Some Kind of Wonderful

"Before they could stand together, they had to stand alone."

1987 1h 35m EN

👍

6.9

SOLID

★6.9TMDB · 563

RomanceComedy

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Keith Nelson, an artsy high school outcast, tries to land a date with popular girl Amanda Jones with some help from his tomboy best friend, Watts. However, Watts realizes she likes Keith as more than just a friend and tries to convince him to stop pursuing Amanda. Matters are further complicated when Keith's invitation draws the ire of Amanda's rich yet snobby ex-boyfriend, Hardy Jenns, who makes plans to get even.

“Before they could stand together, they had to stand alone.”

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Cast

Eric Stoltz
Keith Nelson
Mary Stuart Masterson
Watts
Lea Thompson
Amanda Jones
Chynna Phillips
Mia
Craig Sheffer
Hardy Jenns
John Ashton
Cliff Nelson
Elias Koteas
Skinhead
Maddie Corman
Laura Nelson

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Howard Deutch
Writers: John Hughes
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 6

ERA

Did you know

39 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 6

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Howard Deutch, shot by Jan Kiesser. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 6

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Bud S. Smith shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 6

CAST

Did you know

Eric Stoltz and Mary Stuart Masterson and Lea Thompson carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 6

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "Before they could stand together, they had to stand alone.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 6

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0094006 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Howard Deutch directs. Jan Kiesser behind the camera. Bud S. Smith cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

139 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2Directed by Howard Deutch, shot by Jan Kiesser. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
3Editor Bud S. Smith shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
4Eric Stoltz and Mary Stuart Masterson and Lea Thompson carry the top of the cast.
5Marketing tagline: "Before they could stand together, they had to stand alone.".
6IMDB entry: tt0094006 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
7Classified under 16 themes, including "high school", "ex-boyfriend", "bully", "teen movie".

The technical file

Cinematography: Jan Kiesser
Editing: Bud S. Smith
Production design: Josan F. Russo
Costume design: Marilyn Vance
Makeup / hair: Marina Pedraza
Sound: Robert 'Buzz' Knudson
Runtime: 95 min · 1h 35m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.78:1 (16:9)
Status: Released
Box office: $18,553,948
Original language: EN
Certification (US): PG-13
IMDB: Some Kind of Wonderful (1987)

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Howard Deutch

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Community reviews

What people are saying

John Chard2018-10-10
★ 9/10
It must be a drag to be a slave to the male sex drive. Keith Nelson, much to everyone else's surprise, lands a date with Amanda Jones, the most popular girl in school. But with Amanda comes trouble in the form of the ex-boyfriend, Hardy Jenns. A rich spoilt egotistical bully, Jenns plans to get back at Keith violently. While things are further complicated by the fact that Keith's best friend Watts is hopelessly in love with him, something that Keith is oblivious too. All roads, rocky or otherwise, are leading to one house party where lives are about to be changed. Released a year after Pretty In Pink, writer John Hughes further cemented his status as the king of teenage angst with this funny, charming and entertaining picture. Following a similar formula to that used in Pretty In Pink, Some Kind Of Wonderful deals not only in young love thematics, but also in opposites breaking down barriers, bullies and the spectre of parental pressure. Keith (Eric Stoltz) is from humble working class stock, the idea of dating the more affluent Amanda (Lea Thompson) would seem idiotic at best. The characters may move in different circles, but Hughes, as is his want, thrusts the issue to the front whilst dangling little strands in the background. Time is given to the father (an impressive John Ashton) and son axis, where career pressure is raised. And the delightful old chestnut of fitting in at school, or not as the case may be as regards Watts (a tremendous and sensual Mary Stuart Masterton) is also putting in an appearance. It's often forgotten in Hughes "angsty" films, that they aren't merely love stories for the young and restless. They are all encompassing pieces that hold up better than ever on revisits today. Yes there is pandering to certain expectations, and yes the endings never veer away from a tried and trusted method. But Hughes knew what worked for him and his audience. That he never attempted to insult us (them) with sledgehammer tactics, or trick of the twist dallying, is really rather refreshing when viewing them today. Some Kind Of Wonderful is quite simply a wonderful film, with great comedy (check out the fabulous Elias Koteas) and a banging soundtrack, it ranks as one of the finest efforts crafted from the pen of a very fine writer. 9/10
Wuchak2019-07-27
★ 7/10
Working class boy, rich dream girl and faithful tomboy friend in Southern Cal Keith (Eric Stoltz) is a high school senior in Los Angeles wherein he fights with his little sister (Maddie Corman) and is pestered by his dad about going to college. He works at a gas station and his best friend is a tomboy, Watts (Mary Stuart Masterson), but he has his eyes set on a dream girl, Amanda (Lea Thompson). Craig Sheffer plays the rich stud nemesis, Hardy. Writer John Hughes was known for those mid-80’s high school films, like “Sixteen Candles,” “The Breakfast Club,” “Pretty in Pink” and “Ferris Bueller's Day Off.” Unsuccessful when it was released in 1987, “Some Kind of Wonderful” ended his foray in the genre and he would go on to popular comedies with John Candy and Chevy Chase. This movie is interesting in that it includes elements of “Pretty in Pink” (1986) and, indeed, features the ending that was intended for that movie, which the studio forced him to alter. Hughes even wanted Molly Ringwald for the role of Amanda, but she refused and Hughes took it personally, which ended their working relationship. It’s about on par with “Pretty in Pink,” but I prefer the cast in this one, plus it’s more heartwarming. I’d watch it any day over the overrated “Breakfast Club,” yet it has its issues. For instance, some scenes have the same sense of unreality that marred “Pink” and Stoltz strikes me as too confident, charismatic and good-looking for the role of a guy that is rudely ignored by the popular girls. This would’ve never happened at my school, working class or not. The movie runs 1 hour, 35 minutes, and was shot in Los Angeles. GRADE: B/B-
JPV8522021-02-18
★ 8/10
After watching this, felt like a reverse version of Pretty in Pink only to find out afterward this was John Hughes's attempt to rectify the ending. I actually enjoyed this a lot more as I found the chemistry with the leads to be better (to me, Lea Thompson is an upgrade over Molly Ringwald). Eric Stoltz was great with both Thompson and Masterson. Also had some fun subversion of expectations, particularly with Elias Koteas' punk character turning out to be an okay guy, plus John Ashton as the father was nice that he just wasn't the stereotypical jackass they tend to be in these teen movies. Not sure where this ranks compared with other John Hughes films, but it's a solid entertaining time. 3.75/5