Sugar Sugar

On days when there isn’t one sweet morsel in the entire house, I have been known to head straight for the sugar bowl, or in my case, the Tupperware canister. Isn’t that weird? But I figure, what the heck, why not go right to the saccharine source and assuage this ‘sugar jones.’ Besides, it’s not like I just scoop out handfuls with my greedy fingers (I use a dainty spoon :) )

“Love’s a Bitch, Duck.”

Even though I’ve seen it numerous times and recently purchased it at discount on DVD, I am hopelessly devoted to “Pretty in Pink.” I pretty much love any John Hughes teen angst flick but I think this is my all time fav.

“Young Andie is one of the not-so-popular girls in high school. She usually hangs out with her friends Iona (Annie Potts) or Duckie (Jon Cryer). Duckie has always had a crush on her, but now she has met a new guy from school, Blane (Andrew McCarthy). He's one of the rich and popular guys but can the two worlds meet?”

The original ending to this film depicted Duckie getting the girl, however the test audiences said they would have preferred to see Blane win Andie's heart and so he does. Jon Cryer plays a funny, cute nerdy guy who upon getting shoved into the girl’s bathroom and spying a dispenser of unknown origin, loudly complains that the boys room doesn’t possess a candy machine. But as deep as Duckie’s devotion is, it’s easy to see how Andie could get the hots for vulnerable, sweet-smiling Andrew McCarthy, the ‘richy’ who tools around in a BMW. Blane’s best bud is Stef (James Spader), who Andie sees right through and treats him accordingly. On a tragic note, Alexa Kenin, who played her buddy Jena, was murdered in New York City just after making this movie (filmed in 1985), and the flick is dedicated to her memory.

Much like high school IRL, things come to a crucial climax at the prom when Andie goes solo while proudly wearing this hideously cobbled together creation she euphemistically refers to as a ‘dress.’ Nothing says sexy like a shapeless Pepto Bismo-hued burlap sack monstrosity replete with puffy sleeves and a matching cloth choker. Yikes! Blane states a painful truth to Stef when he says: “You couldn't buy her, though, that's what's killing you, isn't it? Stef? That's it, Stef. She thinks you're shit, and deep down, you know she's right.” Soon thereafter, Blane leans in and coos to Andie: “I love you. Always.” He exits the dance and Andie rushes out, flinging herself into his waiting arms as they passionately kiss in the dark, rain-slicked parking lot under the streetlamp's approving glow.

If you want to relive those teenage triangles of days gone by, run out and rent (or promptly place in your Netflix queue) this nostalgic salute to the 80s.