Sixteen Candles

Is one of the few absolutely perfect movies. Actors, characters, story, dialog.

• On TCM this evening. One of the few chances we get to see Michael Schoeffling.

• I didn''t see the first 15 minutes. Did they bleep out "I can''t believe the fuckin'' forgot my birthday."? They, apparently, didn''t bleep anything else.

  OP

• I watched it too last night. I thought about buying the DVD for my teenage nieces but as much as I love this movie, I really don''t want them watching something that promotes drinking and driving, date rape and Asian stereotypes.

  Uncle Fuddyduddy

• Jesus, TCM, now I feel old.

• Molly Ringwald''s face, when her grandmother suggests she take Long Duck Dong to the dance is priceless!

• Love the grandparents.

• re Michael Schoeffling - why did he never achieve a little more success?

• I still always say "the Donga need food" when I''m hungover and hungry.

• He was just another pretty face and had really nothing to distinguish him from similar actors.

• Joan Cussack was hysterical in this without uttering a single word.

• Michael Schoeffling was so fucking hot.\ \ Wonder if he aged well?

• Yeah Jake was my first gay crush. I was in 5th grade.

• ''one of the few absolutely perfect movies. Actors, characters, story, dialog.''%0D\ %0D\ That''s setting the bar awfully low, OP.

• It''s pretty good and very entertaining but it''s hardly perfect.

• Was that the first bare female breasts ever shown on TCM? I don''t remember another instance.

• I guess I had never seen an uncensored version of Sixteen Candles. I was surprised at the nudity and Molly Ringwald saying "fuck" and "shit".%0D\ %0D\ I always thought John Hughes was more of a "G" writer.

• The scenes with her panties always troubles me. The way Jake holds them and sort of fondles them is really creepy, and you just sit there scared to death that he''s going to sniff them.

• Fred, she''s gotten her boobies. Oh, and they are so perky!

• "Voila! Breakfast is served!"%0D\ %0D\ Love Carole King.

  Barkley

• Carole King was in "Sixteen Candles"?

  Carole Cook

• You mean Carole Cook. %0D\ %0D\ SIXTEEN CANDLES may not be absolutely perfect. But it maintains a consistently funny tone with lots of surprises from start to finish.

• "I''d like to apologize for my sister. She''s a little out of it."%0D\ %0D\ the late Zelda Rubinstein: "A LITTLE?"

  Barkley

• The whole Long Duck Dong thing is cringe-worthy today. Really dates the film. Everything is perfect, though. I had a crush on Jake, too!

• Well, it only earns two stars in my cable guide. Leonard Maltin only gives it two and a half stars.

• The "if you''re a bitchy, sexually active girl, you''re a whore who deserves to be raped while you''re unconscious" theme is troubling.\ \ The rest of the movie is pretty funny.

• \ \ They fuckin'' forgot my birthday

• Are we still having dinner with the Rice Chex?

• I always hated Molly''s best friend in this. What a mega-cunt.

• R28, but you had to love her cool date at the dance who snapped his fingers at "the geek."

• *SNAP*\ \ "She''s totally serious, asswipe!"

• "Perfect" dialogue from "Sixteen Candles":%0D\ %0D\ Jake Ryan: "I can get a piece of ass anytime I want. Shit, I''ve got Caroline in the bedroom right now, passed out cold. I could violate her ten different ways if I wanted too."%0D\ %0D\ The Geek: [almost chokes on a pretzel] "What are you waiting for?"%0D\ %0D\ Long Duk Dong: "No more yankie my wankie. The Donger need food." %0D

• This "perfect" movie has one of the most racist depictions of an Asian person in movie history. And the joke about raping a passed out girl: "what are you waiting for?" Yech!

• Sixteen Candle mavens -- help with a song used in the movie?\ \ The scene: she is leaving the dance at the gym and is retrieving her coat from the pile of coats left on some tables by the attendees.\ \ Song has a strong guitar riff.\ \ This song is NOT on the movie soundtrack but was used in the theatrical release of the film.\ \ Anyone know the song I am trying to find out the name of?\ \ Thanks!

• R32, let''s be honest: It''s the way teen boys talk.

