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to know lloyd dobler is to love him
so, tomorrow is the monthly girlie night show at the ritz, and… um… i’m pretty excited. i’m also a little worried cos is it possible to swoon yrself to death? if so, uh, maybe we should have medics standing by the theater cos tomorrow’s movie is “SAY ANYTHING”!!!
I KNOW!! i mean, i *pick* the movies, but i still feel like i won the lottery or something. every time i see the clips with john cusack in the alamo ad reel, i freak out like, “OMG THEY’RE SHOWING ‘SAY ANYTHING’?!! I HAVE TO BE THERE!”
ok, that might sound silly but, here, just watch the trailer and tell me you don’t get all squee inside*:
*if you are a boy, you might not feel the squee as strongly. but you’re probably just repressing yr inner emotions cos hello this is NOT yr typical teen romance movie.
and even though that was sort of an asterisked footnote, i’m gonna keep going with it, cos i really do believe “say anything” is different than the john hughes movies it’s usually lumped with. don’t get me wrong, i looooove me some “sixteen candles,” but there’s something much more authentic and compelling about cameron crowe’s version of teenagerdom. and i think a lot of that has to do with lloyd dobler.
to back up my argument, i’d like to indulge in a little scientific analysis, comparing lloyd with his 80s crush brethren. now, i realize that what i’m about to say may be HIGHLY controversial, but this is science, you guys. i’m just looking for the truth.
VS
BLANE MCDONNAGH vs LLOYD
blane is rich; lloyd is not. POINT FOR BLANE.
blane takes andie to a party full of his jerky friends and handles it badly; lloyd takes diane to a party and keeps an eye on her without smothering her with too much attention. POINT FOR LLOYD.
blane is a big pansy; lloyd plays the sport of the future, i.e. kickboxing. POINT FOR LLOYD.
blane asked andie to the prom then totally took it back; lloyd would NEVER EVER DO THAT. GAH. POINT FOR LLOYD.
FINAL SCORE: BLANE 1, LLOYD 3
WINNER = LLOYD!!!
VS
JAKE RYAN vs. LLOYD
jake is really hot; lloyd is cute. POINT FOR JAKE.
jake takes an ENTIRE MOVIE to ask samantha out; lloyd calls diane straight up at the beginning and doggedly pursues her. POINT FOR LLOYD.
jake hangs out with jocks and his “perfect” snobby girlfriend; lloyd chills with lili taylor. POINT FOR LLOYD.
jake calls and wakes up samantha’s grandparents like three times while breathing like a big perv; lloyd charmingly assures mr. court that his daughter is in good hands. POINT FOR LLOYD.
FINAL SCORE: JAKE, 1, LLOYD 3
WINNER = LLOYD!!!
VS
JOHN BENDER vs LLOYD
john is failing all of his classes; lloyd just graduated from high school. POINT FOR LLOYD.
john is a sexy juvenile deliquent; lloyd is a sweet regular dude. POINT FOR JOHN.
john makes crass comments to get claire’s attention; lloyd plays “in yr eyes” on a boombox under diane’s window. POINT FOR LLOYD.
john has no future plans; lloyd plans on spending as much time with diane as possible. POINT FOR LLOYD.
FINAL SCORE: JOHN 1, LLOYD 3
FINAL ULTIMATE CHAMPION: LLOYD DOBLER!!!!!!
so, yeah, it’s easy to see why girls still decorate their college dorms with lloyd dobler boombox posters and why, when “in yr eyes” plays on the radio, i have to close my eyes, put my hand over my heart, and just FEEL IT YOU GUYS. cos when it comes down to it, lloyd dobler is a special guy who also happens to be, well, pretty normal. and i think that level of realism transforms him from an 80s hearthrob into a boy that all of us, at some time or another, may have actually known… and, hopefully, held onto.
and, since all good scientists welcome questions and criticism, feel free to add yr own arguments and WTFs in the comments. like i said, this is a hot button issue, so i’ll simply ask that we try to keep the discussion calm and respectful, like, i don’t want to see any “EDWARD CULLEN 4-EVS” business down there cos LLOYD DOBLER KICKBOXES THE PANTS OFF OF SPARKLY VAMPIRES. so, yeah, like i said, keep it mature.
p.s. while i was writing this entry, i checked out ione sky’s film career (er, uh, lack thereof) and discovered that OMG SHE’S IN “WAYNE’S WORLD”!! am i the only one who didn’t realize that she’s the chick making out with rob lowe at the beginning of the movie?!
