoltz
Eric Stoltz
Eric Hamilton Stoltz is an American actor, director and producer. He is widely known for playing the role of Rocky Dennis in the biographical drama film Mask, which earned him the nomination for a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture...
) her best friend. But when Keith asks out the most popular girl in school, Amanda Jones (Lea Thompson
Lea Thompson
Lea Katherine Thompson is an American actress and director. She is best known for her 1990s NBC situation comedy Caroline in the City and her portrayal of Lorraine Baines McFly, Marty McFly's mother, in the Back to the Future trilogy...
), Watts realizes she feels something much deeper for him. Meanwhile, Hardy Jenns (Craig Sheffer
Craig Sheffer
Craig Eric Sheffer is an American film and television actor. He is known for his leading role as Norman Maclean in the film A River Runs Through It and of Keith Scott on the television series One Tree Hill.-Early life:...
), Amanda's ex-boyfriend from the rich section of town, plans to cause trouble for Keith; though he has no real feelings for Amanda, he feels humiliated at losing her to a social inferior. However, Keith cunningly manages things to his own and Amanda's advantage and gives Hardy his well-deserved comeuppance. In the end, Amanda realizes that she needs time alone and Keith clues into Watts's feelings for him. Realizing that he loves her too, he gives her the diamond earrings he had originally bought as a present for Amanda.
Cast
- Eric StoltzEric StoltzEric Hamilton Stoltz is an American actor, director and producer. He is widely known for playing the role of Rocky Dennis in the biographical drama film Mask, which earned him the nomination for a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture...
- Keith Nelson - Mary Stuart MastersonMary Stuart MastersonMary Stuart Masterson is an American film, stage and television actress and director.-Early life:Masterson was born in New York City to writer/director Peter Masterson and actress Carlin Glynn. She has two siblings: Peter Masterson Jr., and Alexandra Masterson, who are both involved in the...
- Watts - Lea ThompsonLea ThompsonLea Katherine Thompson is an American actress and director. She is best known for her 1990s NBC situation comedy Caroline in the City and her portrayal of Lorraine Baines McFly, Marty McFly's mother, in the Back to the Future trilogy...
- Amanda Jones - Craig ShefferCraig ShefferCraig Eric Sheffer is an American film and television actor. He is known for his leading role as Norman Maclean in the film A River Runs Through It and of Keith Scott on the television series One Tree Hill.-Early life:...
- Hardy Jenns - John AshtonJohn Ashton (actor)John David Ashton is an American actor born in Springfield, Massachusetts, and graduate of the University of Southern California School of Theatre.John Ashton attended Enfield High School in Enfield, Connecticut....
- Cliff Nelson - Elias KoteasElias KoteasElias Koteas is a Canadian actor of film and television, best known for his roles in The Prophecy, Fallen and the live-action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles films.-Early life:...
- Duncan - Molly HaganMolly Hagan-Youth:Hagan was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the daughter of Mary Elizabeth and John Robert Hagan. She was raised in Fort Wayne, Indiana.-Career:She featured in the series Herman's Head which ran on Fox from 1991 to 1994...
- Shayne - Maddie CormanMaddie CormanMaddie Corman is an American television and film actress.-Career:Born Madeleine Cornman in New York City, New York, she began her career as a child actress in the 1980s...
- Laura Nelson - Jane ElliotJane ElliotJane Elliot is an American actress, known for her role as Tracy Quartermaine, a role she has played on General Hospital and The City ....
- Carol Nelson - Candace Cameron - Cindy Nelson
- Chynna PhillipsChynna PhillipsChynna Phillips is an American singer and actress, known for being a member of Wilson Phillips. She is also known for being the daughter of The Mamas & the Papas band members John and Michelle Phillips and the half-sister of Mackenzie Phillips, Bijou Phillips, Jeffrey Phillips , Tamerlane...
- Mia - Scott CoffeyScott CoffeyScott Coffey is an American actor, director, producer, screenwriter. His acting credits include films such as Shag, Some Kind of Wonderful, Dream Lover, and Mulholland Drive...
