The following post focuses on the relationship between the themes of the film & it’s 1980′s context
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A young Patrick Dempsey and the gorgeous Amanda Peterson star in the 1987 film Can’t buy me love. It embodies the typical 80′s traits with groovy dance moves, rocking music and most importantly the big & bold hair styles. It follows Ronald, the school geek, in his journey to make a memorable graduation year. The title of the film humorously contradicts the story line in that he ‘buys’ the popular girl and successfully fools his senior grade. However in his plot to the high life, he not only loses himself but Cindy as well who has unexpectedly fallen in love with him. This film gives us an insight to the 80′s with the ‘me’ generation, the prolonged breakdown of tradition and the class divide.
Can’t buy me love respects it’s 80’s context in that it continuously alludes to the self indulgent ‘me generation’, triggered by the baby boomers. The characters of the film embody the materialistic decade, where labels meant everything; Cindy borrowed her mother’s $1000 suede outfit to impress her acquaintances, she is also very unhappy when Ronald doesn’t pick her up in an ‘mechanized transportation’. Cindy’s college freshmen boyfriend, Bobby, is a perfect example of this ‘me generation’ as he has left and forgotten about all his high school friends, including Cindy as witnessed in the TV interview he was in. He is a reminder to the audience why it is so important for Ronald to have an enjoyable last year of school- because he doesn’t want to be forgotten, like Bobby forgot them. It further goes on to portray the hedonistic aspect of the generation with alcohol drugs and most importantly parties; Ronald unknowingly ‘invents’ a new dance move learnt from the African culture channel (assuming it was the American Bandstand), and the silly dance becomes a hit… all because his fellow class mates view him as ‘popular’. However this film goes beyond satirically portraying the 80’s, it also remarks on the prolongation of the breakdown of convention.
The baby boomers continued their un-conservative ways from the 70’s and became even more open about their intimate relationships as seen with the popular girls (Patty/Iris/Barbara). Ronald creates a perfect contrast to his current generation with the one before, “our grandparents sure knew how to make things that last” suggesting that his gen doesn’t. Though he was talking about the WW II airplanes, it still prompts the idea of diminishing conservative ways, such as the decrease in nuclear families, conveyed through Cindy’s divorced mother who openly goes out on dates. The film further goes on to give the female characters authority; girls are able to ask guys out. Cindy is given dominance over Ronald who needs her in order to be able to achieve his goal. Ironically Sandra Day O’Connor became the first female Supreme Court Justice when appointed by president Ronald Reagan (which by the way is another reference to the 80′s, RONALD!). The film goes beyond conveying the closing divide between males & females and addresses the shift of social class.
This genuine issue faced from the earliest form of humanity till today is humorously conveyed in a high school environment; the geeks versus the popular kids. The film again embodies its context in that the 80’s were a time where social class shifted; people were becoming rich, and geeks were being favored (Steve Wozniak). Ironically Ronald’s name in the film is continuously mistaken for Donald which alludes to Donald Trump (who now is a well known TV personality) who rose to fortune in the 80’s. The film also often references how high school caused this divide among the geeks & jocks/cheerleaders, as during their childhood innocence they were all friends.
While during the beginning of the film Ronald strives to become popular by the end of it he achieves something greater- he neutralizes the teenaged divide. He is able to alter their mind, especially Cindy’s who now seems to have a closer relationship to her mother & also does not have to hide the fact that she borrows her clothes (which conveys Cindy’s growth as an adult who no longer strives for people’s acceptance). To conclude, I enjoyed this film and would not mind watching it over and over again. It takes the 80′s issues & culture and humorously produces an entertaining film! Great job Steve Rash
Why be Bias? 