Fresh Horses

In my look back at forgotten brat pack films, I saved the worst for last. Hoping that the Pretty In Pink magic was still there, Andrew McCarthy and Molly Ringwald reteamed in 1988 for the dreadful Fresh Horses.

Matt, McCarthy, is a college senior that seems to have an idealistic life. Destined to land a good job after graduation, a fiancee, Molly Hagan, and what seems to be a good group of friends, Ben Stiller and Doug Hutchison. His friend Tipton, Stiller, talks him into one wild night, and the two go to a sleazy roadhouse bar out in the sticks. It's there where Matt meets Jewel, Ringwald. She's from the wrong side of the tracks and has a sketchy history, but Matt doesn't care. He can't get enough of her. So much so that he breaks off his engagement, distances himself from his friends, and jeopardizes his future plans. But the more he finds out about Jewel's past, the less enamoured he becomes.

I hate, hate, hate this movie. I feel dirty even writing a post about this trashy, soap opera of a flick. McCarthy is totally typecast in the good guy, preppy role. Ringwald is totally miscast as the backwoods girl. Hagan, Stiller, and Hutchison come off as obnoxious and not characters I would want to hang out with. Knowing what a creep Hutchison is in real life, he married a 16 year old girl when he was 50, maybe he would be better cast in a sleezier role.Viggo Mortensen comes off the best as a shady figure from Jewel's past. But he pops up near the end of the movie. By that time it was just too little, too late.

Oddly enough, this was directed by David Anspaugh as his follow up to Hoosiers. What the hell? How can you follow up such a classic with such dreck?

I would say avoid this one at all costs. But if the temptation to see McCarthy and Ringwald together again is to great, it is available on dvd.