• It''s awful. %0D\ %0D\ John Hughes was a racist and right-wing thug who made Hollywood money. This is why he was not called out on his politics like Charlton Heston or Chuck Norris. Bad director, vicious attitude, and anyone over 17 knows the films suck. %0D\ %0D\ Worst thing about his career? Made dumbing down chic. There is a direct line from "Sixteen Candles" to Adam Sandler and Jim Carrey. Dumb, dumber, dumbest.

  ranger

• R35, I just looked up who he donated to and you''re correct about his being a rightwinger, up until 2007. He gave to Obama, Biden, ACTBlue and some Dem in IL, but previous to that, he gave to the worst of the worst: Tancredo, JD Hayworth and both Bush assholes.

  http://www.newsmeat.com/celebrity_political_donations/John_Hughes.php

• My favorite John Hughes movie. The great thing about the movie is that all of the characters have some terrific moments. His later flims tended to be dominated by the stars and didn''t have as many quirky moments.

• r35 = killjoy

• [quote]This "perfect" movie has one of the most racist depictions of an Asian person in movie history%0D\ %0D\ Dong is a likable and believable character and no more exagerrated than anyone else in the movie. Dorks come in all colors. Asians visitors to America do mangle our language and their ways and manners appear funny to us just our behavior makes them laugh at us when we go over there.

• I''ve never been so happy in my whole life!

  The Donger

• With Hughes it''s never black and white. He certainly had talent, and certainly made a few decent movies between ''84-90, with IMHO, Ferris Bueller & Planes, Trains.,. being his best work.\ \ Unfortunately there was a misogynistic, but more troubling, a hateful misanthropic nature to almost all his films - as if he despised the audience AND his characters. I personally never saw the humor in making fun of Joan Cusack''s physical issues in Sixteen Candles or that most of the characters in the film are truly quite mean and nasty. Quite the opposite of the gem from that time "Heaven Help Us". Equally funny and biting, but with a sweetness towards all its characters. Well, except for the abusive monk.\ \ Still, Hughes certainly had a talent with jokes and comedic situations, and one can''t but admire his prolific output.\ \ If only he wasn''t such a nasty fuck in his films.

• r33, the name of the song you''re referring to is "Ring Me Up" by The Divinyls. I liked that song too. You''re right, it''s not on the soundtrack for some reason. I found it on limewire, by the way.

• "Dong is a likable and believable character and no more exagerrated than anyone else in the movie,"%0D\ %0D\ You must be kidding! "Likeable?" He was an annoying asshole! And "no more exaggerated?" Every time he came onscreen there was a resounding "GOOONNGGG" and he spoke in Pigeon English: "no more yankie my wankie." He was a racial stereotype.

• R35 = truthjoy. So that explains the homophobia. I can''t believe gay people would "love" a movie that repeatedly uses "fag" as put-down, or maybe it''s mostly the straight women here. I hope it is.

• He was likable and funny as hell.

• One of my favorite movies ever...probably because I was just around 16 when it came out. I stumbled across it last night when getting ready for bed, had to stay up for the whole movie. I loved the Thompson Twins song at the end. Ah, the Eighties.

• R42:\ \ You''re a love.\ \ Thank you!

  Your pal, R33

• I''m still desperately seeking Annie Golden''s "Hang Up The Phone" from the movie soundtrack (and apparently nowhere else.) Coulda been a Cyndi Lauper hit.

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qm_iZozdPVI

• You''re welcome, r47. I help out whenever I can. :) It took quite a bit of searching to find it, but it was worth it. It really is a great song.

• We may frown on it now but the role of the Donger opened many doors for Asian actors.

• Boy, 1984 sure had a lot of crappy movies. ''Splash'', ''Ghostbusters'', ''Footloose'', ''Revenge of the Nerds'', ''Terminator'', ''Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom''...YIKES!

• If you liked ''Ring Me Up'' by the Divinyls came off their CD called Desperate. Not a bad song in the bunch.

  Touching myself

• [quote]Michael Schoeffling\ \ Just the name brings back memories of long teenage jerk-off sessions fantasizing about hooking up with him.\ \ As for his career, when it came to an end, he just retired from the scene. So we never got to see him get older (he''ll be 50 this year).\ \ He lives in Newfoundland, Pennsylvania with a wife (his kids must be in their late teens if not early 20s). He is a woodworker/furniture maker.\ \ He does not grant interviews and he has not been photographed since he retired from acting.\ \ He''s the Garbo of 80s teen icons.

  And did I mention he was great in Longtime Companion?

• Here''s "Ring Me Up" by the Divinyls, not as used in the movie Sixteen Candles, but here it is used as musical accompaniment to DL fave Tom Welling''s teen TV show.\ \ Great song.\ \ Thanks R42

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_k9U8qN68A

• And here is another great Divinyls song, this one a remake of a Young Rascals classic from the ''60s.

