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Can't Buy Me Love poster

Can't Buy Me Love

year 1987decade 80sdirector Steve Rash

94 minutes

Cast

Selected cast credits · Film reference

Patrick Dempsey Ronald Miller
Amanda Peterson Cindy Mancini
Courtney Gains Kenneth Wurman
Tina Caspary Barbara
Seth Green Chuckie Miller
Sharon Farrell Mrs. Mancini
Dennis Dugan David Miller
Eric Bruskotter Big John
Cort McCown Quint
Cloyce Morrow Judy Miller
Steve Franken Moda Clerk
Ami Dolenz Fran
Max Perlich Lester
Phil Simms Rock
George Gray III Bobby Hilton
Jimmie Lee Mitchell Mr. Webbly
Jan Rooney Mrs. Hagmer
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

Can't Buy Me Love | The Rewatchables

host Bill Simmonshost Juliet Litmanproducer Craig Horlbeck anniversary 35th Anniversary
Explore episodeClose episode

The Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award

Popularity template; borrowed tropes; boyfriend’s accusation structurally essential

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 00:03:06Read transcript
  • The film is called exceptionally influential for making the pursuit of popularity a teen-movie template, with Drive Me Crazy and 10 Things I Hate About You as descendants.
  • The film’s obliviousness-to-romance and abandoning-old-friends patterns are seen again in Mean Girls and Beverly Hills 90210.
  • The college boyfriend explicitly naming the transactional relationship is argued to be essential to the film’s structure.

What’s Aged the Best?

Cindy; young Dempsey; Cabriolet; Tucson; Easy A homage; Seth Green; jokes; fashion; makeover

In the discussion (16)
Approx. transcript time · 00:19:24Read transcript
  • Cindy is unusually likable for a teen-film heroine: genuine, morally grounded, poetic, and aware of her boyfriend’s and friends’ faults.
  • Seeing young Dempsey before his Grey’s Anatomy fame is praised.
  • Cindy’s Volkswagen Cabriolet is admired as an iconic car; a roommate’s similar convertible inspired teasing about its feminine image.
  • The Cabriolet’s unsafe open design is part of its appeal, with memories of crowded, unbelted rides.
  • Tucson’s palm trees, Spanish tile, and low houses make 1980s Arizona an appealing film location.
  • Easy A’s explicit tribute to the ending reinforces the film’s influence.
  • Early Seth Green as the mischievous younger brother is enjoyed, especially his constant presence in the car and freedom from consequences.
  • The49.95dating offer is funny after Ronald hits bottom.
  • Cindy’s increasingly absurd telephone excuses are funny.
  • The performer known for Rico Suave appears as Ricky and reportedly called the film more enduringly popular than his hit song at a reunion.
  • Cindy’s retort to her friends about recognizing a lady displays her moral judgment.
  • Big John’s farting gag is enjoyed as juvenile humor, and the character is considered likable.
  • Cindy’s outfits remain fashionable, including skirts, boots, crop tops, jeans, and the opening jacket combination.
  • Ronald’s NASA shirt and Adidas sneakers now resemble desirable fashionable vintage clothes.
  • The$1,000 offer remains an understandable incentive.
  • Removing glasses for an instant makeover remains an influential trope.

Most Rewatchable Scene

Kenneth’s arcade confrontation

In the discussion (24)
Approx. transcript time · 00:26:59Read transcript
  • The telescope-shopping encounter where Ronald pays Cindy to date him is nominated.
  • Accepting the dating offer is considered understandable, and Ronald’s purchase of access to a new social world is defended as a smart decision.
  • The car-wash scene marks the couple beginning to connect, with Cindy sharing her secret poetry.
  • Cindy’s poem is mocked as badly written; its earnest delivery and Ronald later stealing it make the scene increasingly funny.
  • The final contracted date at the airplane graveyard is nominated.
  • The real airplane graveyard is praised as an exceptional date location.
  • Ronald introduces Cindy to an unfamiliar part of her hometown, reversing who opens a new world for whom.
  • Ronald failing to recognize Cindy’s obvious romantic interest on their last date is considered implausible.
  • The African Anteater Ritual scene is nominated as an encapsulation of1980s teen films.
  • The band, terrible songs, and nerd-herd insult contribute to the dance scene’s period character.
  • Everyone copying Ronald’s strange dance makes the scene both funny and painfully awkward.
  • Cindy watching the others imitate Ronald highlights her better judgment.
  • Peterson’s drunk acting in Cindy’s exposure scene is praised.
  • Cindy exposing the paid relationship after hearing the stolen poem is praised as a devastating attack on the followers.
  • Can’t Hardly Wait is praised for adapting the public-exposure scene with a different accusation rather than merely copying it.
  • The Halloween prank against Kenneth’s house is nominated as the moment Ronald betrays his friend to gain approval.
  • Kenneth rejecting the arcade apology with the house accusation is praised as an iconic and unusually specific comic explosion.
  • The friendship is considered beyond repair after the prank, despite the eventual reconciliation.
  • Ronald defending Kenneth in the cafeteria and rejecting social factions is nominated as the moral turnaround.
  • The handshake and earnest slow clap are praised as famous teen-film conventions, later used ironically.
  • The lawnmower ending is praised as clever symbolism and cited as an influence on Easy A.
  • The apparently departed lover reappearing is compared with Reality Bites and later romantic comedies.
  • The arcade confrontation is the first final scene choice, with the dance explicitly second.
  • The second final choice also selects the arcade confrontation, praising Kenneth’s look-away and emphatic performance amid the video games.

