In 1988, Lea Thompson won the Young Artist Award for "Best Young Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama" for her performance in the film.This month marks the 30th anniversaries of both the release of "Some Kind of Wonderful ," the last teen movie written by the genres' 1980s svengali John Hughes, and the relationship between the film's director Howard Deutch and star Lea Thompson, who met on set and began dating around the time of the "Wonderful" premiere. However, Richard Schickel from Time criticized it film for being unrealistic. Mary Stuart Masterson's performance in the film was singled out for praise by several critics. Roger Ebert praised the film, calling it " worthwhile and entertaining" while Janet Maslin of The New York Times stated that the movie is the " much-improved, recycled version of the Pretty in Pink story". Rotten Tomatoes reported that 80% of critics gave "Some Kind of Wonderful" a positive rating, based on 35 reviews. "Some Kind of Wonderful" debuted at #6 at the box office, grossing $18,553,948 during its opening weekend with an average of $3,222. The extras in the film that played the "bad kids" in the detention scene were actually football players from various high schools in the area & were chosen mostly because they could tower over the actors and look menacing. The high school scenes were filmed at San Pedro High School and Keith's house was filmed in Wilmington, California. The scenes were filmed in Los Angeles, California at the Hollywood Bowl and the restaurant Koi (which was formerly called L'Ermitage Restaurant located on North La Cienega Boulevard). The role of Keith Nelson was written with actor Eric Stoltz in mind for the part.įilming began on Augand ended October of 1986. Hughes named the three main protagonists of the movie as an inside-joke tribute to the Rolling Stones (Amanda Jones, named after a song of the same name which is played in the film), a drummer named Watts and a character called Keith who was named after Keith Richards). Koteas improvised much of his lines & actions in the movie and in the scene where Duncan puts his head on Amanda's shoulder, Lea Thompson's surprised laugh was real. Lea Thompson had originally turned down the role, but she her mind when the role was offered to her a second time after the film she had just starred in the 1986 film Howard the Duck.Įlias Koteas was discovered by Hughes auditioning for the 1988 film She's Having a Baby and it was at his suggestion that Koteas would be cast in the role of Duncan. Hughes also wanted Molly Ringwald to play the female lead role, but she declined the offer because she wanted to pursue more adult roles which Hughes took personally & it ended their working relationship. Martha Coolidge was originally signed to direct "Some Kind of Wonderful", but she left shortly before production began and was replaced by Deutch. Watts asks Keith how they look, and he replies by saying, " You look good wearing my future".Īfter being less than thrilled with how his film Pretty in Pink ended, John Hughes decided to rewrite the story and even asking Howard Deutch (who had directed "Pretty in Pink") to direct the new film. Keith gives Watts the earrings after she admitted she wanted them the whole time, and Keith jokes that Watts knew she was going to get them and she says that she hoped, but she didn't know.
Keith catches up to Watts and they kiss and Keith confesses to Watts that he had no idea how she really felt about him & Watts playfully replies to him that he's stupid and that she always knew that he was stupid. Keith then realizes that he is in love with Watts, so he bids Amanda goodbye with a kiss on the cheek, after she encourages him to go after Watts. In the end, Amanda decides that she needs to learn to stand on her own and gives back the earrings that Keith gave to her.
Keith tells Jenns he is "over" her and Amanda slaps Jenns's face. Keith finds out about the plot, believing Amanda to be part of it, but decides to go ahead with the date anyway, spending the rest of his college money on an expensive dinner and roping in Watts (as chauffeur) to help make the date special.Īt Hardy's party, the timely arrival of other "misfits" saves Keith from being beaten up. Meanwhile, Amanda's rich ex-boyfriend, Hardy Jenns plots trouble for Keith by inviting him and Amanda to a party after their date. Keith later uses his college fund to buy a pair of earrings for Amanda.
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Watts tells Keith that Amanda will need a good kisser & she shows him how to kiss which makes Keith confused for his feelings for both Watts and Amanda. Working class high school students Keith Nelson and Watts are good friends, but after Keith asks out Amanda Jones, the most popular girl in school, Watts realizes her feelings for him are much deeper. Spoiler warning: The following contains plot details about