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Books on Screen: Molly Ringwald movies

May 20, 2010 by Jennifer

In Molly Ringwald’s new book Getting the Pretty Back: Friendship, Family, and Finding the Perfect Lipstick, she looks back on her teen years that she spent on the big screen. Molly Ringwald is about my age, and so I grew up watching her, and the John Hughes movies that she starred in are so typically 80’s, that I just had to revisit them.

Read my interview with Molly Ringwald over at 5 Minutes for Mom, and enter to win a copy of her new book Getting the Pretty Back.

The book is fun. It’s not a beauty book, or a fashion book, or a self-help book. It has elements of all of this, but reading this book is just like having a good candid chat with a girlfriend. Ringwald dishes on personal style and taking care of yourself — physically, socially, and emotionally.

The text type is fun and there are lots of colorful drawings by Ruben Toledo. Because of the fun way the book looks, I think that this would make a great girlfriend gift, whether she’s turning 30, 40, or 50.

I thought I remembered Sixteen Candles. I associated it with Molly Ringwald’s crummy birthday, overshadowed by her sister’s wedding, Anthony Michael Hall as the geek, and that other Matt Dillon-looking dude as the cute unattainable boyfriend. I was sort of right. What I didn’t remember was that it really pushed the envelope. Read more over at my blog Snapshot on my thoughts on movie ratings.

I didn’t remember that John Cusak and Joan Cusak were fellow geeks.

It was fun (but a little shocking — the 80’s were actually pretty wild compared to the 90’s, I think), and I do think that it sums up teen angst, wanting to grow up, and be you — not who everyone wants you to be — quite well.

I watched Pretty in Pink second. I didn’t remember much about that movie at all. I remembered that it starred Andrew McCarthy (who I sort of crushed on in The Breakfast Club, which I didn’t revisit for this column because unlike the other two, I’ve seen it many times on television over the years, although it probably does merit some cultural examination). I didn’t really remember that it was a rich guy/girl from the other side of the tracks story. So much so that it was a big deal that they would even want to date each other. Was that the 80’s mindset at work again?

Sweet Duckie, played by Jon Cryer, was the best friend who wants more. Is there a more perfect teen movie/book plot?

I remembered “What about prom, Blaine?” wailed by Molly Ringwald plaintively, and forever immortalized as teen angst personified. I did not remember James Spader, who played a smarmy rich-guy jerk (who did not look 18 at all), but who will forever be a smarmy jerk-type.

I was actually surprised by these movies. If you would have asked me, I would have told you that Sixteen Candles was the better movie, or the more teen typical movie, but I think that the winner of both titles has to be Pretty in Pink.

If you haven’t seen it in a while, I recommend you relive your 80’s past (or if you are not in my same decade, look at it and laugh — hard). But I would hold off on sharing it with your kids until you read my thoughts on these two particular teen movies.

Jennifer Donovan’s friends surprised her with what turned out to be a very-lame surprise sweet 16 party. Read about other joys and disappointments at her blog Snapshot. And remember to click over to enter to win Molly Ringwald’s new book Getting the Pretty Back at 5 Minutes for Mom.

Filed Under: Biography, Books on Screen, Fashion/Beauty, Gift Ideas, Jennifer, Non-Fiction, Women's Interest

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Comments

  1. Laura R. says

    May 20, 2010 at 1:57 pm

    Pretty in Pink was by far my favorite and Sixteen Candles a close 2nd!

    I loved Andie’s clothes & even made some like hers to wear myself…

    Now I need to see this movie again! =)

  2. Bethany says

    May 20, 2010 at 6:20 pm

    Andrew McCarthy wasn’t in Breakfast Club. The guys were Anthony Michael Hall (the brain), Emilio Estevez (the jock) and Judd Nelson (the criminal). When my oldest discovered the Breakfast Club I had a reason to watch it another 20 or so times! One of my all time favorites; I could probably quote entire scenes right now!

    PS. Which one was your crush? Me- Judd Nelson. I loved a bad boy back then!

  3. Jennifer (5 Minutes for Books) says

    May 21, 2010 at 7:25 am

    Laura–you should watch it again. I loved it this time around.

    You’re right Bethany! I was thinking St. Elmo’s Fire with Andrew Mc! I wasn’t drawn to any of them in the Breakfast Club — probably most to the brain if I was honest!!

  4. Bethany says

    May 21, 2010 at 10:19 am

    St. Elmo’s Fire- another good one!

  5. Kirsten T. says

    May 21, 2010 at 4:02 pm

    Sixteen Candles was by far my favorite…Jake and the Porsche, made me swoon. LOL! Breakfast Club second… Pretty in Pink a distant third. Think I will need to see that again, maybe I’ll have a better appreciation. The other ones I saw hundreds of times… thanks for the memories.

Trackbacks

  1. I Interviewed Molly Ringwald about Getting the Pretty Back – 5 Minutes For Mom says:
    May 20, 2010 at 7:17 pm

    […] and watched some of those Molly Ringwald teen movies that I haven’t seen in ages. Read my Books on Screen column at 5 Minutes for Books and find out how almost-40-year-old me enjoyed looking back at […]

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