If you like teen 80s movies, don't pass up Secret Admirer. The story has been done plenty of times. A love letter, of which the author remains conveniently anonymous, unintentionally circulates through many hands, causing loads of misconceptions and people making fools of themselves. 'The Love Letter' (with Ellen Degenerous and Tom Selleck) was the most recent rendition of this story, and I'm sure there was a 50s version of it, too. But what the heck, it's an 80s teen comedy with a well-known teen cast.
C. Thomas Howell is Mike Ryan, a high school guy who is hopelessly in love with the popular, pretty girl, Deborah (Kelly Preston). Only, he can't tell her in person how he feels about her, especially with her tough college boyfriend, Steve (played by Scott McGinnis). Mike confides in Toni (Lori Laughlin), his best friend, instead about how much he loves Deborah.
But, Mike gets the bold idea to write his dream girl a love letter. He doesn't have the courage to give it to Deborah, let alone sign it. So, he gives it to Toni, who can tell that with writing like Mike's, he doesn't stand a chance of making an impression with Deborah. She's a girl with an ego, so it's going to take a lot to impress her. She revises his letter and passes it on. And now Deborah has fallen in love with someone who doesn't exist. Of course, she likes Mike, but she only likes him based on what she has read in the revised letters. In the meantime, Toni wishes Mike would get real and realize that Deborah is no kind of girl for him because she's so insincere and all of that. She's worried about appearances more than anything else. And slowly, Mike starts to realize it, too. In that 'Some Kind of Wonderful' kind of way, he realizes that Toni really likes him, and what the heck, he likes her too.
Meanwhile, there's trouble between Mike's family and Deborah's family as the letters start passing hands of the family members and the parents start suspecting that each other's spouse wants to get involved in an affair just because of this dumb love letter. And they're even willing to have a go because they suspect their own spouses of cheating. It's all a major mistake and one entirely based on lack of trust in their relationships. The consequences are funny nonetheless.
As for the rest of the cast, there's some funny moments with cocky Roger (Casey Seizmasko), who plays Mike's other best friend and poor source of guidance about girls. You can also see a very young Corey Haim in his film debut as Mike's younger punk brother. And, other members of Mike's friends include Courtney Gains ('Can't Buy Me Love') who is in so few scenes and many other familiar faces.
It's good lazy fun even if the story isn't anything new.
C. Thomas Howell is Mike Ryan, a high school guy who is hopelessly in love with the popular, pretty girl, Deborah (Kelly Preston). Only, he can't tell her in person how he feels about her, especially with her tough college boyfriend, Steve (played by Scott McGinnis). Mike confides in Toni (Lori Laughlin), his best friend, instead about how much he loves Deborah.
But, Mike gets the bold idea to write his dream girl a love letter. He doesn't have the courage to give it to Deborah, let alone sign it. So, he gives it to Toni, who can tell that with writing like Mike's, he doesn't stand a chance of making an impression with Deborah. She's a girl with an ego, so it's going to take a lot to impress her. She revises his letter and passes it on. And now Deborah has fallen in love with someone who doesn't exist. Of course, she likes Mike, but she only likes him based on what she has read in the revised letters. In the meantime, Toni wishes Mike would get real and realize that Deborah is no kind of girl for him because she's so insincere and all of that. She's worried about appearances more than anything else. And slowly, Mike starts to realize it, too. In that 'Some Kind of Wonderful' kind of way, he realizes that Toni really likes him, and what the heck, he likes her too.
Meanwhile, there's trouble between Mike's family and Deborah's family as the letters start passing hands of the family members and the parents start suspecting that each other's spouse wants to get involved in an affair just because of this dumb love letter. And they're even willing to have a go because they suspect their own spouses of cheating. It's all a major mistake and one entirely based on lack of trust in their relationships. The consequences are funny nonetheless.
As for the rest of the cast, there's some funny moments with cocky Roger (Casey Seizmasko), who plays Mike's other best friend and poor source of guidance about girls. You can also see a very young Corey Haim in his film debut as Mike's younger punk brother. And, other members of Mike's friends include Courtney Gains ('Can't Buy Me Love') who is in so few scenes and many other familiar faces.
It's good lazy fun even if the story isn't anything new.