Some Kind Of Wonderful

Keith (Eric Stoltz) is not your typical student.

Unlike most kids at your average American school, he doesn't really fit into any established clique, because he shuns sport for art, his family are far too 'normal' to be either pompously rich or sickeningly poor, his academic achievements are average, his best friend Watts (Mary Stuart Masterson) is a drum-playing tomboy and he has the temerity to worship the 'in-crowd' pretty girl Amanda Jones (Lea Thompson) from afar.

Suddenly, this distance is closed when Thompson sees her overtly rich and slimy boyfriend Hardy Jenns (Craig Sheffer) for the scuzball he is and kind of falls into accepting a date with Stoltz to show Sheffer that she meant it when she dumped him. Although she soon regrets her impetuous act, it's now too late - she really has to go through with the date.

It's the action surrounding the date that really makes this movie shine - there's the disbelief of Thompson's friends when she passes on opportunities to ditch Stoltz. There's the incredulity of Stoltz's friends and family (especially his younger sister) that anyone, let alone Amanda Jones, would go out on a date with him. There's the attempt by Stoltz's father (played by John Ashton in a manner that makes you feel that if Homer Simpson was real, he would be just like this) to control his family and his anger when he discovers Stoltz has spent all his college money on a gift for his date. There's Stoltz's burgeoning friendship with the 'out' crowd, led wonderfully by the mis-understood skinhead Duncan (Elias Koteas). And most of all, there's the unstated but overpowering love that Masterson has for Stoltz, complicated further by her offer to drive on the night of the big date.

Of course, a scuzball like Hardy Jenns would never leave things alone when he's been slighted and so Sheffer starts plotting to get Thompson back,and have his 'heavies' pound Stoltz into the bargain. Stoltz hears of this, but is still determined to go through with what could be his perfect date and so the scene is set for culmination of the movie, when everyone gets what they deserve (yes, even Duncan the Skinhead).