"Someday my wish is for him to hold me in his arms...in a sea of deep blue...together at last, together as two."
Never underestimate the African Anteater Ritual. Donald, I mean Ronald Miller is a high school geek who's about to enter his senior year and longs for acceptance as one of the "cool kids". His next-door neighbor is Cindy Mancini the head cheerleader and one of the most popular girls in school, but she doesn't even know that Ronald exists. When she accidently ruins her mom's expensive suede outfit and can't afford to replace it, Ronald offers up the $1,000 needed to replace it, with one catch.. she will have to pretend to date him for one month.
"Can't Buy Me Love" is one of my all-time favorite movies. The cast is 80's geek to chic.. Patrick Dempsey, Amanda Peterson, Courtney Gains, Tina Caspary, Darcy DeMoss, and Gerardo Mejía to name a few.
The movie has it all for 80's fans.. fashion, music, romance, and so many quotable lines that I can't even begin to give them justice.
One of my fav scenes is after Ronnie annihilates Cindy and she tells him to "stay yourself"... and then the following occurs:
"Me change? Never."
(Then we see Ronnie busting through the doors at school the next morning)
"That's right! I'm here! Ha, ha! Feelin' good. Hey, babes. Good to see ya... (Ronnie suddenly spots a video camera) Mom, Dad, send money please... I'm broke."
What makes "Can't Buy Me Love" so 80's awesome in my opinion is all the great supporting roles.. Rock, Chuckie, Big John, Quint, and Fran were all excellent additions to the cast.
You don't see the tunes from "Can't Buy Me Love" mentioned very often, but the soundtrack has a great mixture of popular and 80's obscure tracks. Here's a sample:
1. Can't Buy Me Love ~ The Beatles 2. One Lover At A Time ~ Atlantic Starr 3. Living In A Box ~ Living in a Box 4. Misfit ~ Curiosity Killed The Cat 5. Actress ~ Randy Hall 6. As Long As I Can Last ~ Randy Hall 7. All Night Long ~ Randy Hall 8. Heart's Radio ~The Blue Sparks From Hell 9. Don't Wanna Be Your Fool ~ Brittan 10. Burnin' ~ Rebel Faction 11. Dancin' With Myself ~ Billy Idol
For people that truly appreciate "Can't Buy Me Love".. they totally know that this flick is:
Outrageous!
[ 19. April 2010, 05:53: Message edited by: Valley ]
Posted by Valley (Member # 1322) on :
I would expect Cindy Mancini, Veronica Sawyer, and maybe several others to have a few choice words for this thread when they see it. Well, all I gotta say is:
"You ignored the Donald Miller dork for seventeen years. Now you wanna ride on the Ronnie Miller Express!" Posted by Nick (Member # 404) on :
"Star Sapphire Edition" !!! -Valley, you're a genius!!!
If ever there was a genuinely cool name for a CBML special edition DVD/Blu-ray, that would be it!
-You listening, Disney?!
Anyway, as my contribution to the "Star Sapphire Edition", I would like to exclusively give you what everyone would love to have... A sneak peek into Cindy Mancini's closet...
Notice how its just totally frozen in time... Quite bizarre.. Even the strange rainbow window blinds are the same as when filming took place.
The whole of Cindy Mancini's house is 'frozen in time' and the Rewind will give you a guided tour.. Soon... Posted by gordongecko (Member # 4685) on :
This was the first movie that I credit this site for me seeing. I had seen part of it when I was really young but didn't rememeber anything about it. I bought it becuase of peoples suggestions on here and just loved it! I think I watched it 3 times the first week I had the movie. Ha.
Thanks again for helping me find this movie!!
Posted by logan5 (Member # 1467) on :
Always loved this one. I think it manages to rise above its own cliches and budgetary constraints with some genuinely touching moments.
Nick, I won't even ask how you got that pic!
Posted by Kash (Member # 297) on :
Star Sapphire edition For a second there, I thought they'd actually shown this movie some love...its not like they wouldn't have any extras, either.