Sequel, Prequel, Limited Series, or All-Black Remake

Dempsey as father; darker gender-reversed television series

In the discussion (8)
Approx. transcript time · 00:34:12Read transcript
  • The 2003 Nick Cannon film is identified as an already-completed all-Black remake.
  • A sequel would make Dempsey the father of a daughter trying to become popular.
  • An eight-episode television version would reverse the genders and become much darker.
  • A character learning the paid relationship’s secret could be murdered, leaving the popularity-seeker to cover it up.
  • Using the payment for drugs rather than a replacement outfit is another proposed variation.
  • Sam Levinson is imagined as an executive producer involved in the pilot rather than the writer.
  • Sarah Michelle Gellar is proposed as the mother alongside Dempsey as the father.
  • Gains is proposed as a schoolteacher, with the new story again set in Arizona.

What’s Aged the Worst?

Age gap; Bobby’s acting; remake; mother’s date; moon prediction; restroom hygiene; slurs; stereotyping; locker-room depiction

In the discussion (9)
Approx. transcript time · 00:53:40Read transcript
  • The lead actors’ filming ages, Peterson 15 and Dempsey 20, are raised as surprising.
  • Bobby’s acting is criticized, though his disengaged television interview is defended as realistic for a college quarterback.
  • Love Don’t Cost a Thing is rejected as a poor remake, including its changed title.
  • Cindy’s mother’s date flirting with Cindy has aged poorly but helps explain the family relationship.
  • Ronald’s prediction of ordinary moon habitation has not come true.
  • The teacher leaving the restroom without washing her hands is criticized.
  • Disability slurs and special-education insults are criticized.
  • The African program and dance naming are criticized for stereotyping.
  • The girls’ locker-room depiction is criticized as an unrealistic adult male fantasy.

The Dion Waiters Award for Best Heat Check Performance

Seth Green; Cindy’s mother

In the discussion (7)
Approx. transcript time · 01:02:37Read transcript
  • Iris is an initial heat-check candidate.
  • Big John is an initial heat-check candidate.
  • Seth Green is an explicit heat-check choice.
  • The Seth Green choice is reaffirmed after the case for Cindy’s mother.
  • Cindy’s mother is selected because her view of Ronald effectively establishes his outsider status.
  • The mother’s sketchy boyfriend helps explain Cindy’s circumstances.
  • The mother buying the suede outfit causes the story, and the mother–daughter relationship works with little screen time.

Apex Mountain

Amanda Peterson; lawnmowers; Courtney Gains; Cabriolet; Arizona films; borderline transactional rom-coms

In the discussion (10)
Approx. transcript time · 01:06:59Read transcript
  • Dempsey is rejected.
  • Peterson receives an agreed yes.
  • Lawnmowers receive a yes, with the Mad Men accident as a comparison.
  • High-school movies are rejected as a whole.
  • Striving-for-popularity films are tentatively proposed, then tempered by Mean Girls and the distinction between influence and peak quality.
  • Courtney Gains receives a yes.
  • Tucson is proposed without a resolved comparison; Spielberg’s hometown is uncertain.
  • The Volkswagen Cabriolet receives an emphatic yes.
  • Arizona films receive an agreed yes after Raising Arizona is mentioned.
  • Borderline transactional-romance comedies receive a yes, distinguishing the film from overt prostitution stories and the payment structure of 10 Things I Hate About You.

Just One Oscar

Nobody; forced choice Dempsey

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:16:03Read transcript
  • Nobody is judged to deserve an Oscar.
  • If forced to select someone, Dempsey is chosen.

The Coach Finstock Award for Best Life Lesson

Stay loyal; respect borrowed clothes; dry-clean suede; be yourself

In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 01:19:13Read transcript
  • Never betray your friends.
  • Do not borrow a parent’s best clothing without permission.
  • Do not put water on stained suede; seek a dry cleaner.
  • Remain yourself instead of changing to please others.

Who Won the Movie?

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:20:07Read transcript
  • Dempsey receives the first final choice because the film launched him and helped fuel his later revival.
  • The second final choice revises an original-release preference for Peterson to Dempsey after 35 years, while lamenting Peterson’s lost opportunities.
  • Green receives an additional commendation for the unusual role not derailing his career.
Podcast choices
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Patrick Dempsey
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