1983 Directed by Martha Coolidge
Julie, a girl from the valley, meets Randy, a punk from the city. They are from different worlds and find love. Somehow they need to stay together in spite of her trendy, shallow friends.
Nicolas Cage E.G. Daily Deborah Foreman Michael Bowen Cameron Dye Michelle Meyrink Lee Purcell Colleen Camp Frederic Forrest Joanne Baron Tony Markes Robby Romero Lisa Antille Theresa Hayes Andrew Winner Laura Jacoby Joyce Hyser Michael Wyle Wayne Crawford Christopher Murphy Tina Theberge Camille Calvet David Ensor Tony Plana Betsy Bond Steve Sayre Karl Johnson
Finally! I now know the origin story of the creepy clown doll Deborah Foreman sleeps with. Apparently crew members donated most of the props, and Martha Coolidge found that freaky joker stuffed in a box. Something about Deborah turning to that DOLL for comfort appealed to Martha deep down.
Some other things I learned during the director Q&A following the THIRD time I've caught this movie in a theater:
The studio mandated Martha Coolidge include four shots of boobs, so she stuck them in there.
Nic Cage lied about his last name being Coppola, which led to much confusion and some conflicting schedules.
Martha pulled Nic Cage's headshot out of the reject pile and used his photo as an example…
I love Nicolas Cage. I love him in every shape and form. But Nicolas Cage in love is the best Cage there is, and I consider it a tragedy he didn't do more romances.
There's just something about the way he stares at the objects of his affections. It's so, I don't know, affecting? It's those sad eyes and that hound dog expression. It's like he has the flu or something. He embodies love sickness.
Think of the way he gazes at Deborah Foreman in Valley Girl.
Or Holly Hunter in Raising Arizona...
Or Cher in Moonstruck...
Or Laura Dern in Wild at Heart...
Or Bridget Fonda in It Could Happen to You...
Admit it, you're swooning, aren't you?
Only some loose observations:
* Nicolas Cage should have been in the film more than he was, with his brooding and weird under-overacting and apparent misunderstanding of what punk music is. I liked that red shirt he had on, and I love what absurdity his hair is up to in this.
* The motivations of the lead character make no sense, even if you accept the caveat that teenagers never make sense in Hollywood fiction, or rather, the film doesn't try to make any sense of them. At least Nic Cage shows us everything he's feeling every second he's on screen, I suppose, even if it's just a vacant stare as his character tries to think. (I love that vacant…
This ranks in my top 3 80s teen comedies. I saw this when I was about 13 or 14. Man, did I have a thing for Nic Cage after that. Another fantastic soundtrack (like Last American Virgin had). I did not relate to Deborah Foreman's valley girl character in any way. I wasn't and am still not that kind of girlie girl. Still, I love this movie.
Still fantastic. In my top 25. The "I Melt With You" montage in the film is one of my favorites in all of cinema. Proposed to my wife(who is from the valley) on an original one-sheet poster for this movie. It is very special to both of us.
More junior proms need bisexual lighting and Josie Cotton.
Nic Cage is great, yeah, but how come Deborah Foreman never had much of a career? She's too much fun in this and the still underrated My Chauffeur.
A silly, mindless mess of a romantic comedy that's also surprisingly entertaining. 6/10
My daughter: Why is it every time I see you watching a movie, Nicolas Cage is in it? ... Because he's awesome, that's why. Plus, the Plimsouls miming "Saddest Story in the World." Are you kidding me?
It feels like Amy Heckerling must LOVE this movie.
A turbo-80's bit of cotton candy, with all the eye-watering outfits and affected valley dialogue that entails. This is just a really nice, sweet rom-com that doesn't ask for more then it needs. I wish maybe it resolved any or all of its random subplots that mostly go nowhere, but even still the main romance is a nice faux-Romeo/Juliet class story.
Extremely charming even if it doesn't amount to much.
I have gained such a good perspective on Nicolas Cage. I truly think that he has such an interesting acting style and is truly a gem. And I absolutely love him being in love. It is so precious. I love Nicolas Cage being happy. There is a montage of the two main characters just going on dates and it is FANTASTIC.
That being said, this movie is definitely a product of its time in all the wrong ways. It glorifies stalking, even if it isn't to a crazy bad extent like some other 80's films. It also has some really awkward songs later on, including the homophobic diddy Johnny Are You Queer. However I do think it is a good watch to see baby Cage and a good romance from people of different backgrounds.
Frederic Forrest and Colleen Camp steal all their scenes; I'll say it's a credit to how fun they are, rather than a bad sign that the parents are the best part of a teen movie. (Also, I really want Forrest's dove patterned shirt from the pre-prom scene.)
Very fun and charming. Nic Cage is really good, and the comedy was surprisingly on point!
Also, kinda a perfect 80s soundtrack?
the only film where i can say whole heartedly i love nicholas cage. also AMAZING soundtrack.
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