Can't Buy Me Love was a movie I discovered upon the recommendation of Rewinders, and of course my Wingman Valley who seems to love this flick almost as much he does Valley Girl. I thought it was an enjoyable, easy going romantic comedy; the kind they haven't made for a long time.
Looks a little worse for wear in that picture but by all accounts is well and doing fine.
Posted by Veronica Sawyer (Member # 2221) on :
Wow, Amanda Peterson looks pretty bad!!! Eeeek....anyway, I remember always seeing the preview for this movie whenever I would rent the VHS for adventures in babysitting but didn't actually see it until my freshman year of high school. I loved everything about it right away. I even got a vw rabbit convertible and fixed it up so it looked just like cindy's!
I know it's not supposed to be funny, but I've always laughed during the part when Courtney gains confronts Ronald at the arcade and says, "you $hit on my house!"
Also can't forget, "quinton is in, let the fun begin!"
Posted by Valley (Member # 1322) on :
Great stuff.. Kash .. loved the youtube interview.
Okay.. I spent the last several minutes on imdb sifting through the postings regarding the Amanda Peterson picture above. Did I miss out on how we know that is definitely her in the picture? I hate to be so skeptical, but that picture could be anyone.
If it really is her.. the story I just read is crushing.
Posted by Muffy Tepperman (Member # 1551) on :
quote:Originally posted by Valley: Great stuff.. Kash .. loved the youtube interview.
Okay.. I spent the last several minutes on imdb sifting through the postings regarding the Amanda Peterson picture above. Did I miss out on how we know that is definitely her in the picture? I hate to be so skeptical, but that picture could be anyone.
If it really is her.. the story I just read is crushing.
It kind of does look like her even the picture of the daughter. But I get what you mean Valley....CBML was 23 years ago man oh man doesn't seem like it.
It's on my favs..........I've seen it more then most of my favs and it was one of my first switch VHS to DVD's. Seth Green! haha Dempsey was lovable even when he was being an ***. Gains,Peterson........(Rico suave) haha When his video came out I only knew him from CBML and pictured him not shirtless but half shirtness! ha!
Awesome Classic.
Posted by Valley (Member # 1322) on :
"You nuked my brother. You took him from 'geek' status to 'king' status to no status."
Seth Green (can you believe that's him?) was hilarious in CBML. Only thing better was his performance in "Can't Hardly Wait".
Speaking of Rico Suave aka Gerardo Mejia aka Ricky .. he says that there is apparently a CBML Reunion in the works. My hope is that means a "Can't Buy Me Love" Blu-ray with a cast commentary.
Posted by Muffy Tepperman (Member # 1551) on :
I always remember the doll chopping and his laugh his laugh! I heart Seth!
Posted by Bamersy (Member # 8808) on :
Can't Hardly Wait! "Why you gotta waste my flava?" The welcome screen on my cell has "Peace Out G!"
[ 20. April 2010, 17:40: Message edited by: Bamersy ]
Posted by cindymancini (Member # 679) on :
Wow, Valley, I'm so flattered that you started this thread! Haha...just kidding but couldn't you hear Cindy say something like this in her pre-Ronald Miller days...exactly!
In all honestly, love the posts here! This movie remains one of my all time favorites! And the Star Sapphire Edition part is brilliant !!
To join in the fun, I've decided to add some more pics ! I'm really curious as to where Nick found pics of the inside of Cindy's house now!! Hmmm...show us more please!!
"Cindy, I need you to be more mature like the Miller boy." "Oh mother, get serious..."
[ 24. April 2010, 02:12: Message edited by: cindymancini ]
Posted by cindymancini (Member # 679) on :
Valley, you've inspired me to fall asleep watching this movie tonight ! It never gets old!!
Queue the Atlantic Starr...
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 and 1-2
Arms up! Yes!!!
Haha...sorry I broke into cheer practice, just doing what I do best besides shopping & hanging out !!
