a trip down memory lane

Rating: 7/10 (5 June 2017)

The movie's most endearing quality is the homage paid to Eighties movies, that moment when it all comes together as Olive dreams about being in her own John Hughes movie. Yes, I have fond memories of SAY ANYTHING's seminal boombox scene and CAN'T BUY ME LOVE in its entirety, and it was great to see them referenced. And people, that song, that haunting melody, I still get the shivers, all together now, Don't You Forget About Me...
Emma Stone is kind of EveryGirl in this movie, obviously adding to her appeal, obviously the new Lindsey Lohan of that time. And this movie has a strong MEAN GIRLS vibe. Must say, Amanda Bynes was pushing it, playing too young. Just checked, seems to have been her last movie. (not that that's what I wanted, I was just criticizing) Kudos to Stanley Tucci and the wonderful Patricia Clarkson and Stevie, the most popular on-screen dog with me besides Buck of MARRIED WITH CHILDREN. Not forgetting Thomas Hayden Church and Lisa Kudrow, although I have a hard time watching her here. The younger male cast doesn't exactly do it for me, that dude who played Brandon soon irritated me, and the other one, Penn Badgley or something like that, doesn't do much better. Ally Michalka good performance, and that girl who played Nina superfine and all too convincing in the part. Come on, Cam Gigandet as a wuss? Well, by some stretch of the imagination only.
Best line: Principal Malcolm McDowell's "if I keep the girls off the pole and the boys off the pipe, I get a bonus."
It's a total chick flick. I would not recommend it to guys at all. Me myself I go where the pretty actresses hang out and I gave Emma Stone a shot as (laugh uncontrollably now), in pics, she reminded me of Melinda Clarke in THE O.C. and NIKITA (okay, you can text Emma Stone that) but turns out not-so-much in the movie. But this is a chick flick with not even one inkling of aspiring to appeal to guys. Okay, I take that back, there's the burlesque leggy lingerie dance scene towards the end, but by then, most guys would have left the room. For this is a total, total chick flick that the vast majority of girls can relate to, but guys would think it's all just a silly storm in a teacup. That's if they hadn't run screaming out of the room at the mention of chlamydia... Like I said, chick flick.