LISTS… Andrew McCarthy, A Class Act from the Start

#1980s #AllPosts

 

Heaven help me, 5 times that Andrew McCarthy won my heart in the 1980s…

 

Some of the more sweet and sensitive roles from that Brat Pack star.

 

In Pretty in Pink

In Class

 

In the 1980s, being good and dirty on the dance floor like Patrick Swayze or a bit of a boyish charmer like Rob Lowe often got you the girl. However, one actor, usually playing a quiet sensitive type seemed to win the girl more than most.

These parts were often played by Andrew McCarthy, but usually, there was some wee problem with the girls he fell for in his bid for true love.  So here’s a list of some of these roles, I enjoyed him in as I’m sure I’m not the only one who had a bit of a crush on him back then…

 

St Elmo’s Fire (1985)…

“St. Elmo’s Fire (1985)” Theatrical Trailer, Forever Cinematic Trailers

This film centres around the lives of seven friends who are recently graduated from university. Starring minor to major brat packers in lead and supporting roles aplenty. At the time, I saw McCarthy’s character Kevin as a sensitive, cynical writer disillusioned with love yet hoping for the love of his best friend Alec (a yuppie Judd Nelson)’s girl…

Leslie is played by Ally Sheedy. McCarthy’s female friends believe he’s gay, mainly because he hasn’t made a pass at the hottie of the group, Jules (Demi Moore). The catch with Leslie however, of course, is that his chance of a romantic encounter with her backfires on him spectacularly. But surprisingly not because Kevin is more than a bit odd, as he sleeps in a coffin (as you do, but only if you are a vampire) and watches on his friend Kirby to be a stalker to the object of his affection,  Dale (annoying Andie MacDowell character)…

The cast also included Emilio Estevez, Rob Lowe and Mare Winningham. Sadly this film hasn’t stood the test of time and is as typically 80s with the wannabe yuppie characters and Rob Lowe’s character’s saxophone. At the time, I was obsessed with McCarthy, I knew this movie off by heart, to no doubt the despair of friends and family. Now is a tad embarrassing as I find its characters more than annoying and that the movie is more than a bit dull, but maybe that’s my age.

 

Mannequin (1987)…

Mannequin ORIGINAL TRAILER [HD 1080p] [HD 1080p], HD Retro Trailers

Jonathan (McCarthy) a frustrated artist falls in love with his own creation, a store mannequin, who looks vaguely like Kim Cattrall.  It turns out – as explained in the animated credits –  the mannequin has the spirit of an Egyptian princess looking for true love. Fate intervenes as Jonathan (McCarthy) ends up getting a job at the same store as the mannequin with movie coincidence luck.

He gets to dress her every morning in a series of stunning window displays (Sadly this bit isn’t seen for the legions of fans who were hoping for it. Aw.) This leads to jealousy from his girlfriend and the store’s rival competitors. Of course, when the mannequin comes to life as Kim Cattrall they fall madly in love.

Obviously, the catch is she’s a dummy and only he knows her secret. This leads to many hysterical moments deriving from this…oh how we laughed (maybe once). Anyway, their love leads to lots of montages, a dance routine and much more hilarity. The film also has a sadly more predictable role for G.W. Bailey – who played the store security guard – from the Police Academy series.

 

Fresh Horses (1988)…

Fresh Horses (1988) Movie Trailer, SBDF88

McCarthy’s character Matt is a well off student and is engaged to be married. His friend Tipton – played by Ben Stiller –  suggests they go to a party in the country. They go and by chance, he meets and falls for Jewel (Molly Ringwald). She claims she is 20 and there is an immediate attraction between them despite their differences.

He is rich, she is poor. He is educated, she isn’t. A bit like Rose and Jack on Titanic (1997) but without the boat, or the iceberg. Or the car. Matt and Jewel fall in love and he calls off his engagement.

However, she is keeping a number of secrets from him… which are revealed in the trailer – so it’s up to you if you want to find out – as this drama continues. Ringwald showed more range in her acting talent in this one, and it was lovely seeing her reunited with McCarthy on-screen after Pretty in Pink (1986) in this against all odds romance.

 

Class (1983)…

Class Official Trailer #1 – Cliff Robertson Movie (1983) HD, Movieclips Trailer Vault

In Class, McCarthy plays the school new boy, Jonathan who has won a scholarship to attend a prestigious school. However, he cheated on the tests to get him there. Rob Lowe plays his roommate Skip who plays a prank on him, after which Jonathan retaliates. The two become firm friends after this and they confide secrets with each other.  

Skip decides he should send Jonathan to Chicago to gain more experience with the ladies, there Jonathan meets an older woman named Ellen (Jacqueline Bisset) and they embark on a sexual relationship. And have a lot of sex in elevators and more conventional places…The catch, both don’t realise she is his roommate’s mother… which again is revealed by the tell-tale trailer and movie tag line.

This film was one of the many 1970s to 80s older woman younger man moments on the screen, with other younger men including John Travolta and Lily Tomlin (Moment by Moment, 1978)  and of course, Dallas‘ Linda “Sue Ellen Ewing” Gray with then The Pirate Movie (1982) hottie Christopher Atkins who played Peter Richards as John Ross’s camp counsellor. And the numerous younger men bedded by Dynasty‘s Alexis Colby (Joan Collins). However, McCarthy appears quite adorably cute in his scenes with Bisset and very much the awkward kid when they meet, in his first film alongside Rob Lowe.

 

Pretty in Pink (1986)…

Pretty in Pink (1986) – Old School Trailers 

In this John Hughes directed movie, McCarthy plays Blane a nice rich, boy next door type who hopes to win a poor girl from the wrong side of the tracks, Andie Walsh’s heart. Sounds familiar, luckily she has no secrets but his time in their relationship doesn’t get the immediate approval of their best friends, Andie’s best friend Duckie (Jon Cryer) and Blane’s best buddy. 1980s douchebag Steff is played to slimy perfection by James Spader.

It also didn’t help much of the test – and actual Pretty in Pink audiences – were rooting for Duckie. This is because the audience saw how hopelessly in love Duckie was with Andie, and how much more funny and cool he was. He serenades Andie with Otis Redding and his famous one-liners,  Bland Blane didn’t stand a chance.

However, for us McCarthy fans, it did lead to many girls wanting to be Blane’s girl with that first moment where he just smiles at her after he contacts her via ye olde chat engine. You can see why Ringwald wanted him cast as Blane, as IMDB states she fought for him to have the role saying he was the kind of guy that she’d date.

So girls of a certain age, wouldn’t you love to have that choice if you were an actress in personally picking your leading man who you get to snog…. and presumably get to shout CUT so the scenes redone to your liking? As I’m sure a few of you would make the same toyboy choice as Leslie Mann did in Vacation (2015). With this actress getting that full-on snog with one Chris Hemsworth…

 

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