Posted by Nick (Member # 404) on :
Originally posted by logan5: Nick, I won't even ask how you got that pic!
-=Expanded For the Star Sapphire Edition=-
In a nutshell, I just pitched up at the house, introduced myself as being from the Rewind and explained to them that "the world needs to know..."
It really was a 'weird' experience to wander round Cindy's house because NOTHING had changed -and I mean NOTHING (including the decoration throughout, the kitchen etc) - apart from the front door had apparently been replaced with one that was near identical and the set dressing was gone, obviously. Turns out that the house is subject to some sort of deliberate 'conservation' that goes back way before CBML was filmed even.
At one point I was in a hallway on the way to Cindy's mom's room/closet and I'm using the portable DVD player to verify angles etc so I can take matching pics and I look down from my view of the real hall to the DVD screen and Cindy is walking towards me down the same hall (remember those shots and the music after Rock has picked up her mom), that is still identical, which hasn't been repainted since and still has the same marks on the paint etc. It was like looking at video playback of a shot filmed 30 seconds ago.. Not 13 years!
And then it hit me... I'm actually standing in Cindy Mancini's house..! All those times I've watched the movie... And now I'm right here. It felt, just for one weird moment, like I was inside the movie! I could just reach out and touch the very same surfaces I've seen all those times... So weird...
Footnote: Its lucky that I had the CBML DVD in a portable player handy and that it had a disney logo at the beginning or things may have turned out rather 'different', but that's another story...
"I was just in your closet the other day and don't remember seeing this..."
[ 21. April 2010, 08:07: Message edited by: Nick ]
Posted by Nick (Member # 404) on :
quote:Originally posted by cindymancini: just doing what I do best besides shopping & hanging out !!
"I think you're very talented... You can do whatever you put your mind and your heart into. I believe that."
Posted by cindymancini (Member # 679) on :
"Well let's just keep this between us, okay? For life or longer?"
Posted by Secret Admirer (Member # 3574) on :
This is probably in my top 10 movies. You've all already mentioned so many of the reasons it's great, but one little thing I love is when "Certain Things Are Likely" is playing during the pool scene. I love the soundtracks to these darn movies I tell ya!
Posted by Valley (Member # 1322) on :
Nick.. your expanded posting just described exactly how I feel when I visit a filming location. I get some of those same emotions when I actually just watch the movie, but finding a virtually unchanged filming location is an incredible experience in my opinion. It is a connection with the movie that almost makes you feel apart of the original film. I love the idea of taking a portable DVD player to match up the shots from the movie versus today. Something I have never done in the past, but will definitely think about moving forward.
My real question though Nick.. was Cindy Mancini's lawn still in Ronald Miller pristine condition or has it kinda gone downhill since Ronnie went off to college and Chuckie took over?
Posted by Nick (Member # 404) on :
quote:Originally posted by Valley: I love the idea of taking a portable DVD player to match up the shots from the movie versus today. Something I have never done in the past, but will definitely think about moving forward.
Oh, it's a must.. I used to go without too... But I found two things:
I often found that my memory of the angles etc was slightly faulty when I returned with my pictures
PLUS, I nearly always found when re-watching the DVD after seeing a location that they'd used it either for other scenes or in some other cunning way that didn't occur to me until I saw it again.
So now, I look at the DVD while I'm there and it just makes the whole process work better The portable DVD player I use was a super-cheap one from a supermarket that was like 30 dollars.
It also opens doors... Like the example of Cindy Mancini's house... You politely show the owner and they understand and become interested. At the very least they realise that you're not there to rob them!
In that case, the house is a community clubhouse (and I had written to the adminstrators in advance too..) But they hadn't yet replied. So, I was left with the option of trying to convince the housekeeper...
quote:Originally posted by Valley: My real question though Nick.. was Cindy Mancini's lawn still in Ronald Miller pristine condition or has it kinda gone downhill since Ronnie went off to college and Chuckie took over?
