When it comes to picking my all-time favorite movies, a majority of them would be those iconic 80s movies-quite a few of them John Hughes pictures. That love alone filled me with high hopes when it came to reading Trapped in an 80’s Teen Movie by Michelle Duffy. Unfortunately, aside from a few moments here and there Duffy’s book didn’t even come close to capturing the nostalgia associated with those movies.
The story goes that best friends since high school, Julie and Rosanna, are spending their typical girl’s night together-a night that, despite their commitment to kids or husbands, they have always spent together over the years. On this particular night a freak occurrence and a little alcohol causes them to both wake up in the bedrooms they each spent their high school years in.
After a brief telephone call to one another they figure out they’re not dreaming but have actually ended up back in their high school years. Rosanna, who was popular in high school, isn’t as stressed as Julie, who was less than popular. But until they figure out how to get home, this is their lot it seems.
The storyline attempts at times to follow the plots of numerous 80’s teen movies with bits and pieces here and there reminiscent of some of the greats, but it just seemed forced. I loved that Duffy had the girls see in the distance the parade that Ferris Bueller sang in on his famous day off. But really there wasn’t much else to write home about. It was a muddled storyline that on its own could have been decent. But with the hokey injection of wannabe 80’s teen movie bits here and there it ended up laborious to read.
Suffice it to say that what seemed like a great idea ended up messing up what could’ve been another good idea. I wanted so badly to like it but I just didn’t. I almost wish I could ask Duffy to rewrite it just because I’d love to see it come to fruition.