Valley Girl: Best 80's Movie? Like, Totally! Valley Girl directed by Martha Coolidge in 1983 is not your typical 1980's teen movie. John Hughes doesn't direct it, it doesn't star Molly Ringwald, and Anthony Michael Hall is nowhere to be found in this endearing film. Not only does this movie not fit the stereotypical casting and directing mold for typical 80's flicks, it also goes above and beyond the usual portrayal of 80's pop culture. It depicts the clothing, language and music of the decade perfectly. Not to mention, the story is unbelievably sweet. It's a light comedy, a teen flick and a romance story all rolled into one. Starring Deborah Foreman as Julie, the quintessential valley girl and Nicholas Cage as Randy, the "totally rad"ÃÂ punk rocker, this film is something any 80's movie fan has to see.
The story begins on the day of the big party for all the valley kids.
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Julie 08Julie and her friends go shopping at the Galleria and then go to the beach to touch up their tans before the big night. Everything is set for Julie to have a good time at the party except she just broke up with her valley dude boyfriend Tommy at the mall. At the party, she meets Randy and his friend, Fred, two punk rock kids from Hollywood. Randy and Fred don't belong at the valley party and eventually get kicked out by all the valley dudes. Luckily, they convince Julie and her friend Stacy to leave with them. Once they leave the party, Randy and Fred take the girls to a bar in Hollywood. Stacy is "totally grossed out to the max"ÃÂ but Julie has fun, mostly because she is with her new love interest, Randy. Back in the valley, Julie's friends are worried about her. They want her to break up with Randy and get back with her ex-boyfriend, Tommy, the valley dude. She eventually succumbs to peer pressure and goes to the prom with Tommy. Just as Tommy and Julie are about to be crowned Prom King and Queen, Randy and his friend show up to surprise everyone and try to reunite Julie with her punk rock love, Randy.
Valley Girl is a total 1980's package, complete with big hair, bright clothes and new wave music. Throughout the entire film, it's the little things that set the atmosphere and mood. When Randy takes Julie to the bar in Hollywood, The Plimsouls are on stage performing. It's the perfect 80's background music. During the prom scene, Josie Cotton sings her two hit songs "Johnny, Are You Queer?"ÃÂ and "He's the One."ÃÂ It's perfect for the romantic parts of the Prom scene. Other songs are played throughout the movie that always capture the moment. Some of the more recognizable songs are "Love My Way"ÃÂ by Psychedelic Furs and "I Melt With You"ÃÂ by Modern English.
Even though the music is very good for the film and perfectly used to capture the '80 new wave scene, the clothes and hair are what really catches the viewer's attention. Julie is the typical valley girl with bright blonde feathery hair and Randy looks good with his two-tone hair color, blonde in the front and brown in the back. Everyone wears totally 80's clothes. Julie is usually dressed in neon pumps and socks, lots of big jewelry and for the prom: a lacy dress. Randy and Fred wear tight pants and shirts halfway unbuttoned.
Although Valley Girl isn't a typical 1980's movie starring Molly Ringwald and directed by John Hughes, it still captures teenage life in the 80's very well. Not only that, it is funny, romantic and sweet. The soundtrack is one of the best used in movies made in the 1980's and the clothing is dead on accurate. Everything about this movie is "totally awesome to the max!"ÃÂ
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Molly Ringwald