Hehe.. The lawn and the house was in spectacular condition... Mainly because Chuckie had been fired long ago Posted by Pyromantic (Member # 7658) on :
this movie's ok....has it's moments
Posted by Adam Larson (Member # 8872) on :
The scene at Lunch with the bat is EPIC! my favorite 80s movie scene by leaps and bounds!
Posted by Muffy Tepperman (Member # 1551) on :
Just watched this again last night with a buddy who's 21 and had never seen it before! she loved it!!! She of course is in love with Dempsey from Grey's Anatomy...I do give her credit because when she house sat for me last year she watched LoverBoy and Happy Together. I may have danced a bit of the African Anteater and may of gotten laughed at Such a classic!
Posted by logan5 (Member # 1467) on :
quote:Originally posted by Muffy Tepperman: Just watched this again last night with a buddy who's 21 and had never seen it before! she loved it!!! She of course is in love with Dempsey from Grey's Anatomy...I do give her credit because when she house sat for me last year she watched LoverBoy and Happy Together. I may have danced a bit of the African Anteater and may of gotten laughed at Such a classic!
Keep teaching the youngsters! I'm still trying to get a colleague to watch Back to the Future! The irony is he really likes both the movies Robert Zemeckis made on either side of it! Grrr! Just sit down and eat your greens!
Posted by Valley (Member # 1322) on :
Cindy Mancini's sharing that she purchased the Steinberg print of 9th Avenue that Blair had hanging next to her bed in the tv show "The Facts of Life" .. has inspired me.
I just went to a shop that does school letter jackets and they are going to custom make me the "Outrageous" from Cindy Mancini's bedroom wall.
I've been talking about doing it for years, so consider it done!
Posted by Muffy Tepperman (Member # 1551) on :
Are you serious Valman?
Where's it going to hang? in your teenage girls bedroom? hehee i'm playing.
I remember the butterflies from Cindy's wall but I totally outrageously don't remember the outrageous!
I always thought it was cool she had a daybed because I had a white and brass daybed growing up!
Valley you want my daybed? !
Posted by Valley (Member # 1322) on :
I didn't say that I was recreating Cindy Mancini's entire bedroom .. but now that you mention it.. that would be awesome!
I actually have one of the guestrooms in my house that is set-up like an 80's kid's room for when my niece visits. So her room just might be "Outrageous" now. What do you think?
Posted by Muffy Tepperman (Member # 1551) on :
I think that's awesome and outrageous Valley!!! Posted by cindymancini (Member # 679) on :
quote:Originally posted by Valley: I didn't say that I was recreating Cindy Mancini's entire bedroom .. but now that you mention it.. that would be awesome!
I actually have one of the guestrooms in my house that is set-up like an 80's kid's room for when my niece visits. So her room just might be "Outrageous" now. What do you think?
I think you're the most awesome uncle ever!!! Nice work!!
Posted by Veronica Sawyer (Member # 2221) on :
Valley, you have to get the life sized poster of Bobby now too Posted by Secret Admirer (Member # 3574) on :
Valley, you have to get the white suede outfit too.
Posted by Veronica Sawyer (Member # 2221) on :
I used to have a VW rabbit convertible that my dad restored to look just like Cindy's. It rocked! I wish we hadn't sold it Posted by logan5 (Member # 1467) on :
quote:I didn't say that I was recreating Cindy Mancini's entire bedroom .. but now that you mention it.. that would be awesome!
Especially if it was complete with Cindy Mancini!
[ 31. December 2010, 23:31: Message edited by: logan5 ]
Posted by Burnett (Member # 9924) on :
I'm not crazy about this movie. Dempsey does well and it does have some moments that are very fun, but in the end it's a bit too clichéd for me. Plus, I don't really like movies with a morale at the end.
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
!! 
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
-Valley, you're a genius!!!
![[Cool]](cool.gif)
For a second there, I thought they'd actually shown this movie some love...its not like they wouldn't have any extras, either. 
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
!
![[Frown]](frown.gif)
