What would YOU have done differently 25 years ago? I know what I would have done, WHAT MY MOTHER TOLD ME TO DO! I probably would have paid more attention to the nerd who was on the honor roll in school who had a crush on me and ended up the wife of some type of CEO. Not that I don't have a perfectly wonderful marriage now, but that would have saved me from the pain of the first marriage -- OR would I have traded one set of problems for another?

Directed by Francis Ford Coppola, Kathleen Turner, attends her 25th high school reunion. She meets with some old friends in 1985 and has to explain that her marriage with her high school sweetheart has gone sour, as they married too young, before her husband, played by Nicholas Cage, had a chance to sow his wild oats. One good thing about their marriage, is their two wonderful children, one of whom is played by Helen Hunt, who has a minor role. The other child we don't get to meet. When the class selects the king and queen, of course we know who they are. Peggy Sue faints at all of the emotion and what has been going on in her life in the recent past.

When she awakens, it is 1960 and she is at school at a blood drive. By her side, is her boyfriend/husband, Charlie Bodell. At one point in the movie, Charlie comments that he has THE hair, the eyes, the teeth and the car which SHOULD make Peggy Sue honored to be with him. Charlie actually resembles a cross between Jan and Dean (for the younger readers they were a 60s beach type duet) and Squiggy from Lavern and Shirley.

We also get to see minor performances from Jim Carrey. I am not sure when he actually got started in acting, but this is one of the first performances I remember seeing him in. He pretty much plays himself, a young man, with a comedic personality.

Not sure that she actually wants to have her future guided towards Charlie, she plays the field a little. A love scene ensues with an actor whose name I do not recall, the school "nerd" who excels in physics and is not convinced that Hemingway is a great author. What I DO remember is the cinematography of that love scene and the backlighting which made it special.

Borrowing from Roger Ebert, I learned that Francis Ford Coppola is actually the third director of the film and that Debra Winger was originally cast in the role of Peggy Sue.

About one third of the way through the movie, I realized this movie closely resembled "Back to the Future." In doing a little extra research, I discovered that this movie was released in 1986, while "Future" was released in 1985. I am not sure if one movie inspired the other or if it was pure coincidence.

Peggy Sue provides a lot of food for thought. If you knew that this would be the last time that you would have contact with a loved one, what would you do or say that was different? As the medium, (person who claims to speak with the dead - those who have "crossed over") John Edward says, "Validate (affirm) those who you are with today, so I won't have to do it for you."



Recommended:
Yes

Video Occasion: Good Date Movie
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older