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfH1kMYmfCY

• John Hughes movies only ever showed black people as threatening inner city thugs. Weird Science, Vacation, Adventures in Babysitting, Ferris Bueller. Otherwise it was all white, all the time.

• Thanks R54. I remember that song!\ \ I would kill to be under Michael Schoeffling.

  http://www.moviegoods.com/Assets/product_images/1010/174072.1010.a.jpg

  Mrs. Jake Ryan

• What was up with Rubenstein''s character creaking as she walked out of the church after the wedding?

• See what you can learn on the internets?\ \ Michael Schoeffling''s daughter Scarlett was in her high school prom court two years ago.

  http://www.neagle.com/news/education/x1781480727/Wallenpaupack-High-School-Holds-Prom

  Stalker

• I think she had a bottle of booze in her purse as she says, "Oh, I need a drink."

• ... and Michael''s son Zane is bassist in a band, and nicknamed "Stretch"

  http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=61277511&albumID=576387&imageID=1071833

  Stalker again

• Perfect for 16 year old girls.

• [quote]Otherwise it was all white, all the time.%0D\ %0D\ Yes, and Spike Lee is always making movies about black people. Go figure.

• [quote]John Hughes movies only ever showed black people as threatening inner city thugs.\ \ That''s all DLers believe anyway. So, it works out well.

• Now we know why you never get invited to parties, R51.

• I loved this article when it came out.

  http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/06/AR2009080603039.html

• The tympani beat they used when they showed whats her face in the shower was priceless.

• ^^ In the movie or in the video above?

• The movie. It was the scene where Ringwald and her friend were watching the pretty girl shower and they were talking about her boobs.

• [quote]John Hughes movies only ever showed black people as threatening inner city thugs.\ \ SO NOT TRUE!!! They also DANCED in unison while Twist and Shout plays in downtown Chicago!

• [quote]Yes, and Spike Lee is always making movies about black people.\ \ Spike Lee [italic]has[/italic] made movies about white people, as well as movies in which black people interact with white people in a realistic (for a movie) fashion.

• No mention of the film being one of the earlier credits of both John and Joan Cusack?

• R72, they''ve both been mentioned earlier in the thread.

• I remember being vaguely uneasy with the Jake Ryan character in a he''s-too-good-to-be-true kind of way.\ \ I also think there''s a subtle message in the movie that Jake dumps Carolyn and is attracted to Samantha because Samantha is virginal and Carolyn is not. It''s very creepy.\ \ That said, I loved the movie as a 13 year old kid from a rural area who was oblivious to most of the problems with the movie.

• I think the reason that Schoeffling never caught on was that he looked far too similar to Matt Dillon. %0D\ %0D\ Had it come out 6 months later, "Candles" would have been rated PG-13. The spring and summer of 1984, the last months of the edgy PG movie.

• "He was likable and funny as hell."%0D %0D I assume you're refering to "the Donger" or "the Dongster" or whatever. Yeah, he's likeable and funny as hell...if you find racial stereotypes appealing. %0D %0D I remember that Washington Post article at at R66. I loved it too; it really ripped to shreds the "Jake Ryan" character and "Sixteen Candles" as a whole, really. %0D %0D Jake Ryan made many a female wish for a real Jake Ryan in their lives. But that will never happen because no one like Jake Ryan exists. As the article says "popular high school seniors don't dump their cheerleader girlfriends with great bods so they can ask out a sophomore girl nobody notices. Jake did not actually do this, because he is not real."%0D %0D A Chinese woman named Lisa Ling comments on the absurdity of Jake Ryan: "If you're going to totally mislead your audience into believing such a farce to be true," Ling writes, "how about having the hot chick fall for Long Duk Dong?" (Long Duk Dong, for the uninitiated, would be that unfortunate Asian stereotype in "Sixteen Candles" played by Asian stereotype specialist Gedde Watanabe. He would be a tangent all his own, as would Anthony Michael Hall's triumphant portrayal of "the Geek," aka Farmer Ted, the anti-Jake. Now focus, ladies, please.) %0D %0D %0D %0D %0D

• [quote]Jake Ryan made many a female wish for a real Jake Ryan in their lives. But that will never happen because no one like Jake Ryan exists. As the article says "popular high school seniors don''t dump their cheerleader girlfriends with great bods so they can ask out a sophomore girl nobody notices. Jake did not actually do this, because he is not real."[/quote]\ \ They do when the sophomore girls look like Molly Ringwald. No one exactly like Samantha exists either.

