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3 weeks ago
How "Pretty in Pink" Made Me Cry
Disclaimer: This may or may not be writing-related. We'll see.
Yes, you may have noticed my John Hughes obsession this week. Two days ago I talked about The Breakfast Club and now I'm going to tackle the film "Pretty in Pink". So bear with me because I absolutely LOVE this movie and it's probably my favorite out of all the John Hughes' films.High School senior Andie Walsh lives on the "wrong side of the tracks" with her unemployed father who is still devastated by his broken marriage. Phil "Duckie" Dale is Andie's bestfriend, who happens to be in love with her but plays this off as a joke in front of Andie because he doesn't know how to tell her of his feelings. But Andie falls in love with Blane Donough, who is one of the rich, preppy kids in her school, and in turn, Blane falls for Andie. The "richie" kids (Blane's friends) discourage Blane from dating Andie, and Duckie gets mad with Andie for dating Blane. Classic West Side Story front, though no one dies in this one.
When Blane starts believing his friends and begins avoiding Andie, even going as far as breaking off their prom date, Andie grieves for awhile, knowing full well that the reason for Blane's distance was due to her economic circumstance. Nevertheless, she goes to the prom with a dress she made herself to show them "that they can't break me". Duckie escorts her in, and Blane realizes what a fool he'd been all along. He tells her that he'd always love her, that he believed in her but didn't believe in himself, and then he walks away. Andie finds him in the parking lot and they kiss. So.
Wai-i-i-t... you thought I cried over the part where Blane broke up with Andie? Uh, no. See, I'm the kind of person who roots for the underdogs. The brokenhearted. The downtrodden. If I could wield a hammer (ala Thor style), I could totally be their champion. So, I cried for DUCKIE.
Yep, you read that right. When Duckie was in Andie's room talking to himself, about how much he loved "this woman" and then he started singing, I mean...gosh darn it. The poor kid had always been devoted to Andie. I mean, sure he's cheesy, and a tad bit annoying, and though I knew...I KNEW...that it wasn't was NEVER going to turn into an Andie-Duckie love story, I still felt for the boy. Ahhhh...so much for unrequited love.
I also cried at the scene between Andie and her father, when Andie realized that her dad never got the job and yet there he was, giving her this pink dress so she could make something out of it to wear to the prom. When Andie confronted her dad, it came out how he was still mourning his marriage. How he loved Andie's mom who didn't love him enough to stay with them. And how this was affecting his life--part of the reason why he wouldn't go and get a job. He'd been hoping that life would somehow go back to the way it was before, only it wasn't going to. Ever. Sigh, sigh. So much for betrayed love.
And then there's Blane. I really DISLIKED him when he listened to his rich friend what's-his-name and began to ignore Andie's phone calls. Good thing I didn't have Thor's hammer or I probably would have accidentally thrown it at him. Or more precisely, at the TV. Which wouldn't have been good at all. (Um, honey, yeah...I'm really sorry for breaking your HD Plasma Widescreen 60" TV...) He was a guy who , at first glance, seemed to have nothing to lose. He could've been a jerk and walked away from the relationship and it wouldn't have been as devastating for him as it would have been for Andie. So yeah, boo! But he redeemed himself, and he really did love Andie, so it's ok. :)
The best thing about the movie (and I think I can relate this to writing *high five!*) is Andie's character. She is a strong but sympathetic protagonist. She knows what she wants, she has morals, and she values the important things. I loved her relationship with her father, how she took care of him and loved him unconditionally. Andie was a girl who could think for herself. No pansy-schmancy here.
And this makes her a well-developed character. I'm not saying that protagonists have to be all butt-kicking, warrior-like Xenas to prove that they are made of tough stuff. It's the inner growth that counts. When Andie, despite her heartbreak, went to the prom to show them that the richie kids haven't broken down her spirit, I was applauding for her.
As you can tell, I really got emotionally invested in the film. If your book or characters can do that to me too, then you're doing something right. ;)
Let your characters grow, give them depth, and make them relatable. Give them spirit, give them life. And yes, they don't have to wield a hammer, they can be pretty in pink.
;)
And this makes her a well-developed character. I'm not saying that protagonists have to be all butt-kicking, warrior-like Xenas to prove that they are made of tough stuff. It's the inner growth that counts. When Andie, despite her heartbreak, went to the prom to show them that the richie kids haven't broken down her spirit, I was applauding for her.
