What’s this all about?
This is it. The first movie that I remember seeing Nicolas Cage in. PSGM came out when I was 9. I saw it in the theater, and remember liking it. I hadn’t seen it since. Let’s see how it held up.
Peggy Sue Got Married tells the story of titular Peggie Sue, a 40-something mother going through a divorce from her crappy husband. At her 25th high school reunion, she collapses, and is whisked, by forces never explained at all, back to 1960.
She has all of the typical time traveller realizations (“I’ll never use this algebra”, “I should invent pantyhose”) and gets a fresh look at what led to her unhappy life.
Francis Ford Coppola directed this, which I didn’t know before this watch through. I still don’t think he’s actually a good director.
Who is Nick in this one?
Nick plays Peggy Sue’s husband/boyfriend Charlie Bodell. For most of the film, Cage is “aged down” about ten years, which he accomplishes largely through the use of a Pee Wee Herman voice impression that wears really thin, really fast. For the rest of the film, he’s “aged up” about ten years, but it looks like the makeup people didn’t get the memo, and went full “old man”.
Nick’s character (in 1960) is a wannabe musician who I think was supposed to be one of the “cool kids”. Back in 1986, he’s a loud appliance salesman who cheats on his wife and makes awful TV commercials. Again, I’m not sure if we’re supposed to think people love him, or can’t stand him.
Who else is in this one?
Kathleen Turner plays the eponymous “Peggy Sue”. She was a big deal for a few years in the 80’s. I’m not sure why, and I’m not sure where she went. I always found her to be great, and she’s very solid here. She’s not very believable as a High School kid, but that’s kind of the point.
Helen Hunt has a bit part in this. She plays Nicolas Cage’s daughter. Helen Hunt is one year older than Nicolas Cage.
Jim Carey plays a small role. The highlight is when he does lines of coke with the mom from Seventh Heaven.
Sofia Coppola is in this, too. Because of course she is.
Did you see that? (Michael/Sarah)
In perhaps the first scene of the movie, Francis Ford Coppola attempts a “mirror shot.” You know, one of those shots where the star is looking onto a mirror while talking to someone behind them while they do makeup or whatever.
This one is notable for being an extraordinarily poorly executed example. The set is built so that Peggy Sue is seated, facing the camera, with Helen Hunt moving behind her. To accomplish the mirror effect without showing the camera in an actual mirror, everything on Peggy Sue’s dressing table is duplicated, and a body double face her, with her back to the camera, and “mirrors” her movements.
Unfortunately, the body double seemingly has no idea what Katleen Turner is going to do, and it’s obviously two different women. At one point, Peggy Sue walks out of frame, and the body double does too. When Kathleen returns, the double doesn’t, completely ruining the effect.
I don’t know how such a sloppy take made it into the finished movie. It’s almost like Francis Ford Coppola doesn’t actually know how to make a movie. – Michael
As Michael mentioned, Nick was a wannabe singer and we got to see him perform with his 60’s doo wop group while a room full of teenage girls in hoop skirts and saddle shoes scream like they are seeing The Beatles for the first time. I absolutely loved it. Nick is actually a decent singer. – Sarah
What were Nick’s best parts? (Michael/Sarah)
During the scene in which Peggy Sue awakens to find herself at a school blood drive in 1960, Nick makes an appearance doing a corny vampire bit, and gets chased out by the school nurses. It really feels like something a high school senior would do to make his girlfriend laugh, and Cage executes it very well. He seems like a dork, but that’s more a function of the character’s age than his personality. -Michael
I enjoyed his singing parts the best, plus that was the only time he wasn’t talking in that super nasally and whiny voice, but since I already used the singing in the previous bit, I’ll choose the scene where he is working as a salesman in a record store. Peggy goes in to talk to him and he ends up talking about his dreams and life plans, which won’t ever come to pass. It was just so realistic. He really did a great job portraying a teenager. – Sarah
What were Nick’s worst parts? (Michael/Sarah)
There’s a scene in which Cage (in his jammies) sneaks into Peggy Sue’s bedroom. They go to her basement, for some reason, and he wines and yells and stomps around. I guess it was in character, but Nick plays it way over the top, and the scene really adds nothing to the plot. -Michael
I disliked the scene in the car where Peggy is attempting to dump Nick. He whined a bit and talked his way out of it. It was well acted and a good scene, but his annoying voice choice was just bugging me at the time. – Sarah
How was the movie? (Michael/Sarah)
It was good. It was funny without being slapstick, and it was sentimental/romantic without being sappy. Also the mom from Seventh Heaven got coked up with Jim Carey. -Michael
It was great. I loved it! – Sarah
Yeah, but did you like it? (Michael/Sarah)
I liked it. It was a fun watch, and I’d happily watch it again. So far, it’s the best movie in the marathon, followed, in my opinion, by Fast Times at Ridgemont High. I’m just glad Francis Ford Coppola couldn’t find a way to work in the gangs of Tulsa. -Michael
Yes. I agree it’s the best thus far, although I’d put Racing The Moon after it. Like Michael, this is the first movie I remember seeing Nick in and I remembered liking it. I was a little worried going in that it wouldn’t have aged well, but I’m glad to report it is genuinely a good movie. – Sarah
Where can I watch it?
You can rent it on Amazon Prime or whatever Google’s version of Amazon Prime is called.
Leave a Reply