Can't Buy Me Love (1987)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

Steve Rash

Writer:

Michael Swerdlick (writer)

Release Date:

14 August 1987 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Ronald is making an investment in his senior year. He's hiring the prettiest cheerleader in school to be his girlfriend.

Plot:

Ronald Miller is tired of being a nerd, and makes a deal with one of the most popular girls in school to help him break into the "cool" clic...

Plot Keywords:

Money | Popularity | Poker Game | Cheerleader | Nerd

Awards:

1 win & 3 nominations

Cast

Patrick Dempsey	...	Ronald Miller
Amanda Peterson	...	Cindy Mancini
Courtney Gains	...	Kenneth Wurman
Tina Caspary	...	Barbara
Seth Green	...	Chuckie Miller
Sharon Farrell	...	Mrs. Mancini
Darcy DeMoss	...	Patty
Dennis Dugan	...	David Miller
Cloyce Morrow	...	Judy Miller
Devin DeVasquez	...	Iris
Cort McCown	...	Quint
Eric Bruskotter	...	Big John
Gerardo Mejía	...	Ricky
Ami Dolenz	...	Fran
Max Perlich	...	Lester
David Schermerhorn	...	Albert
Steve Franken	...	Moda Clerk
Phillip Simms	...	Rock (as Phil Simms)
Tudor Sherrard	...	Brent
George Gray	...	Bobby Hilton
Jimmie Lee Mitchell	...	Mr. Webbly
Jan O'Dell	...	Mrs. Hagmer (as Jan Rooney)
James Gooden	...	Mr. Wurman
Erin O'Flaherty	...	Jr. Wurman
Ty Gray	...	Duane
Will Hannah	...	Camera Salesman
Todd Walsh	...	Stocky Jones
Wayne Chandler	...	African Host
Meredith Wagelie	...	Freshman #1
Jennifer Nelson	...	Freshman #2
Corissa Miller	...	Transfer Girl
Lisa Givens	...	Bambi La Brock
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Paula Abdul	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Brandi Brandt	...	(uncredited)
Anastasia Coon	...	Dancer (extra) (uncredited)
Christopher Maleki	...	Frat guy (uncredited)

Directed by
Steve Rash

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Michael Swerdlick		writer

Produced by
Ron Beckman	....	executive producer
Mark Burg	....	co-producer
Jere Henshaw	....	executive producer
Thom Mount	....	producer
Michael Swerdlick	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Robert Folk

Cinematography by
Peter Lyons Collister

Film Editing by
Jeff Gourson

Casting by
Caro Jones

Production Design by
Donald Lee Harris		(as Donald L. Harris)

Set Decoration by
Andrew Bernard
Christian W. Russhon

Costume Design by
Gregory Poe

Makeup Department
Annie Mayo	....	hair stylist
Annie Mayo	....	makeup artist
Cher Slater	....	hair supervisor
Cher Slater	....	makeup artist
Bob Smith	....	hair stylist
Bob Smith	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Donald C. Klune	....	production manager
Rex Stewart	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Warren Glen Chidester	....	second assistant director
Jerram A. Swartz	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Pasco Di Carlo	....	set dresser
Annie Koerner	....	property master
John Raineri	....	assistant to set dresser

Sound Department
Rick Alexander	....	re-recording mixer
Peter Bentley	....	sound mixer
Dean Drabin	....	foley mixer
Les Fresholtz	....	re-recording mixer
Gary A. Hecker	....	foley effects (as Gary 'Wrecker' Hecker)
Pieter Hubbard	....	sound editor
Scott Jacobs	....	boom operator
Bruce Lacey	....	sound editor
Bill Phillips	....	supervising sound editor
John Phillips	....	assistant sound editor
Vern Poore	....	re-recording mixer
Hal Sanders	....	sound editor
Alicia Stevenson	....	foley effects
Mike Warner	....	sound editor

Camera and Electrical Department
Gary Boulanger	....	second assistant camera
Mark Braun	....	grip
John Connell	....	first assistant camera
Jay Coolidge	....	first assistant camera
Bob Crockett	....	electrician
Randy Feemster	....	camera operator (as Randal Feemster)
Craig Fleming	....	grip
Ed Fortson	....	still photographer
Bob Fox	....	gaffer
Perry Karidis	....	best boy grip
Kyle T. MacDowell	....	electrician
Larry Niemi	....	best boy electric
David O'Neill	....	electrician
Tony Sackmann	....	generator operator
Mark S. Speake	....	electrician
Craig Woodruff	....	key grip
Mansur Johnson	....	grip (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
George Cooper	....	assistant costumer
Katherine Quinif	....	assistant costumer
Eric Wise	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Maria Lee Silver	....	assistant editor
Bill Turro	....	second assistant editor

