Susan... verzweifelt gesucht

Desperately Seeking Susan (1985 Dir. Susan Seidelman) "Chicks" love this movie for the feminist, take charge of your life point of view, while guys enjoy this movie cuz there are plenty of bra shots. Madonna in her first starring (supporting really) role as a street-smart hustler being chased by some small time hoods. Rosanna Arquette gets mistaken for the Madonna character and therein lies the plot of this oh so '80s comedy.

Set in summer in Manhattan, the movie preserves like a time capsule so much of the decade: the hair, the clothes, the music. And of course there's Madonna clanking her balls from start to finish. Ms. Arquette (in the supposed starring role) had the movie not merely stolen, but ripped out of her hands by the unstoppable force of the 80s: Madonna!

It's been almost 20 years and there hasn't been another film like Desperately Seeking Susan. At times, the movie feels like French New Wave with its characters and storyline. Even the setting of the crude but artistic background of New York City, the movie lets off an emotion of fantasy. The cast which includes Rosanna Arquette, Aidan Quinn, John Turturro and Madonna create a story like no other. Madonna is both the eye candy and the punch lines as Arquette gives her best leading lady qualities. It's hard to believe that this movie cost less than 5 million dollars to make. A true coming of age drama with moments of comedy and struggle, Desperately Seeking Susan falls under many genres of film. The independent style and its outrageous subject matter makes this an interesting and timeless film. Even though it is full of 80's moments with the clothing and music, the movie is one of Madonna's and Arquette's best.

I really enjoyed the concept behind this movie and how all the characters sort of fall into place. The acting is good and the actors really fit their characters. The storyline is well developed, but it could have lost the stolen jewelry piece, it wasn't necessary. A fun mindlessly enjoyable and relatable movie, I think there's a Susan in all of us.

As silly as the plot of this film is, it's gotten slightly better with age, containing as it does a little time capsule of the 1980's. There is Madonna's fashion sense and her song Into the Groove of course, but also little things, like how sushi was a new thing in America at the time, or a cameo from the triplets who were all the rage (see the documentary, Three Identical Strangers (2018)). As much as I loved seeing John Turturro and Laurie Metcalf in very early roles for them, I loved seeing comedian Steven Wright even more. He always cracked me up, though he isn't given a lot to work with here. Madonna was on top of the world at this time and is alluring as expected here, and there are feminist messages in both her character's strength and the bored housewife's (Rosanna Arquette) emerging understanding of just how disappointed she is in her husband's inattentiveness. There are massive plot contrivances, like the bonks on the head that conveniently produce amnesia and then later "no amnesia," but it's fun, light-hearted fare.

yay! madonna actually does have one good movie! (and yes, we are talking about this one.) she plays susan, who is the definition of a free-spirit. and rosanna arquette is just as delightful as she always is, and frankly i would expect nothing less.

the soundtrack is an 80s gem. madonna's song "into the grove" is proudly featured and really sets the mood in the club scene. and the 80s fashion provides such an effective blast from the past that one really finds himself back in 1985.

this was overall a really good movie. it was fun and the characters were likable. i recommend that you rent it for an evening in with the friends.