• I thought John Cusack was adorable in this. %0D\ %0D\ "I was just thinking....black and white would just capture the moment.. so beautifully.."%0D\ %0D

• [quote]I think the reason that Schoeffling never caught on was that he looked far too similar to Matt Dillon.\ \ Plus he played gay.\ \ That was a no-no.

• You''re an idiot, R79.

• My favorite Hughes film is "Some Kind of Wonderful". Totally underrated.\ \ I always think of "Just One of the Guys" as a Hughes film too but it isn''t. It certainly follows his distinct style though.

• R76, and now you''ve got "Twilight" repeating the "Jake" pattern. \ \ I really need to write something and get rich off of these pathetic women.

• [quote]Yeah, he''s likeable and funny as hell...if you find racial stereotypes appealing%0D\ %0D\ I worked for years with an elderly Chinese man who was a walking, talking stereotype of a buck-toothed, pidgin-English speaking immigrant. Dramatic depictions of such characters may displease you but they are based on reality. %0D\ %0D\ We don''t think twice about making fun of fat people or boneheaded, straight white jocks or any number of stereotypes. But when it comes to Long Duk Dong all of a sudden we''re supposedly hideously hateful for daring to notice that the behavior of a character who resembles people we encounter in real life is funny.

• "I worked for years with an elderly Chinese man who was a walking, talking stereotype of a buck-toothed, pidgin-English speaking immigrant"\ \ Yeah, and no doubt you made his life so much more pleasant.

• I suppose people like R84 serve a purpose in life, but I''ll be damned if I know what it is.\ \ (sigh)

• You people as usual are being far too PC and sensitive, it''s FUNNY!! As far as making dumbing down chic, it is nothing compared to the comedies that are popular today, the scripts are much more intelligent and have priceless dialog and real character development which is also lacking today. He had the best soundtracks, unfortunately, this one omits many of the best tracks in favor of Annie Golden''s awful Cyndi Lauper parody, "Hang up the Phone."

  Barkley

• I didn''t find much of anything funny in SC, but what I REALLY didn''t find funny was what happened to the blonde cheerleader.%0D\ %0D\ She gets stinking drunk and passes out. Her boyfriend tells a repulsive little creep that he could get "a piece of ass (charming, isn''t he?)" anytime he wants and that his girlfriend is passed out and he could violate in several ways if he wants to. The little creep ia amazing: "what are you waiting for?" %0D\ The perfect Jake Ryan then hands over his drunk girlfriend to the geek; take her, she''s yours, do whatever you want with her. Although it is mercifully not shown onscreen the geek and the fucked up girl do...something with each other. And the girl, who was so drunk she doesn''t remember what happened, vaguely remembers that she "liked it." She LIKED getting taken advantage of while she was blind drunk?! Well, that''s a John Hughes movie for you.

• "Is one of the few absolutely perfect movies. Actors, characters, story, dialog ... "\ \ Racism.

• [quote]Yeah, and no doubt you made his life so much more pleasant%0D\ %0D\ We had a fine working relationship. His manner was amusing but I did see him as a whole human being. It is possible to see the funny side of life without being a hater. %0D\ %0D\ You, on the other hand, sound like a PC puritan -- terrified that somewhere, somehow a white person is laughing at things white people aren''t allowed to find humorous.

• His politics aside, John''s movies are light years funnier than "The Hangover," "Knocked Up," "Hot Tub Time Machine" or any of that tired Jud Apatow shit. I don''t mind that he doesn''t feel the need to stick in a black character just to be P.C. He writes what he knows, just like the boring overwrought unfunny Spike Lee does.

  Barkley

• {quote)You, on the other hand, sound like a PC puritan -- terrified that somewhere, somehow a white person is laughing at things white people aren''t allowed to find humorous.\ \ Actually R89 I made the comment because I was amused how you were so understanding, and yet described this man in stereotypical terms. It would NOT be cool to describe one of my black friends as "a shuck, jive talking brother from the hood". \ \ I guess I subscribe to the "it''s cool for Jews & blacks to make jokes about their own ethnicity" school, not so cool when the comment comes from someone not part of the group. \ \ Back to point - IMHO it''s not so much that Long Duck Dong is racist, as it is just another example of Hughes'' misanthropic nastiness - an equal opportunity hater.

• So many good teen/young adult movies came out of the 80s; Sixteen Candles, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Risky Business, Ferris Bueller''s Day Off, The Sure Thing, Say Anything, among others.\ \ I once read that Michael Schoeffling was the most requested Whatever Happened To... actor/actress. I admire that he left Hollywood instead of becoming a Corey Feldman type loser. Not to say that I am not curious as to what he looks like today.