LINKS
my new favorite guinness world record: WORLD’S LARGEST CUPCAKE! NOM TO THE MAX!!
you guys i need this t-shirt.
speaking of “twilight” cray, uh… thom yorke? REALLY? really dude?! this is a joke… right? (insert nervous laughter)
Discussion
20 comments for “to know lloyd dobler is to love him”
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Lloyd Dobbler has been a personal hero of mine since middle school. I have done many ill advised things trying to be more like Lloyd Dobbler and many of them have failed in their intent, yet, I continue on as a disciple of Lloyd. Eventually though, I think just turned into Rob Gordon without ever even passing through the ultra awesome Martin Q. Blank Stage.
I have to go listen to my Peter Gabriel tapes and re-organize my records now.
sarah, i applaud yr controversial post, cause i’m about to say something EQUALLY controversial: i would not date lloyd dobbler. no, not even if you paid me.
You actually said why, too, with your lloyd points – he DOGGEDLY pursues diane. EVEN WHEN SHE TELLS HIM TO STOP. and i’m sorry but if someone wakes me up at 5 am it had better be with baked goods and champers, not with peter gabriel singing from a boombox.
he borders too much on being a Nice Guy(http://www.heartless-bitches.com/rants/niceguys/niceguys.shtml). Nice Guys creep me out.
THAT SAID, say anything is probably my favorite teen movie, because even though i would probably not date lloyd dobbler (until he took, like, the largest of chill pills – maybe an ongoing chill pill prescription), i WOULD be best friends with lili taylor and help her write songs about Joe. AND I would try to help Diane’s dad out of his mess with the IRS (heh), and even though his pursuit of Diane creeps me out, I have to say, it wouldn’t be bad to be flying to Europe with Lloyd Dobbler sitting next to you.
Although I have to say: Points for Bender. Every single time.
I always thought Lloyd was a bit desperate and crazy, too…
But the real reason this guy doesn’t like this movie as much as most girls do is because while Lloyd’s swoon-worthiness may be up for debate, one thing is not:
Diane Court = 0 points, no matter who she’s up against.
Hence Ione’s lack of a career, I suppose.
Of course, that’s what makes this movie seem more realistic to me, I think. Instead of watching one or two very charismatic, but oh so slightly misunderstood protagonists that we can identify with and really want to be, Say Anything presents us with an outcast stalker and a girl without a lot of self esteem even though she gets good grades. That doesn’t make me swoon, but it does make for a pretty good movie.
As for flying to Europe with Lloyd Dobler sitting next to you, that may be nice, because hey, going to Europe! But wandering around Europe with Lloyd Dobler constantly just wanting to do whatever you wanted and never giving his own opinion because all he wants to do is hang out with you? ANNOYING.
Hm. I wonder if there’s a screenplay for Say Anything 2: Please Just Shut Up somewhere on the Internets.
I’ve never actually seen “Say Anything” and so I’m kind of… lost.
But I WILL say TEAM JACOB 4-EVS!!!
lloyd dobler’s sweetness & gentleness is unparalleled in the world of movie crushes. i’m only a little sad that “say anything” doesn’t have a prom scene.
henri, when i win the lottery i will pay you to produce that sequel.
@ henri.
Really man? Ione sky not cute? man. I thought I knew you.
Ione Skye was also in Arrested Development. I enjoyed Say Anything but if this were done in real life there would be a restraining order involved. And speaking of 80s movies/John Hughes movies Pretty in Pink to me is mired by the fact that at the very end they have Ducky end up with Kristy Swanson. Took me right out of the movie. Let’s sugar coat the fact that he doesn’t end up with her by giving him someone else. Pssh.
erin, i see yr point BUT i think john cusack was the perfect casting choice to prevent full out creepydom. like, judd nelson as lloyd dobler? SCARY STALKER PERV ALERT. but john cusack plays lloyd with just the right balance of goofiness and light. i honestly don’t find him annoying at all.
jessica, DOUBLE TRUE ON THE PROM IDEA. gah gah GAH i wish i could’ve seen lloyd in a tux… or, rather, his version of a tux.
erik, you are totally rob gordon. but without any of the bad parts.
p.s. not to be all student council or anything BUT if you feel like voting for le blog in the austin chronicle poll, you can do it here! and that would be super nice!
http://www.austinchronicle.com/feedback/bestof/09/
Ok, so that trailer is way awesome and got me super pumped for tonight’s magic.
