80sfilms

In 1985, the summer before my freshman year of high school, Secret Admirer came out and captivated me.

The film starred teen heartthrob C. Thomas Howell, and while it was billed as an R-rated teen comedy, it was definitely on the mature R side due to its language, nudity, adult sexual situations.

But the premise was simple: Michael (Howell) receives an unsigned love note and hopes it’s from a pretty, popular girl he’s in lust over named Debbie (played by Kelly Preston).

Debbie is too snooty for Michael, and in steps his best friend Toni (played by the adorable Lori Loughlin), who convinces him to send her an anonymous note of his own. The catch is that Toni is secretly in love with Michael, and, because she loves him and wants to see him happy, even if it’s not with her, she rewrites the note so he’ll have a shot at being happy.

Debbie falls for Michael, the note gets into the wrong hands, and soon everyone is in on the action.

The film was written and directed by David Greenwalt, who went on to write/direct for two of television’s best shows, “Buffy” and “Angel”.
  
Howell, who never enjoyed quite the career success that heartthrobs Rob Lowe and Tom Cruise had, did star in several 80s flicks, including the hilarious Soul Man (1986), the freaky The Hitcher (1986), and Red Dawn (1984), Grandview, U.S.A. (1984) and Tank (1984).

Look for Preston in the 80s films Mischief (1985) and Christine (1983), and Loughlin who went on to star in television’s hit “Full House”.

Secret Admirer also starred Fred Ward, Swing Shift (1984), Uncommon Valor (1983), Silkwood (1983) and The Right Stuff (1983); and Dee Wallace, Cujo (1983), E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (1982) and The Howling (1981).

Secret Admirer is a light rom com that delivers laughs, but is best suited for older teens and adults. 

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