For being preppy vs punk, this one ain’t too hardcore. Sad. But that probably would have been a bridge too far if that were the case. Romeo and Juliet could’ve never connected properly over a raging mosh pit and spittin teeth. Much too sweaty and bloody.
High Schoolers from different parts of L.A. Girls in the malls, buying all the latest fashions. Afternoon at the beach. A couple of young punks sneak an address to a house party in the valley, crash it. Opposites attract. Societal norms are ignored and enforced. Decisions are made then maybe unmade. Dramas ensue. You can take the girl out of the valley but you can’t take the valley out of...well, you know the thing. Plus a weird little cougar subplot. Rawr!
This is basically a West Coast John Hughes movie, the ups and downs of high school cliques and loves and disappointments, all to a steady soundtrack of new wave and soft punk? I really don’t consider Modern English’s “I Melt with You” very punk but hey, whatevs, it sets the mood alright. Not really a normal DMR kinda flick besides the early Cage role (technically his first credited as Nicolas Cage instead of Coppola), but I guess does get a good snapshot of the early 80s West Coast scene. For horny high schoolers.