Music Department
Ellen Segal	....	music editor
Armin Steiner	....	music recordist

Transportation Department
Dale I. Dodds	....	transportation captain
Roger Greer	....	transportation coordinator
Everett Everett	....	driver: honeywagon (uncredited)
Dennis Janovici	....	transportation captain (uncredited)

Other crew
Paula Abdul	....	choreographer
Linda 'Kippi' Bell	....	assistant to producer
Russ Chesley	....	production executive (as Russell Chesley)
Allen Custard	....	production assistant
Deborah Cutler	....	production assistant
Gregory A. Gale	....	production assistant
Gillian P. Glen	....	production coordinator
Steven E. Housewright	....	dga intern
Carlton Jones	....	assistant choreographer
Cookie Knapp	....	studio teacher
Anne McCaffrey	....	location manager
Laura Namerow	....	production secretary
Daryl Robinson	....	craft service
William F. Rose Jr.	....	assistant auditor
Valerie Ross	....	production secretary
Ricki L. Stein	....	production auditor
Mark S. Thomas	....	script supervisor (as Mark Thomas)

Production Companies

• Apollo Pictures
• Silver Screen Partners III
• The Mount Company
• Touchstone Pictures

Distributors

• Buena Vista Pictures (1987) (USA) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista Home Video (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1990) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)

Also Known As:

Boy Rents Girl

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | UK:PG (cut version) | Australia:M | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | UK:15 | USA:PG-13 | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Hill Farm, Tucson, Arizona, USA

Company:

Apollo Pictures

Trivia:

Patrick Dempsey, now a car collector and race driver, used all of his salary from the movie paying for his first car, a 1963 356 Porsche convertible.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: At the end of the movie, Cindy's last word is "definitely", however her mouth isn't moving when she says this.

Quotes:

Quint: I've learned to appreciate the finer things in life. I even travel with my own wine. You never know the quality you may encounter at a soiree.
Fran: [smells the wine and coughs] Very classy.
Quint: [takes a swig out of the wine bottle] Mm-hmm. I'm into class. It's my new thing.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Film Geek (2005)

Soundtrack:

DANCIN' WITH MYSELF

Good flyweight entertainment

I've seen bundles of these teen comedies, and "Can't Buy Me Love" does contain every cliche in the book. But it was made in 1987. This was a little past the dawning of the high school movie, and the characters of the nerd, jock, cheerleader, etc. were just recently created. I don't know. Maybe this movie was even a huge cliche back in the eighties. But I'm still gonna give it the benefit of the doubt.

I catch this movie on TBS quite a lot of times, and I can't help but enjoy it. There are certain cliched scenes that just force me to roll my eyes and sigh, yet I can't change the channel. Well, there are two key elements that make this flyweight teen comedy work: Patrick Dempsey and Amanda Peterson. They both give charming performances, and have a wonderful chemistry. Even though you know exactly what will happen between them, it's still a delight to see them on screen. Dempsey hasn't had a big role in years, and you can technically classify him as a has-been, but he is a good, charismatic actor. And it would've been nice if his career actually took off. As for Peterson, I don't remember her from any other movies, so I have no knowledge of her career. All I know is she's good-looking and I liked her in this movie.

The story is as predictable as you can get, with paperthin characters, but as I said it's good flyweight entertainment. Strictly a guilty pleasure. If I were in the mood for a good--and by that I mean good in quality--high school movie I'd watch "Ghost World" or one of the "American Pie" movies. But if I just want to kick back and watch a cheesy high school movie that will put a smile on my face and contains no intellectual value, I'll watch "Can't Buy Me Love."

Of course, the movie has a "message" at the end about being yourself, and not caring what others think of you, but the message is delivered with the finesse of an after-school special and is strictly pasted on. When you have characters that are so stereotypical and implausible, it's hard to fit in a believable message. But what would a high school movie be without a schmaltzy third act?

That's why I recommend this movie, just as a guilty pleasure. It's far from great, yet undeniably appealing. But please do not bother to analyze this movie. You'll be wasting your time.

My score: 7 (out of 10)