hese have to be two of the most mythic prototype 80's characters. As girls swooned for them on the theatres, guys like me thought they were pretty cool and wished we looked like them, well Jake (Schoeffling) more so. Althought Lloyd(Cusack probably had Jake beat in the cool department. Lloyd Dobler seemed a bit more of an actual believable character as the overcoats, the quirkiness, the indecision of career and the kick boxing brought him a little closer to earth than super jock Jake Ryan. But Jake gets points for trying to shed his high maintenance cheerleader girlfriend and get Samantha.Both Jake and lloyd seem to go to lengths to get their girls, although I don't think Jake could match that huge excalamation point of that radio being held up. I mean it's close, Jake appearing that the church was classic too. I guess reading the great article jessica posted brought this on. It's a tough decision with Jake's character not being as developed as Lloyd, but I think I will take Lloyd in a 12 round decision.
Posted by JimBrayFan (Member # 3831) on :
I think I would have to go with Jake Ryan.. for starters his car was much cooler (sue me! I'm shallow, lol.) Seriously, the whole Lloyd Dobler "my goal is to be with your daughter" schtick is cute but eventually you have to figure out what you want to do in life. Jake seems like the type of guy who's got career goals and aspirations.
Posted by Ali_with_an_i (Member # 27) on :
Listen, Jake is HOT! and that's all I have to say about that...
Posted by Riptide (Member # 457) on :
Yes, maybe Jake is or was hot, but did he make Diane Court feel safe when they were goinfg on the plane in the end of Say Anything?
Posted by Brode (Member # 3732) on :
Jake Ryan is an early Hughes character. Lloyd Dobler was a growth-era Crowe character, that was largely based on Crowe himself. Jake Ryan is a type of character that Hughes eventually worked to a science (and made better versions of). Lloyd Dobler is often called the greatest male teen character of all-time... why? Because an aimless, lovestruck teen going against all odds connects with alot more male teens than a handsome jock who wants to date a girl that he normally wouldn't.
Also the fact that I don't really understand Jake Ryan's motivation, which is a problem in alot of Hughes movies.
Posted by mamamiasweetpeaches (Member # 1715) on :
Jake Ryans "motivation" was that he was the stereo-typed Perfect rich Kid...with the perfect house, the perfect car...and thus HAD to have the perfect girlfriend. He realized that the whole "Perfect" thing (especially the girlfriend ) was shallow. He wanted to be more down to Earth and pursue what he wanted and not what was expected of him.
He's a total babe and has a soft side. He wins in my book.
Posted by Brode (Member # 3732) on :
But why would he realize it's shallow? Why does he want to be more down to earth? Why would he even care if it was shallow?
Posted by Jessie the Sunflower Goddess (Member # 1877) on :
As of the 80s there was really is no comparison. It was Jake hands down. Now that this comparison has been made I feel that maybe LLoyd is more of the logical choice. I guess as we get older our aspects on "just looks" changes.
Now do not get me wrong by any means because Jake was a definate genuine character that many of us have fallen in love with over and over again. He is the type of guy that we all looked for as our Mr. Right. But I guess to some of us it is apparent that he may just not be out there. I guess that leaves the Lloyds of the world.
I have never thought that Lloyd Dobler was a drop dead gorgeous guy, but don't get me wrong again, he is a definate genuine character that may be more tangible in real life. I know for myself that it isn't about looks but rather about how someone can make you feel and what kinds of things that you have in common.
Jake is the fantasy and Lloyd is probablly the real thing. Why is it that we always want the Jake over the Lloyd?? That is a question that I struggle with every day.
Excellent topic Riptide, thanks!!!!!
Posted by Ali_with_an_i (Member # 27) on :
We choose Jake because there are more girls like Samantha Baker, than there are drop dead whats-her-name gorgeous blondes that always get the guy.
For non-super model types, which most of us are, we loved the thought that the gorgeous perfect man jock what give us a look.
The movie made us believe that every girl is good enoug and her dream guy IS out there. Maybe he doesn't have money or look like Jake Ryan, but just knowing that the fantasy may be possible gives hope to all the dreamers.
I know I've found my Jake Ryan, and I truly wouldn't give him up for the real thing, because I have the real thing. Posted by Ali_with_an_i (Member # 27) on :
Wow my spelling has gone to H***!
Posted by Jessie the Sunflower Goddess (Member # 1877) on :
I am really happy for you Ali, Congratulations and good luck on your life together.
Posted by Riptide (Member # 457) on :
If you and Jake had a son together would you name him Bryan Ryan? Would Long Duk Don be best man?
Posted by Ali_with_an_i (Member # 27) on :
No, I'd name him "Sammy Baker Davis Jr." Got it? Good.
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