Can't Buy Me Love (1987)

Director:

Steve Rash

Writer:

Michael Swerdlick (writer)

Release Date:

14 August 1987 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Ronald is making an investment in his senior year. He's hiring the prettiest cheerleader in school to be his girlfriend.

Plot:

Ronald Miller is tired of being a nerd, and makes a deal with one of the most popular girls in school to help him break into the "cool" clic...

Plot Keywords:

Money | Popularity | Poker Game | Cheerleader | Nerd

Awards:

1 win & 3 nominations

Cast

Patrick Dempsey	...	Ronald Miller
Amanda Peterson	...	Cindy Mancini
Courtney Gains	...	Kenneth Wurman
Tina Caspary	...	Barbara
Seth Green	...	Chuckie Miller
Sharon Farrell	...	Mrs. Mancini
Darcy DeMoss	...	Patty
Dennis Dugan	...	David Miller
Cloyce Morrow	...	Judy Miller
Devin DeVasquez	...	Iris
Cort McCown	...	Quint
Eric Bruskotter	...	Big John
Gerardo Mejía	...	Ricky
Ami Dolenz	...	Fran
Max Perlich	...	Lester

Also Known As:

Boy Rents Girl

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | UK:PG (cut version) | Australia:M | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | UK:15 | USA:PG-13 | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Hill Farm, Tucson, Arizona, USA

Company:

Apollo Pictures

Trivia:

The Airplane Graveyard/Boneyard is located just outside of Davis Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson.

Goofs:

Continuity: The license plate on Cindy Mancini's car disappears and reappears.

Quotes:

Patty: Like we're not supposed to know he's SPYING on us in his SPAZ-mobile.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Frasier: Can't Buy Me Love (#1.14)" (1994)

Soundtrack:

HEART'S RADIO

Underrated and charming 80's teen flick

Most 80's teen flicks leave a rather sick feeling in my stomach, but this one has always been a favorite despite the stereotypical shallow, big-haired girls and the Animal House wanna-be jocks. The difference is that the stars, Patrick Dempsey and Amanda Peterson, are not so stereotypical in their roles as lonely nerd and ultra-popular head cheerleader.

Patrick Dempsey has always been underrated as an actor with style, and it is unfortunate that his character, Ronald, is so unlikable after the film's premise kicks in. Ronald goes "from geek to chic" and back again. But Dempsey himself seems too inherently confident to really pull off the geek aspect believably, and he's too cruel to the girl whose heart he won for Ronald to be a truly sympathetic character. The hip version of Ronald, however, is a hoot to watch, even if it is somewhat overdone in the context of an already unlikely plot.

The standout in this film is Amanda Peterson, whose character Cindy has to be one of the most genuinely likeable "stuck up" high school girls on film. Watching her character grow and open her heart to Ronald is the main reason I've given this film repeated viewings. Although the genres are quite different, I'd compare Peterson's character to Renee Zellweger's character in Jerry MaGuire in terms of sheer likability. Making characters likeable is much more difficult than making them sympathetic, and I'm frankly shocked that Peterson's career did not skyrocket after this performance.

Whether you're looking for creative ways to invest $1000 or dancing lessons, Can't Buy Me Love is one 80's teen flick that has a lot to offer.