As you can tell, I really got emotionally invested in the film. If your book or characters can do that to me too, then you're doing something right. ;)
Let your characters grow, give them depth, and make them relatable. Give them spirit, give them life. And yes, they don't have to wield a hammer, they can be pretty in pink.
;)
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- Precy Larkins
- I'm a YA writer who loves to read. Also a mom of 3. My life is crazy but always fun. :) I'm a member of The YA Club, a group blog about YA books. You can also find me blogging at: http://precylarkins.wordpress.com Represented by the lovely Julia A. Weber of J. A. Weber Literaturagentur GmbH. Thanks for stopping by! Email me: writercherie@gmail.com
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15 comments:
I liked the movie, too. I read somewhere, sometime, that originally Andi end up with Duckie but the preview audiences didn't go for it so they rewrote the ending.
I've never seen this movie, but now I'm interested. I would totally cry for Duckie too becasue I'm like that. I love a movie that stands by you through the years :)
This is definitely my favorite John Hughes film. My sisters and I watched it so many times we memorized every word of the script and the soundtrack. I love strong but flawed characters, and that's exactly what Andie is. She's strong, but she still longs to be part of the "rich" crowd. She's smart, but she doesn't see how much Duckie is in love with her. I absolutely love Pretty in Pink. Thanks for reminding me why. :)
John Hughes = genius.
When I need a synopsis for my current WIP, I'm handing it over to you. WOW! You summed that up beautifully.
Don't forget the amazing Miss Annie Potts (Iona, the punk rock music store manager and Andie's boss). She WAS the movie for me. I still remember loving how darling she looked when she started dating the "normal" guy and rolled out in her jeans and plaid top. "Applause, applause, applause".
Applause to you, my dear friend, for another brilliant post about another brilliant movie. Next up for you: SOME KIND OF WONDERFUL (this will put PRETTY IN PINK to shame...just sayin)
O-M-G!! I looooved "Pretty in Pink"!!
I had the biggest crush on Andrew McCarthy and I was green with envy of having a best friend like Duckie!
But I think you are spot-on as usual! I think doing something unexpected with the protagonist other than what is traditional or expected is what differentiate the mundane from the spectacular.
I'm with Bethany! Your summary rocks! I wasn't a Duckie fan for Andie b/c he was so darn annoying! He was pretty cute singing though. What JH film is next on your list?
I love your 80's posts...woot woot!
I loved this movie. Desperately wanted to work in a record store like TRAX. I'm drawn to any movie that has that theme. Plus, I absolutely adore James Spader--he's a brilliant bad guy.
@Cheryl: Really? I didn't know that.
@Jen: You must watch it, then we can compare notes! ;)
@TS: I already loved you, but this makes me love you even more! I could go on and on about Pretty in Pink but I had to restrain myself 'cause the post was getting too long. ;)
@j.littlejohn: Yep. You are absolutely right!
@Bethany: Thanks again for introducing me to John Hughes. I'm glad you threatened to kick me out of your underpaid fan club if I didn't go and watch his films. ;D Some Kind of Wonderful, eh? Sounds like something I'd say about you. :)
@Sophie: He IS a cutie! ;) And who wouldn't like a bestfriend like Duckie--he's the kind of person who'll always be there come rain or shine.
@Mandie: Bethany said I need to watch Some Kind of Wonderful next. ;)
@Jessie: Hey girl! Glad you like 'em. ;)
@Julie: Oh yes, and I loved Andie's friend Iona too. She was so spunky-cool! James Spader aka Steff was a brilliant bad guy because he had a secret motive: he wanted Andie for himself. Great villain!
Great Blog! Love it!!!
Lola x
http://lola-x.blogspot.com
Greetings from the Amish community of Lebanon,Pa. Richard from Amish Stories.
Yay! I love that you cried for Duckie! SO DID I. Swoon. Such an awesome movie. I need to rent this one again. Great post, sparkly!
Pretty in Pink is my favorite too (fine minds think alike ;-)! I also agree with Bethany--you ROCK the synopsis! Do you realize how hard that is for some people, lol?? Oh, and I LOVED Iona--I wish I was brave enough to be thirty-something and that spunky ;o)
I love the scene when Duckie is in the record store lip singing "Try a little Tenderness" every time I hear that song (I have it on my iPod. Otis Redding) I think of that scene. Awesome. Great post Cherie! I'm glad you are watching John Hughes movies, he is the bomb. Now you have to watch "Not Another Teen Movie" and enjoy the spoofiness! :)
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