Parents' Guide to

Pretty in Pink

By Marjorie Kase, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Dated high school tale is still fun for teens.

Movie PG-13 1986 96 minutes
Pretty in Pink Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 14+

Based on 11 parent reviews

Rated T for Tommy
Rated T for Tommy Adult
August 28, 2022
age 15+

it was cute, but it left a lot to be desired

LANGUAGE: Some swearing including “shit”, “bitch”, and “ass.” F-bomb dropped twice. One character is called “f**kwad” and the other is said by Molly Ringwald’s character Andie in an angry tirade. One r-word. One gay f-word and few uses of “Goddamn”. SEX: Some prolonged kissing, Molly Ringwald puts on tights in the beginning (nothing is seen except her legs), some references such as “get you off”, and a joke about impregnating girls. Steph and his girlfriend make out during a party. VIOLENCE: Duckie got briefly attacked a couple of times. One character shoots another with a staple gun in the eye. ALCHOHOL: Some scenes take place in a bar. One teen couple is drunk. MY OPINION: Had some good moments. Definitely reeks of 80s cheese. Ducky was funny. Andie’s best friend Iona was funny. That’s about it. Blaine (Andrew McCarthy) is boring and has no personality. If your kids like eighties movies or prom-romcoms, and you want your kids to see why Molly Ringwald a big deal back in 1986 for nostalgic purposes, maybe show them this before you show them Breakfast Club and maybe show them Sixteen Candles once hell freezes over.
1 person found this helpful.
Candyapples393
Candyapples393 Parent of 14-year-old
July 9, 2021
age 12+

Has great music

This was a great movie that had great music.
1 person found this helpful.
See all 11 parent reviews

What's the Story?

For most children of the '80s, writer/director John Hughes' films played a considerable role in forming their opinions about what high school was really like. Of course, anyone in high school at the time would have told you differently, but for tweens at the time, movies such as The Breakfast Club (1984), Sixteen Candles (1985), and PRETTY IN PINK (1986) served as primers for navigating the shark-infested waters of the high school caste system. Pretty in Pink is the third of such films starring Molly Ringwald. In this one, she plays Andie, a smart girl from the wrong side of the tracks who lives with her well-meaning unemployed father and hangs out with her best friend, Duckie (Jon Cryer). When she and a wealthy kid named Blane (Andrew McCarthy) develop a mutual crush, her world is turned upside down, as friends from both sides disapprove of their relationship.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (11):
Kids say (29):

Although well intentioned, this movie's repeated message of being true to oneself is completely lost during its lame conclusion. (A much different ending was intended for the film, yet after proving itself unpopular with test audiences, Hughes switched it). The script is full of clichés and not a shred of chemistry exists between Ringwald and McCarthy. The film's only redeeming qualities are in the performances of its supporting cast and its totally awesome soundtrack. James Spader is perfect as McCarthy's best friend Steff, the obnoxious self-entitled snob we love to hate. Annie Potts is divine as nostalgia-ridden Iona, Andie's coworker/mother figure, and Cryer's Duckie evokes sympathy, bemusement, and at times intense irritation.

Despite the film's obvious misgivings, Pretty in Pink is highly entertaining and contains some of Hughes' best one-liners. It's hard to judge how this generation will react to an '80s classic such as this one given its dated look and obvious dialogue. Kids will undoubtedly poke fun at Andie's disastrous sense of fashion, in particular her prom dress, which resembles a pink burlap sack. One thing they most certainly will marvel at is a scene where Blane flirts with Andie using a crude form of instant messenger.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how financial status and conformist behavior play roles in determining popularity. Parents may want to share and compare their own high school experiences with their kids to bridge the generation gap. They could use Pretty in Pink to discuss and encourage their kids to recognize the value of their classmates' differences.

  • How are drinking and smoking conveyed in the movie? Are they glamorized, or are the potential negative consequences shown?

  • How is bullying conveyed in the movie? Do you think it's a realistic portrayal?

Movie Details

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