Pretty in Pink

Directed by Howard Deutch, Pretty in Pink details the love triangle that ensues between Molly Ringwald popular Andie, Andrew McCarthy’s wealthy Blane, and Jon Cryer’s dorky Duckie. It’s familiar subject matter that’s employed to sometimes sluggish yet mostly satisfying effect by Deutch, as the filmmaker, working from a screenplay by John Hughes, delivers a meandering comedy that benefits from its smattering of memorable sequences and solid selection of affable performances – with, in terms of the latter, Deutch eliciting compelling, sympathetic work from his trio of personable stars. (There’s little doubt, ultimately, that James Spader’s scene-stealing turn as Blane’s obnoxious and super-smug best friend remains an ongoing highlight within the proceedings.) And while Hughes’ lackadaisical screenplay does contain a handful of lulls, Pretty in Pink’s overall impact and forward momentum is enhanced by the inclusion of several attention-grabbing interludes and set-pieces – with this particularly true of Duckie’s impromptu lipsync performance of Otis Redding’s “Try a Little Tenderness” and an emotional encounter between Andie and her father (a thoroughly impressive Harry Dean Stanton). By the time the satisfying prom finale rolls around, Pretty in Pink has lived up to its reputation as a superior teen movie that is, admittedly, maybe not quite as flawless as one might’ve hoped.

*** out of ****