Writer/producer John Hughes has enjoyed a prolific Hollywood career spanning angst-ridden teen-dramas with the Brat Pack, screwball comedies for Chevy Chase and Steve Martin and family comedies - Uncle Buck and the hugely successful Home Alone among them.

Some Kind of Wonderful (directed by Hughes collaborator Howard Deutch) falls into the first category, and confirms Hughes' standing as one of the most insightful writers around on contemporary American youth.

Eric Stoltz is the focus of attention here. He's a rather fey youth chasing the most popular girl in school, unaware that his tomboy best friend also has the hots for him.

The bond between him and Mary Stuart Masterson (in her most assured performance to that date) as the tongue-tied best friend is nicely etched out, and for once the adult characters have shape and depth rather than emerging as mere caricatures.