Peggy Sue Got Married (1986)

Peggy Sue, a divorcee attending her 15 year high school reunion, passes out and wakes up as her teenage self in 1960. With the opportunity to change her fate, will she choose to marry her high school sweetheart or pave a new path?

• Directed by Francis Ford Coppola

• Written by Jerry Leichtling & Arlene Sarner (married screenwriting couple!)

• Starring Kathleen Turner, Nicolas Cage, Barry Miller, & Barbara Harris

• Nominated for Best Actress, Cinematography, and Costume Design at the Oscars

I'm always down for a time travel flick, especially one with fun production design and costumes. However, Peggy Sue doesn't delight in the past as much as I want out of a time travel story. I wanted to watch a downtrodden lady getting her groove back, but she just kinda chills in 1960 and is ultimately confined to the paradoxical genre. Sure, Peggy better understands her future shitty ex-husband, but nothing really changes for her because she has to be with him in order for her children to exist in the future. The messaging isn't great, but she does get to fool around with an angsty beatnik boy. Ultimately it's a way for Peggy to appreciate her life and not dwell in the past, kinda?

The costumes are fun and retro overall. Peggy's iconic metallic tea length dress is a wild way to combine the 1985 and 1960 in one garment. There's a few great uniforms that stood out to me: Sofia's girl scout ensemble, the cheerleaders, and the Masonic Temple old men. Lots of bobby socks, cardigans, and pleats.

Shoutout to Barry Miller, who gives a great grounded performance as a nerdy teen who befriends Peggy. Also, Jim Carrey does a weird bendy thing with his arms.

Trivia!

• Originally, Penny Marshall was set to direct and Debra Winger was cast as the lead. I'm curious how Penny would have influenced the story, and probably made it slightly incrementally a tad bit more feminist.

• Nicolas Cage is weird as hell. He does a nasally voice the whole time that he said was inspired by the Gumby character, Pokey. Yes, seriously. His hair is blonde for some reason and he wears goofy dentures? Oh, and he sings in a Doo-wop group. He doesn't make a good love interest in the slightest, which is annoying because he's perfect in Moonstruck and Raising Arizona.

• I'm not joking about the weird voice thing. It's legitimately jarring. Everyone on set hated it and he was nearly fired, but he convinced Coppola to keep it. Why do you have to act like this Nicolas???

• Speaking of, as with all Coppola vehicles, Peggy Sue is a Coppola family reunion. Sofia has a small role as the awkward tween sister. Nicolas is allowed to talk like a cartoon character. Ah, nepotism.

• Named after a Buddy Holly song (duh)

• There's a trick mirror used at the beginning and end of the movie for some reason.

Recommend?

Sure! It's a fun, weird watch but definitely not a perfect time travel story. Similar flicks: Moonstruck, Now & Then, and Fried Green Tomatoes.