• [quote]You''re an idiot, [R79].\ \ Really?\ \ It was 1989.\ \ If you were an up-and-coming actor, it was not a wise move especially if you were shown in bed with another man.\ \ Dermot Mulroney played gay in the film but Young Guns came out around the same time. Aside from a chaste kiss with Campbell Scott, his character was basically asexual and he died early in the movie.\ \ Anyone who thinks that playing gay was a good career move in Hollywood twenty years ago needs to have his head examined.

• For me, some movies don''t need to be super-analyzed to death. The 80''s for me wasn''t about date rape and racial stereotypes, it was about a 14 year old kid trying to find my place in the world. I will love this movie because it reminds me of my youth. I personally think "The Flintstones" was more damaging.

• As ususal the hypocrisy (and stupidity)of people here at DL is on full display.%0D\ %0D\ Let''s see...%0D\ %0D\ If Hughes made a film with a gay guy who talked with hands, used the adjective "fabulous" all the time, and was clearly the stereotype of a bitchy queen, would any criticism be "PC" on our part? In fact has anyone ever noticed in the world of Hughes gay teenagers do not exist? Please spare me the idea that it was the 80''s. And enough about how much "fun" those films were when you were growing up. %0D\ %0D\ A bad director who made bad films. Btw, I have always been intrigued by the fact that Hughes never really tried to look at teenage sexuality as anything more than either leering lust or puppy love. He was basically making money off films that were updates of 60''s sit coms.

  ranger

• It was a comedy, people. It''s not supposed to play like real life. If you''re offended by it, shut it off and let others who enjoy it watch it in peace.

• I bet people beat a path away from you at parties, R95!\ \ I sure as hell would.

• r95: I would never go to the sort of parties you attend.%0D\ %0D\ I am an adult. Now go to bed. It''s way past your bedtime.

  ranger

• How many people actually watched this movie and got so deep into it that they decided date rape is acceptable? Sometimes it is what it is. Really. I know the times I''ve seen it, I''ve never thought, oh, date rape is great and asians are stupid and hilarious. I saw a fun, poignant movie that made me smile. Stop trying to go so deep.

• "a gay guy who talked with hands, used the adjective "fabulous" all the time, and was clearly the stereotype of a bitchy queen"\ \ Lame sitcoms like "Two and a Half Men" do this even in 2010.

• [quote]I am an adult.\ \ And you sign your posts as "Ranger"\ \ Wow.

• Michael Schoeffling is *50*???\ \ Fucking hell.

• Why would someone even get so freaked out about a movie from 20 years ago? I don''t analyze Jimmy Stewart''s politics to decide if I still love his movies. A movie coming out tomorrow is a different story but I''m not going back in time for this.

• Found this on cable tonight ... all I'll add to the discussion is that Michael Schoeffling had great hair in this.

• I miss John Hughes.

• I'd present my hole to Jake Ryan. And that's saying something, because I've never bottomed.

• "We may frown on it now but the role of the Donger opened many doors for Asian actors" And just how exactly did it do that? Did directors see "Sixteen Candles" and think: "wow, that Asian with the kooky name and doofus personality seems really popular! I'm gonna have to have a character like that in my next movie! It'll really bring kids and teenagers in to see it! They LOVE the Donger!"

• I love when Joan Cusak is in the scoliosis brace and tries to drink from the water fountain

  anon

• oh christ all you precious, overly sensitive PC queens calm down it wasn't racist - it was humor - you don't walk away thinking all Asians are like Long Duck Dong - he was depicted as an exchange student getting drunk and back in the 80's people did do drugs and drink and drive - calm the fuck down

  anon

• R109 is right. Calm down. The movie was funny as shit.

  oh%2C%20sexy%20American%20girlfriend%21

• I liked it.

• One of the funniest lines in any movie...

  http://youtu.be/f-g7fhNlGdY

• R103, the scary thing is it's more like 30 years ago at this point.

• "I wouldn't go in there right now. Grandpa just came out of there and it's totally polluted!"

  Justin Henry

• There is a really strange thing Ive noticed in the "They're so perky" scene. First we see the grandfather come out of the bathroom and hear a toilet flushing. Hes holding a newspaper so the implication is he just took a crap. Then, a few seconds later, his wife comes out of the bathroom. Was she in there while he was shitting?

