Peggy Sue Got Married (1986)

Peggy Sue is nervous about going to her 25 year high school reunion. After suddenly fainting, she finds herself back in her senior year. With this second chance, she must decide whether or not she wants to do things differently. Everyone has heard the phrase, "If I knew then, what I know now..." If given the chance to travel back to another time in your life, what would you do? Simply make the same decisions, or cast caution to the wind and shake things up a bit?

There are a number of books and films that deal with the concept of time travel. The Back to the Future series is usually what comes to mind when the subject arises. Upon reading a synopsis for Peggy Sue Got Married, one may assume it's a knock-off of those films. This would be doing a disservice to it however, since it is quite a different animal. Here we get to see a person return to their own youth, only with new knowledge. What could of been more like a Lifetime movie is instead a deeper, more rewarding experience.

Legendary director Francis Ford Coppola was a superb choice for the film. He shines in both the dramatic and humorous moments. He also directed his actors well, getting sparkling performances from all involved. Kathleen Turner may not look like a teenager, but boy does she make us believe she is one. Her body language, the way she speaks, her range; it's no wonder she was nominated for an Oscar. Nicolas Cage is harder to warm up to at first, but ends up doing just fine.

Though the film is very entertaining, it's also pretty thought provoking. None of us has had Peggy's experience, but we can certainly imagine how we'd go about it. There is also a fair amount of humor throughout the film. Watching Peggy stumble through her second adolescence alone is quite amusing. Not an all out comedy, there are plenty scenes that are moving as well. One involving Peggy's grandmother is particularly poignant.

Oscar winning composer John Barry of Dances with Wolves fame did the score. It's nothing short of breathtaking and at times certainly brought tears to my eyes. And of course being a period film there are several great songs like The Champs' Tequila to enjoy. Speaking of period, both the costume and production designs are dead on here. All of Cage's outfits for the 1960 portion of the film are like something from a picture book.

The most unfortunate flaw in the film is that there a number of unresolved plot threads. For example, Peggy's friend in the wheelchair appears at the reunion, but is never seen or mentioned again. Also, the relationship with the character of Richard feels hurried or unfinished. It makes one wonder if the scenes meant to develop these ended up on the cutting room floor. The ending, which isn't necessarily unsatisfying, seems a little rushed and like things are resolved too easily. How these things happened is a mystery, but this is still a stellar film regardless.

9/10