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Reviewer: Iluvthe80s

Molly Ringwald was the figurehead of the Brat Pack, the one who first made the magazine covers and caught the public's attention. However, she was typecast in that role and, when the 80s ended, so too, it seemed, did her career.

Molly Ringwald was born in 1968 in Roseville, California. Her mother was a chef and her father, a jazz musician. Her dad had a big impact on her life; by the age of 3, she began singing jazz with her father at state fairs. By the age of 6, she had already recorded a jazz album: "I Wanna Be Loved By You - Molly Sings". Shortly thereafter, Ringwald branched into acting.

Starting off in community theater, she soon landed herself a role on The Mickey Mouse Club. Next came a role on the popular 80s sitcom The Facts of Life, although she only stuck around for the first year. Her television gigs in turn lead to the beginning of her movie career.

Molly's first film role was in Tempest, and a few other small film roles followed. Then came what are often called "The Molly Collection"; three films which would solidify her Brat Pack status and make her an 80s phenomenon. The three John Hughes films, Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club and Pretty in Pink, made her a household name.

After those films, things began to fall apart. The movie roles she managed to get weren't welcomed by critics or audiences and she soon left Hollywood. She had never seemed to fit in with the other Brat Packers and it was beginning to show. She moved to France where she relaxed, got married, learned French and even appeared in a French movie, Enfants de Salaud.

Molly finally did make her return Stateside, although it was less than triumphant. She appeared in Stephen King's The Stand with Rob Lowe but failed to garner much enthusiasm. Ringwald then made an attempted return to television in the defunct ABC sitcom Townies, which didn't even last half a season.

The future seemed highly uncertain for this former star, and it seemed like her career was over. However, you never know with Molly; she seems quite content to do her own thing and she seems to possess a singleminded determination. She has upcoming roles in several independent films, and one good independent film could put her back on her feet. Look at Ally Sheedy! Molly also secured herself a role as the substitute teacher in Kevin Williamson's, Teaching Mrs. Tingle. The screenwriter’s directorial debut, it seemed like everything Williamson touched turned to gold. However, after all the recent school shootings, Americans had no appetite for a film depicting students getting some sweet revenge on a spiteful teacher.

SOURCE: moviething.com