• I like the shot of Molly and her gorgeous legs sitting in the hall at the school dance crying then the girls come out of the bathroom and she's all smiling and "hi" to them through her tears. That sums up my high school career.

  Warren Beatty wanted Molly for Edie Sedgwick

• Jesus, R113. Cliche to say, but: Where'd the time go?

• R115, those shots are a little confusing because there are at least three different doors, but the wife comes out of a bedroom, not the bathroom.

• "it wasn't racist - it was humor" Maybe in your opinion. But I think most people would agree that Long Duck Dong was one of the most racist depictions of an Asian in movie history, even if they did find the character humorous.

• R118 heres the clip and you're right, it is confusing, but not for reasons you listed. When the grandfather comes out of the room, its clearly a bathroom (towels hanging on a rack can be seen) When the grandmother comes out of the same door, its a totally different room. The towel rack and window are gone. The art on the wall has changed and there is a brief glimpse of a bed.

  http://youtu.be/EhAiY3hTPpo

• R120, it's not the same door. The bathroom door is set back from the hallway by a few feet and has a wall sconce next to it. The bedroom door is flush with the wall and there's no sconce.

• I heard they're making a porn version called Sixteen Candles...Up My Ass, starring Dawson

• [quote] Long Duk Dong: "No more yankie my wankie. The Donger need food." I saw this scene on regular cable about a year ago, and they dubbed over this line, so that he said "No more yanky Ron Cranky."

• R121 There's another difference. The set totally changes from the shot showing the grandfather coming out of the room. Watch it again. Sam never moves, she stands near the door that we know leads up to her room. She never moves from that spot. But when the camera cuts away from her close-up back to the medium shot showing her and the grandfather, everything behind them is different. The sconce is gone, the door is now now flush with the wall and the art that was hanging next to the door on the left is also gone (in fact, it looks like it was moved into the bedroom we see the grandmother walk out of) Its really just a continuity problem. Despite having someone on the set to make sure these things never happen, they do nonetheless.

• "Happy birthday, happy birthday" - the Altered Images song that plays in one of the early classroom scenes isn't on the soundtrack either. Sounds a bit like Lene Lovich, new wave.

• Jake: Yes, hello sir, um... Howard: Are you the little bugger that's been calling up here all night and then hanging up? Jake: Would it be possible for you to tell me if there is a Samantha Baker there and if so, sir, may I converse with her briefly? Howard: Yes it is, and NO you may not. Jake: Might I leave a message, sir? Howard: [to Grandma Baker] He wants to leave a message for Sam. Then Billie Bird grabs the phone "Let me talk to him!" And proceeds to tell him off, calling him a houlighan. Funny scene!

• Ohhh R26 You forgot the best part of that scene. "Sam is lucky to have us. Even if she doesnt appreciate us." The grandparents have all the best lines: "Voila! Breakfast is served!" "Hate that rock and roll garbage" "No, he's not retarded"

• I'm not sure what kind of career Shoeffling would've had but he could have easily went from being a teen stud to a leading man if he wanted to. He was good in Longtime Companion, he was no worse an actor than any of his contemporaries.

• "The Donger and Me"

  http://www.npr.org/programs/atc/features/2008/mar/in_character/donger_1.html

• he's good in "Mermaids."

• R129, I guess that would make more sense to me if I ever saw Bootie Call.

  Haviland%20Morris

• Songza has a playlist for John Hughes fans: Your Own John Hughes Movie Ever wished you could walk into the screen of the classic '80s coming-of-age films by the late John Hughes? Well, now you've got your own personal soundtrack of iconic '80s teen-flick-worthy tunes. That's a start!

  they%20play%20great%20music%21%21%21

• g

• Ever notice when they are all going to the church for the wedding, the grandmother doesn't get IN the car. She crouches down beside the back door?

• I have noticed that before, R134. I also can't hear "Young Americans" without thinking of that scene.

  Zombie%20Billie%20Bird

• If Sixteen Candles were made today and had Long Duk Dong in it, there would be protests outside theaters. How the times have changed...

• This was a good movie.

• John Hughes wanted Lucy for the part of Long Duk Dong, but Mickey Rooney wouldn't give her "how to act like a stereotypical Asian" lessons because Gary Morton stiffed him on a golf bet.

• Jami Gertz in a small roll was hilarious in the drunken haircutting scene.

• I meant "role", LOL.

  R139

• The song playing at the very beginning of the dance is a bit of a mystery. It's called "Filene". The producers wanted "Our House" by Madness, but couldn't secure it, so they just created a similar sounding song.