Desperately Seeking Susan (1985)

Directed by Susan Seidelman. Starring Rosanna Arquette, Madonna, Aidan Quinn, Mark Blum, Robert Joy, Laurie Metcalf, Will Patton, Peter Maloney, Anna Thomson. [PG-13]

Offbeat, understated comedy with two very different young women connected by the personal ads—bored, straight-laced housewife Roberta (Arquette) and streetwise free spirit Susan (Madonna). Through a series of complications, Roberta ends up with Susan’s jacket, suffers short-term amnesia after getting a conk on the head, and starts to believe that she is Susan. Never really finds a groove (somewhat ironic, seeing as how this was where Madonna debuted her hit song “Into the Groove”) and is more devoted to the conveniences of its scenarios than the eccentricities of its characters, but as an occasionally amusing product of its time, it’s a passable fusion of boho chic and glossy kitsch where smothered ladies can learn how to burn bright and everything (sorta) works out in the end. Several familiar faces fill out minor roles, such as Giancarlo Esposito, John Turturro and Steven Wright; Thomson went credited as Anna Levine.

61/100