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Can't Buy Me Love

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

1987-08-14 Drama 1hr 34m

Nerdy high schooler Ronald Miller rescues cheerleader Cindy Mancini from parental punishment after she accidentally destroys her mother's designer clothes. Ronald agrees to pay for the $1,000 outfit on one condition: that she will act as though they're a couple for an entire month. As the days pass, however, Cindy grows fond of Ronald, making him popular. But when Ronald's former best friend gets left behind, he realizes that social success isn't everything.

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Can't Buy Me Love
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Storyline

Nerdy high schooler Ronald Miller rescues cheerleader Cindy Mancini from parental punishment after she accidentally destroys her mother's designer clothes. Ronald agrees to pay for the $1,000 outfit on one condition: that she will act as though they're a couple for an entire month. As the days pass, however, Cindy grows fond of Ronald, making him popular. But when Ronald's former best friend gets left behind, he realizes that social success isn't everything.

  • Released
    1987-08-14
  • Revenue
    $31,623,833
  • Budget
    $1,800,000
  • Runtime
    1hr 34m
  • Genre
    Drama, Comedy, Romance
  • Status
    Released
  • Language
    English
  • imdb-logo
    6.8
  • Production
    Apollo Pictures, Touchstone Pictures, The Mount Company, Silver Screen Partners III

Crew

Steve Rash
Director
Michael Swerdlick
Writer
Thom Mount
Producer
Keywords:
new year's eve high school cheerleader nerd coming of age dress break-up teen comedy teen drama evening gown

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Contingencies

Contingencies

Cast

Patrick Dempsey

Patrick Dempsey
Ronald Miller
Amanda Peterson

Amanda Peterson
Cindy Mancini
Courtney Gains

Courtney Gains
Kenneth Wurman
Tina Caspary

Tina Caspary
Barbara
Seth Green

Seth Green
Chuckie Miller
Sharon Farrell

Sharon Farrell
Mrs. Mancini
Dennis Dugan

Dennis Dugan
David Miller
Darcy DeMoss

Darcy DeMoss
Patty
Devin DeVasquez

Devin DeVasquez
Iris
Eric Bruskotter

Eric Bruskotter
Big John
Gerardo Mejía

Gerardo Mejía
Ricky
Cort McCown

Cort McCown
Quint
Cloyce Morrow

Cloyce Morrow
Judy Miller
Steve Franken

Steve Franken
Moda Clerk
Ami Dolenz

Ami Dolenz
Fran
Max Perlich

Max Perlich
Lester
David Schermerhorn

David Schermerhorn
Albert
Phillip Simms

Phillip Simms
Rock
Tudor Sherrard

Tudor Sherrard
Brent
George Gray

George Gray
Bobby Hilton
Jimmie Lee Mitchell

Jimmie Lee Mitchell
Mr. Webbly
Jan O'Dell

Jan O'Dell
Mrs. Hagmer
James Gooden

James Gooden
Mr. Wurman
Erin O'Flaherty

Erin O'Flaherty
Jr. Wurman
Ty Gray

Ty Gray
Duane
Will Hannah

Will Hannah
Camera Salesman
Todd Walsh

Todd Walsh
Stocky Jones
Wayne Chandler

Wayne Chandler
African Host
Meredith Wagelie

Meredith Wagelie
Freshman #1
Jennifer Nelson

Jennifer Nelson
Freshman #2
Corissa Miller

Corissa Miller
Transfer Girl
Lisa Christine Christiansen

Lisa Christine Christiansen
Bambi La Brock
Paula Abdul

Paula Abdul
Dancer (uncredited)
Brandi Brandt

Brandi Brandt
(uncredited)
Anastasia Coon

Anastasia Coon
Dancer (uncredited)
David Kinn

David Kinn
Extra (uncredited)
The Lowpriest

The Lowpriest
Tucson High Student (uncredited)
Christopher Maleki

Christopher Maleki
Frat Guy (uncredited)
Shawn Tierney

Shawn Tierney
High School Student (uncredited)

