Forever Loving Watts--My Teenage Trail of Tears

This is not the best John Hughes' film but it's the one that had the greatest impact on me. I watched it over and over again and I think I can still recite about 3/4 of the lines. Watt's is the anti-heroine of the movie.

She plays the drums, drives a cool car, wears red tasseled leather gloves, and winklepickers. She's all tough talk and wisecracks and she knows how to give a great kissing lesson.


She dresses not unlike a butch lesbian with cutoff jeans and big t-shirts and a surfer boy haircut. Despite those transgressions she's a total knockout and way more cool than the cheerleading Ms. Amanda Jones. AND she gets the guy in the end and walks off into the sunset with him wearing a cute little drummer girl outfit.


If you haven't seen it I recommend you rent it--it still holds up. The writing is strong and the characters are complex, thanks to John Hughes' hand. And when you hear the sweetest Irish jig version of "I Can't Help Falling In Love With You" play in the closing scene, remember the 13 year old me, mouthing the words, tears streaming down my face.