Couple:

Samantha Baker & Jake Ryan

Why I love it:

Many of my girlfriends who are 5 to 10 years older than me consider this film to be the holy grail of romantic comedies. Though, I can share in the appreciation, I was never prepared to chop off and dye my hair red, like so many of my fellow gal pals. This flick is always cute, quick watch and pretty much solidified Molly Ringwald as the 80’s queen teen. On a side note, did you know that Jake Ryan’s house and Cameron’s Dad’s place from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off happen to be less than half a mile apart? Now, that’s a neighborhood I wouldn’t have minded growing up in.

Synopsis:

Samantha Baker is having the worst week. Her family has all but forgotten of her existence in the wake of her older sister’s wedding, which falls one day after her sixteenth birthday. They very un-sweet day passes without so much as an acknowledgement from any of the extended family staying under the same roof. To top it off, her high school crush, Jake Ryan has intercepted a sex quiz that embarrassingly reveals her hidden feeling towards him. Jake comes to the realization that his current two-dimensional girlfriend could never compare to what Samantha has to offer. After breaking it off with his current fling, he runs off to give Sam the birthday celebration and attention that she always deserved.

Couple Conclusion:

Not to be a cynic here, but it’s hard to believe that there are a high percentage of people out there who can hang on to a man beginning at age 16. I think Jake, who is a senior, was meant to cross paths with Sam to help build up the confidence she will need to apply for the rest of her life. I see them enjoying a very innocent coupledom until the day Jake leaves for college. I think he will frequently look back to those days and wonder exactly why he didn’t make more of an effort to keep her in his life. But, he will realize that at some point his adoration would have become smothering to their independent growth and he will accept and endorse the choices he made. So even though they don’t technically make it, I wouldn’t rule out a post-first or second marriage reunion for this couple in their late 50’s.