- Ray
Reception
The film was generally well-received by critics. Review aggregator website Rotten TomatoesRotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
reported that 77% of critics gave it a positive rating, based on 38 reviews. Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
Roger Joseph Ebert is an American film critic and screenwriter. He is the first film critic to win a Pulitzer Prize for Criticism.Ebert is known for his film review column and for the television programs Sneak Previews, At the Movies with Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, and Siskel and Ebert and The...
of the Chicago Sun-Times
Chicago Sun-Times
The Chicago Sun-Times is an American daily newspaper published in Chicago, Illinois. It is the flagship paper of the Sun-Times Media Group.-History:The Chicago Sun-Times is the oldest continuously published daily newspaper in the city...
praised the film, calling it worthwhile and entertaining. Janet Maslin
Janet Maslin
Janet Maslin is an American journalist, best known as a film and literary critic for The New York Times. She served as the Times film critic from 1977–1999.- Biography :...
of the New York Times stated that Some Kind of Wonderful is the "much-improved, recycled version of the Pretty in Pink
Pretty in Pink
Pretty in Pink is a 1986 American teen romantic comedy-drama film about teenage love and social cliques in 1980s American high schools. It is one of a group of John Hughes films starring Molly Ringwald, and is commonly identified as a "Brat Pack" film...
story". Richard Schickel of Time, however, criticized the film for being unrealistic. Masterson's performance was singled out for praise by many critics.
Production
The film was shot almost entirely on location in San Pedro, California. The high school scenes are from San Pedro Senior High School (S. Leland St. between 14th St. and 17th St.). Keith Nelson's house outside scenes look to have been filmed near Harbor Community College (Figueroa Pl. and F St.) and Amanda Jones House looks like it was filmed around 16th St. and Beacon St. or 14th St. and Beacon St. in San Pedro.Soundtrack
- "Do Anything" – Pete ShelleyPete ShelleyPete Shelley is an English singer, songwriter and guitarist, best known as the leader of Buzzcocks.-Biography:...
- "Brilliant Mind" – The Furniture
- "Cry Like This" – Blue Room
- "I Go CrazyI Go Crazy (Flesh for Lulu song)"I Go Crazy" is a song by the alternative rock band Flesh for Lulu. It was released on the band's third studio album, Long Live the New Flesh. It was also featured in the movie Some Kind of Wonderful...
" – Flesh for LuluFlesh for LuluFlesh for Lulu was an Alternative rock/Gothic band formed in Brixton, London, UK, and was active between 1982 and 1992. Their music was a mix of the New York Dolls and Rolling Stones with gothic rock's gloomy atmosphere and aesthetics.-History:... - "She Loves Me" – Stephen DuffyStephen DuffyStephen Anthony James Duffy is an English singer/songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. He was a founding member and vocalist/bassist of Duran Duran. He went on to record as a solo performer under several different names, and is the singer and songwriter for The Lilac Time with his older brother...
- "The Hardest Walk" – The Jesus and Mary ChainThe Jesus and Mary ChainThe Jesus and Mary Chain are a Scottish alternative rock band formed in East Kilbride, Glasgow in 1983. The band revolves around the songwriting partnership of brothers Jim and William Reid...
- "The Shyest Time" – The ApartmentsThe ApartmentsThe Apartments was an Australian indie band that first formed in 1978 in Brisbane, broke up in 1979, and reformed several times since.-History:...
- "Miss Amanda Jones" – The March VioletsThe March VioletsThe March Violets are an English goth rock band of the 1980s, incorporating singers of both sexes, drum machine rhythms and echo laden electric guitar, much in the way of scene mates The Sisters of Mercy, who also originated from the city of Leeds...
- "Can't Help Falling in Love" – Lick the TinsLick the TinsLick the Tins was a mid to late 1980s Celtic/folk rock/indie band from London. The name was derived from a nickname given to an old tramp by the children from the home town of one of the band members, Ronan Heenan. They are best known for their cover version of "Can't Help Falling in...
- "Turn to the Sky" – The March Violets