Videos and Photos

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Movie Reviews

Reviews for Can't Buy Me Love
reviewer avatar

A Review by Wuchak 7

Written by Wuchak on 2018-02-10

RELEASED IN 1987 and directed by Steve Rash, “Can’t Buy Me Love” is a high school dramedy about a geek at an Arizona high school (Patrick De... read more

RELEASED IN 1987 and directed by Steve Rash, “Can’t Buy Me Love” is a high school dramedy about a geek at an Arizona high school (Patrick Dempsey) who pays the most popular girl in school (Amanda Peterson) $1000 to act like she likes him for a month so he can move up the social strata. Of course, this creates unforeseen problems. Courtney Gains plays his geek friend and Seth Green his little brother. This is better than some 80’s teen flicks (e.g. Molly Ringwald’s movies), but not as good as others (“Fast Times at Ridgemont High”). It’s arguably on par with “Just One of the Guys” and “Some Kind of Wonderful.” Unlike those films, however, it has a semi-campy vibe wherein the cast members often exaggerate their lines in an artificial way, which telegraphs that what’s happening isn’t real. If you can roll with this odd element, there’s a lot of good in “Can’t Buy Me Love” and the ending is genuinely moving. There are many serious/realistic scenes, like the notable airplane graveyard sequence. The two protagonists have good chemistry and their relationship arc is convincing. Tina Caspary (Barbara) and Darcy DeMoss (Patty) are serviceable on the fringe female front. THE FILM RUNS 1 hours & 34 minutes and was shot in Tucson, Arizona. WRITER: Michael Swerdlick. GRADE: B/B- (6.5/10)

reviewer avatar

A Review by John Chard 7

Written by John Chard on 2019-01-19

Whatever happens to your popularity, stay yourself, don't change to please others. Can't Buy Me Love is directed by Steve Rash and writt... read more

Whatever happens to your popularity, stay yourself, don't change to please others. Can't Buy Me Love is directed by Steve Rash and written by Michael Swerdlick. It stars Patrick Dempsey and Amanda Peterson. Music is by Robert Folk and cinematography by Peter Lyons Collister. Plot has Dempsey as nerdy outcast Ronald Miller, who fed up of not being popular pays Cindy Mancini (Peterson), the most popular girl in school, one thousand dollars to be his girlfriend. The 1980s was awash with films of this ilk, the teen dramedy topped up by a big hearted message and a finale of punch the air worth. What it all comes down to is if the film can hold its head above water, not become too twee, and crucially have you smiling come the finale. As evidenced by its popularity among 80s cineastes of a certain age, Can't Buy Me Love delivers all that you expect from such fare. The core theme is of course self acceptance, the attainment of such in amongst the scary world of teenage school years. This shines bright in spite of some rather unconvincing dialogue and contrived corny moments. Director Rash just about holds it together, ensuring that the charm of the lead actors holds weight for character engagement, even though for thematic depth the screenplay only skims over the surface. The teenage dramedy would evolve considerably once the 80s was left behind, becoming more biting, daring and observational. Yet for those who lived and loved this type of film in the 80s, there's a lovely nostalgic glow to be gleaned from revisits to the likes of Can't Buy Me Love. Nothing wrong with that. 6.5/10

Read Full Review (The thoughts and opinions expressed here are solely those of the reviewer.)
A Review by Wuchak

RELEASED IN 1987 and directed by Steve Rash, “Can’t Buy Me Love” is a high school dramedy about a geek at an Arizona high school (Patrick Dempsey) who pays the most popular girl in school (Amanda Peterson) $1000 to act like she likes him fo...

reviewer avatar

A Review by Wuchak 7

Written by Wuchak on 2018-02-10

RELEASED IN 1987 and directed by Steve Rash, “Can’t Buy Me Love” is a high school dramedy about a geek at an Arizona high school (Patrick Dempsey) who pays the most popular girl in school (Amanda Pete...

read more
reviewer avatar

A Review by John Chard 7

Written by John Chard on 2019-01-19

Whatever happens to your popularity, stay yourself, don't change to please others. Can't Buy Me Love is directed by Steve Rash and written by Michael Swerdlick. It stars Patrick Dempsey and Amanda...

read more