Can't Buy Me Love

Ronald Miller is a high school student with little social standing who secretly admires Cindy Mancini, the most popular girl in school. When Cindy finds herself in a serious bind after ruining an expensive outfit belonging to her mother, Ronald offers her the money to replace it, on the condition that she pretend to be his girlfriend for a month. He hopes that being seen with her will raise his own status among his classmates. The arrangement works, and Ronald's reputation climbs quickly, but the attention goes to his head, and his behavior begins to cost him his old friends. Meanwhile, Cindy's feelings for him turn genuine, leaving Ronald to sort out what he actually values.

Directed by Steve Rash, this 1987 American comedy-drama was the first of the eleven features he has directed, followed by films including Queens Logic, Son in Law and Eddie. Patrick Dempsey plays Ronald and Amanda Peterson plays Cindy, with Courtney Gains, Tina Caspary, Seth Green and Sharon Farrell among the supporting cast. Michael Swerdlick wrote the screenplay, and Thom Mount produced. Made for about two million dollars, the film took in roughly thirty-two million worldwide, a strong return on its budget.

Audience reception has been moderately positive: it holds a 6.8 rating on IMDb from around forty-six thousand votes and a 6.9 on TMDB from roughly seven hundred thirty-five votes. The critics' rating of 5.1 out of ten from twenty-five reviews is noticeably lower than those audience scores.