What Ever Happened to Molly Ringwald?
Molly was huge when I was in high school even though her most popular movies at the time were a few years old. She was the redheaded role model for many young girls- not to mention a decent actress. I recall cutting my friend’s red hair at 15-years-old from a length that reached the bottom of her back and transformed it into Molly’s infamous bob. She was very satisfied with her new look though I can’t say the same for her mother. I became curious about sewing and wanted to make my own clothes after watching Molly make her own prom dress in Pretty in Pink. I soon found out that sewing was not my area of expertise.
Molly is pretty though not void of imperfections and provided young women with more attainable goals versus the anorexic, silicone role models of today. I’m sure I speak for many people when I say that the first time I knew of Molly was when I first watched the movie Sixteen Candles. This coming of age classic made her a star. We could relate to her character as a teenager with a typical wide range of emotions, attempting to become her own person in the midst of her unique family life. We felt the pain when her parents missed her 16th birthday and we laughed at the bizarre circumstances she was always falling into with her family and at school.
I must say that Pretty in Pink is my favorite movie starring Molly Ringwald. This was the very first movie I bought and, yes, it was on VHS! The prom was a tremendous deal in high school. We just had to have that perfect dress and the best date and we looked forward to the event since we were freshmen. We thought (back then, of course) that the worst thing that could ever happen to us would be something going wrong on prom night. Why do you think they make horror movies with young girls at risk on prom night?
Molly’s character encountered many obstacles along the way to finally getting to the prom along with the date of her dreams. She made her own prom dress because she didn’t have the money to by the lavish ones that so many of us were fortunate enough to have thanks to our parents. Most of us spent time with our mothers preparing for the huge event but Molly didn’t have a mother. She was also picked on at school. Her journey to prom success inspired many young girls and showed us the value of the many things that we took for granted every day.
It seems these two movies are what made me a fan of Molly Ringwald but her fame was short lived because I’ve seen very few decent movies of hers since. The most notable movies she has starred in are; The Pickup Artist, For Keeps, Stephen King’s The Stand, Malicious (Ringwald’s first nude scene), Teaching Mrs. Tingle and Not Another Teen Movie. I’m sure many people would agree that few of these, if any, were major hits.
I would like to see Molly Ringwald in a new movie that will bring her career back to life! One suggestion would be a sequel of sorts to Pretty in Pink. It would be great if she and Andrew McCarthy were married and had a teenage daughter who was about to have her own prom experience. Molly would be the mom she never had for her daughter and tell her about her experience back in the eighties. Her daughter would have her own share of ups and downs eventually leading to her ultimate prom night. Another suggestion would be to give her the lead role in a film where she comes to terms with the fact that she’s turning 40-years-old and her family forgets her birthday. She feels left out in the midst of married life, children and a thankless profession. She eventually learns that turning 40 is not the end of the world but can be a new beginning for the rest of her life.
So, Molly, we want you back. Give Drew Barrymore a call, she’s been making a few good hits and may have what it takes to bring you back to the big screen!
For more cult classics, check out The Movie Channel with Dish Network satellite TV.
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