Regression Obsession: Girls Just Wanna Have Fun
Posted at 4:00 PM Oct 15, 2008
By Sharon Steel
Most people will forever associate Sarah Jessica Parker, first and foremost, with Sex & the City. And that's fine. I understand: it's an obvious, iconic, unbreakable connection. But I will always remember her (is it possible to be nostalgic for a film that came out when you were three-years-old? Er, yes!) as Janey Glenn from the 1985 classic Girls Just Wanna Have Fun. Parker stars as a quiet, pretty, private school girl who looooves to dance. When her super-strict military family moves to the big, bad city of Chicago, Janey finally decides it's time to break free. So she scores herself a wild new BFF, meets the boy of her dreams, and auditions to become a regular cast member of Dance TV. You know what happens next.
A sampling of my favorite moments from this movie, which I watch as a rule whenever it reruns. In no particular order:
1. Lee Montgomery's dimples. What. Happened. To. Him?!
2. The amazingly cool rock 'n' roll diner where Janey and Lynne (Helen Hunt) drop off the flyers inviting all the freaks to come crash Natalie Sands' birthday party. Does it exist? And can I spend every day there?
3. That adorable-gross scene where Janey and Jeff are playing in the park and practicing their dance moves. Eventually, they go somersaulting down the hill, and end in a make-out session. My heart breaks.
4. Lynne's incredible abuse of hairspray and velcro.
5. This immortal line, as delivered by Shannen Doherty (Maggie): "Do you really think I'm punk? Well, that's outrageous! I mean, it's not as cool as new wave, but it's a lot better than pre-teen!"
Tell me yours in the comments, if you please!
Comments
Lynne, "So I said, 'Sister, please--anyone could have confused 'Hail Mary' with 'Proud Mary' and besides, I do a very good Tina Turner!' "
Drew: "You don't understand that this car makes a statement."
Posted 10/15/2008 at 05:14:40 PMJeff: "Yeah, it says, 'Hi, I'm garbage.' "
My Favorite scene is at the end when Janey and Jeff have won the dance contest and Lynne comes in on the gold Litter as the new host of Dance TV.
Favorite lines are as follows:
[about a motorcycle]
Janey: Is it safe?
Drew: It's the safest thing you'll ever have between your legs.
Janey: What?
Drew, Jeff: Nothing!
and
Lynne: Velcro. Next to the Walkman and Tab, it is the coolest invention of the 20th century!
Thanks for reminding me of this fun and fab movie. And what did happen to Lee Montgomery?
Posted 10/16/2008 at 05:27:59 PMOh man, I totally forgot about Lynne's justification of velcro. Ah-mazing.
Posted 10/16/2008 at 08:11:35 PM