When I first watched it, I was also creeped out by Lloyd at first. BUT, follow me on this one, I think that it did wonders for a lot of super, super shy guys of our generation. My friend Elliott watches this movie about every week. He is super shy and probably wouldn’t have talked to anyone in high school or college if Lloyd Dobler hadn’t given him an example of an underdog outcast who pursued what he wanted (kick boxing, love, etc.). It’s not about Ione at all (which is why it may seem creepy at first). It is about pursuit of one’s happiness. Kick boxing? No one else is doing it but that doesn’t stop him! EMPOWERMENT to the MAXXXX! Now, the reason I don’t think this is creepy is because someone like Elliott, who gained courage through this movie, would listen if a girl said no (as most shy dudes would, no matter how many times he’s seen this movie). Dobler may get Diane, but Elliott knows that it’s a movie and wouldn’t follow in any creepy dudery. BUT, he would have tried at least ONCE, and that is a major step in the right direction for scrawny, quiet dudes everywhere…who I seem to become friends with. Anyway, I hope this explains things a bit, and makes Lloyd a bit less creepy.
Also, I was a nerd with good grades that boys were afraid of, or totally not interested in. (I was more violent back in the day) So, another reason I like Say Anything, is that I can imagine that someone would have been into me despite my adherence to homework before fun and musical practice before all.
“So, another reason I like Say Anything, is that I can imagine that someone would have been into me despite my adherence to homework before fun and musical practice before all.”
double true, sally. back in high school, i too secretly hoped for a lloyd dobler to show up and whisk me away from american history AP reading and drama club meetings…
AWESOME POST. This is a debate I can get behind.
I want to be best best friends with Lloyd. He’s the perfect straight guy friend, because he’s massively obsessed with another girl so I don’t have to worry about things getting awkward. And in the context of the film, definitely crush-worthy (I LOVE the party scene, he handles that so well and classily. And I love when he kicks the glass out of her way when they’re walking through the parking lot, sigh), but yeah, in real life, Lloyd’s a little too passive and clingy for me. But honestly, NONE of these boys would make good boyfriends in real life. Blane’s too polished and dreamy. Jake has no personality whatsoever besides those sexy eyebrows. Bender’s definitely the guy I’d be most likely to hook up with once or twice, throw a diamond earring his way, and then go about my business.
BOYS, DUCKY IS ANNOYING. I know every boy in the entire world loves Ducky and things he should have gotten Molly Ringwald because they think “I was Ducky in high school! And I had a Molly who broke my heart!” but you weren’t, okay? You guys were funny but not endlessly obnoxious, you didn’t dress that way or leave 400 messages on her answering machine or HANG AROUND OUTSIDE A CLUB FOR HER FOR HOURS AT A TIME BECAUSE YOU HAD NOTHING BETTER TO DO. Henri, it totally baffles me that you think Lloyd is too clingy but you’re on Team Ducky. Ducky is for friendship reasons. He’s too annoying even for Kristy Swanson. And that is saying something.
Heh, I like the Ione Sky storyline in Arrested Development. Lock that down!
I’m only on Team Ducky because it’s the original ending of the film, Meredith.
You’re totally right, though; as stupid as I was, I wasn’t ever that annoying in high school. Really, I think I’m on Team Xander. He’s a nice guy, gets his heart broken by crushes a lot, but keeps on trying to get it right (and manages to accidentally break a few hearts in the process).
And then eventually he grows up and stops wearing horrible Hawaiian shirts all the time.
So let me jump back in when it’s Xander vs. Oz vs. Angel vs. Spike vs. Riley, and if anyone is ever on Team Riley I’ll just stop talking to them forever and ever.
Dude, I am totally also on Team Xander. Rewatching the beginning of Buffy, I find him insanely romantic, brave, funny and cool.
And then he walked out on Anya on their wedding day and forced HER to tell everyone it was over, but I pretend the show ended before then anyway.
RILEY UGH.
Meredith!! You totally cracked me up! “You really should lock that down…” She was great at the
Ahem…my computer freaked out and didn’t let me finish my thought…
I was going to say…she was great in her cameo appearance on AD.
I know, Michelle! Her appearance has really solidified that phrase in my daily lexicon.
I married a Lloyd Dobler. I finally had to divorce him because he wouldn’t leave me the eff alone.
[...] of course, the notebook isn’t the only post that continues to draw fire from the peanut gallery (peanuts! NOM). just the other day i received this extremely excellent comment on my post “to know lloyd dobler is to love him“: [...]