Grandview U.S.A (1984)

Tagline: Where dreams have a funny way of coming true.
Cusack plays: Johnny Maine, friend of high school senior Tim Pearson
Family Connections: Joan has a blink and miss it role as a student in class

So this wasn't a film I was familiar with so there was curiosity factor coming into play here. Cusack is only in about 3 very brief scenes although does don a fetching 1980s blue tux for the prom and does some shirtless sunbathing.

The plot of the film is that Michelle 'Mike' Cody (Jamie Lee Curtis) runs a demolition derby which she is trying to keep open. Shes friends with Ernie 'Slam' Webster - Patrick Swayze (RIP) and he has some feelings for her, as well as dealing with a cheating slutty wife. C Thomas Howell is high school senior and wannabe oceanographer Tim who also takes a shine to older woman Mike.

Its ok. The main fun is to be had in two rather random music video style dream sequences where Tim sees Mike all sexy, and everyone dances about.

Trailer (including part of said dream sequence) below....

Sixteen Candles (1984)

Tagline: It's the time of your life that may last a lifetime.
Cusack plays: Bryce, geek friend of "the geek/Ted" Anthony Michael Hall. Spends much of the film with a flashlight on his head.
Family Connections: Joan steals several scenes as Geek Girl with her funky jumpers and neck/back brace.

Did you know? : The cake used at the end of the film was made of Cardboard.

Sixteen Candles is one of those classic John Hughes 198os movies. Everyone forgets Samantha Baker's (Molly Ringwald) 16th birthday due to her sisters impending (and hilarious) wedding the following day. She's in love with the good looking (but bit wooden) Jake Ryan, while fending off the attentions of endearing geek Anthony Michael Hall.

This isn't one of my absolute favourite 1980s teen flicks but its good fun and has an awesome soundtrack (Wham, Altered Images, Kajagoogoo, Paul Young, Spandau Ballet, Billy Idol). Not too much happens but there is a big party where silly things happen. In that respect it reminds me a little of 1998's Can't Hardly Wait, and silliness at parties are a general staple of teen flicks.

Cusack is only in a few scenes as a geek sidekick, but he's likeable and awfully cute. Overall an enjoyable watch which left me wondering just what happened to Michael Schoeffling who played Jake, as he gave up acting in 1991. (After playing the object of Winona Ryder's affections in Mermaids.) IMDb claims he now makes furniture for a living.

Trailer below with all the highlights (1980s trailers are kind of strange...)