One last collaboration for John Hughes and Molly Ringwald, whose creative partnership dissolved after this film. Somewhat softer and more self-serious than the preceding teen epics Sixteen Candles and The Breakfast Club, it tackles social cliques and classism from various perspectives. Ringwald and leading man Andrew McCarthy, akin to Romeo and Juliet, find their young relationship stressed by the negative influence of friends who insist they find someone closer to their own status. There really isn't much sparkle to the pairing, though, apart from a few awkward make-out scenes, and they both come off as especially wet noodles in comparison to the vibrant, brash supporting cast. Jon Cryer is most memorable of these as Duckie, a flamboyant mod who's been carrying a torch for Ringwald all his life, and nearly steals the film with an abrupt dance/lip-sync number just before everything gets overly angsty. Most of the third act is wasted on hand-wringing and moping, though, and the ending (changed at the last minute, much to Hughes's chagrin) feels disingenuous even if it does make a better fit for the movie's theme. The window dressings are drowned in '80s flavor, too, from the appropriately synthy soundtrack to the Halloween-grade costume choices. Looks like everyone at this school was either Don Johnson, Sid Vicious or Morrissey.

I like John Hughes's movies, but Pretty in Pink is not a favourite. It is too short, and the story structure is occasionally too hackneyed complete with an ending that didn't quite convince me. But it was strikingly filmed, with an agreeable soundtrack, snappy script, bouncy pacing and good direction. When it comes to the acting, it is quite good, and the characters are at least likable. Molly Ringwald holds this movie together, and she is very good. Andrew McCarthy and James Spader are also appealing, while Harry Dean Stanton and Annie Potts are sterling. Overall, Pretty in Pink is not a John Hughes classic, but it is worth the watch at least once. 7/10 Bethany Cox

This John Hughes Brat Pack teen comedy/drama stars Molly Ringwald, THE Brat Pack female star as the red headed teen from the other side of the tracks who yearns for a better life with her preppy teen dream, Andrew McCarthy. Hughes definitely ripped the plot off from The Way We Were. Ringwald is Barbra Streisand and McCarthy is Bob Redford without all the politics.

That being said it's not a bad film at all. The film has a great supporting cast with Kate Vernon as the rich snob who makes life difficult in school for Ringwald and James Spader as another preppy who just wants a quick roll in the hay from Ringwald. Spader dresses like a Don Johnson/Sonny Crockett wannabe and he really becomes someone you love to hate.

Ringwald's friend and confidante is John Cryer who set a standard playing all kinds of non conformist parts from the Brat Pack Eighties down to today. You really do wish Cryer could get Ringwald, if there was justice in the world, he would have.

Pretty In Pink is not a bad Cinderella story with a bow to The Way We Were. Hopefully it works out better ultimately for Molly and Andrew than it did for Barbra and Bob.