Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3899 in DVD
• Released on: 2002-11-04
• Rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Anamorphic, Dubbed, PAL
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish
• Dubbed in: French, German, Italian, Spanish
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 91 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
In Some Kind of Wonderful, John Hughes crystallises, for good and ill, much of the stock material of the modern high-school romantic comedy. There is the outsider boy Keith (Eric Stolz) with artistic talent and sexual ambitions above his lowly status in a hierarchy based on wealth and popularity. There is Watts, (Mary Stuart Masterson) the tomboy next door, whose good looks and love for him he has somehow always failed to notice. And, most interestingly, there is Amanda Jones (Lea Thompson), who has parlayed her looks into running with the rich kids, but is starting to realise she has the worst of the bargain.

There are some odd ambiguities here--all three take passive-aggressive behaviour to a level that is not entirely sympathetic--as well as some slick plotting: Keith's attempt to befriend Amanda by following her into detention brings him into contact with delinquents like Duncan, a terrifying skinhead who is more than he seems. In the end, there is just enough edge and invention here to keep it from being as crass and sentimental as films which have imitated its formula.

On the DVD: Some Kind of Wonderful is presented in 1.78:1 visual aspect ratio and has Dolby 5:1 sound in English, surround sound in Italian and mono in German and Italian--it also has subtitles in those languages and Danish, Dutch, French, Norwegian, Swedish and Turkish and no other special features whatever. --Roz Kaveney

Special Features
English
Region 2

Synopsis
Keith (Eric Stoltz) is finishing up with high school. A sensitive loner, he prefers to work on his art over going to sporting events and hanging with the cool crowd. Instead, he platonically whiles away the hours with Watts (Mary Stuart Masterson), the pixieish drummer girl he's known since grade school. But Keith does have one popular obsession: Amanda Jones (Lea Thompson), the most desired girl in school-- and girl friend of obnoxious rich guy Hardy Jens (Craig Scheffer). When Hardy and Amanda part ways, Keith finally has his chance---and true blue Watts will do all that she can, even it that means biting her tongue and suppressing her true feelings for her longtime friend.
John Hughes's follow-up to the classic PRETTY IN PINK takes essentially the same story and flips the gender roles. Once again, a positive "follow-your-heart" moral and another great soundtrack (featuring The Jesus & Mary Chain, Flesh For Lulu, The March Violets) set the scene.

Customer Reviews

Classic 80's movie
This is a film I have rediscovered after remembering it from my youth. I bought the DVD and fell in love with it all over again.
The cast are superb, especially Mary Stuart Masterson as Watts, and even though the film can be accused of being predictable I would not have it any other way.
The only thing that I am disappointed with is the lack of any extras with the DVD. Surely a cast commentary, deleted scenes or even an old trailer could have been added?
Still, it is worthy title to add to your collection.

A fantastic 80's movie
Being a child of the eighties,it makes feel very nostalgic whenever I watch this film, but that aside, this is one of the best films from the era. The storyline and characters are excellent and even if it is a tad predictable it doesnt matter as it has the perfect romantic ending.

If you only ever own one teen movie from the 80's I would make it this one.

Pretty in Pink - the Director's Cut
Are you sitting comfortably?...then I'll begin. When John Hughes delivered Pretty in Pink for test screenings his job was not yet done. His original cut had Molly Ringwald driving into the sunset with Duckie - her goofy childhood friend. Audiences and studio execs alike weren't satisfied with this, so Hughes involuntarily reshot the final sequence with the eventual suitor being the redeemed yuppie character.
Pretty in Pink (in it's eventual cut) went on to gather an army of fans on release. However, Hughes decided to "remake" the film his way...thus "Some Kind..." was born. It has exactly the same story, but two minor details have changed. Firstly the central character is male, Eric Stoltz. Secondly, our hero ends up with the weirdo not the yuppie-with-a-heart.
I feel this film is superior to "pink" as its satellite characters are both funnier and more complete. Also the performances are more engaging, with scenes between Stoltz and Thompson being particularly highly charged. As with most of John Hughes output the picture is glossy and slick with a great period-piece soundtrack.
This DVD edition is disappointing, as are all of this particular Paramount series - no effort made whatsoever. Still, for Hughes fans that have worn out their VHS copy the widescreen presentation of this much-loved, but little-known charmer should be an automatic purchase.