Singles

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: September 18, 2002

DVD Release Date: February 3, 1999

Plot 411: Seattle. 1990s. People looking for love or the closest thing to it.

Review: This movie starring, Bridget Fonda, Campbell Scott, Kyra Sedgwick and Matt Dillon, could almost be a real excerpt from the early '90s. From the clothes (grunge) to the music (grunge) to the locale (Seattle = home of grunge), it's a time capsule that we can all use to see into the past and remember what it used to be like. In the lifelong quest for love, the movie takes us through the characters' lives as they work and play with one another. In a faux documentary style, the characters (Janet, Steve, Linda and Cliff respectively), walk us through their thoughts and feelings on love and relationships. Most of the characters live in the same apartment building, which you already know is bad news. The misconceptions that men and women have, the games they play and the bad advice from friends all make this film entertaining to watch. To play games or be straightforward? To call the next day? Four days from now? A week later? To smile or not to smile? Look back over or ignore him? All of these seemingly mundane questions are part of dating - then and now. The problems that arise are also universal across time and place. Also featured or playing a cameo in this film are Bill Pullman, Eric Stoltz, Tom Skeritt, Paul Giamatti and Jeremy Piven.

Watch It: For the long hair, torn up jeans, funny hats and coffee.

Skip It: Because the plot drags a bit despite the awesome soundtrack.

Some Kind Of Wonderful

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: February 27, 1987

DVD Release Date: August 20, 2002

Plot 411: A story of teen angst involving a tomboy who is in love with her best friend.

Review: This is a John Hughes film that I wasn't familiar with until watching He's Just Not That Into You. It's used in the dialogue and there's a small clip in the film so I figured I'd watch the movie to get the whole picture. It was surprisingly good because the characters were all pretty complex, especially for a teen film. The movie stars Mary Stuart Masterson as Watts, a tomboy who is in love with her best friend Keith (Eric Stoltz). Both live their high school lives outside the popular kid's club and are from the wrong side of the tracks. However, Keith is intrigued with Amanda (Lea Thompson), who has been accepted into the club because she's pretty. This is one of those films about searching for one's identity, growing up amidst peer pressure, longing and teen angst. Despite this, the characters, especially the three main ones, are fully developed and you can picture them in kids you grew up with. Their problems, although not particularly important to anyone but them, are issues that all teens face. At the time, these problems are critical to your survival and may seem powerful enough to kill you. I like that the movie doesn't demean teens by downplaying the crucial nature of these life experiences. Again, Hughes seems to capture a time in everyone's lives that usually becomes idyllic or completely forgotten with age and recreates the highly charged atmosphere that was growing up.

Watch It: For a snippet of John Hughes brilliance.

Skip It: If Pretty In Pink and Sixteen Candles is enough teen angst to last a lifetime.