Ideal boyfriend: Jake Ryan or Lloyd Dobbler?

It's the heavyweight title fight of the decade -- only the decade was 20 years ago. Two characters that evenly divide legions of American females who grew up dreaming that one or the other was their perfect boyfriend. But who really wins out if we force the ladies to choose?

In this corner, from the mighty city of Seattle, Washington, wearing a trench coat and Phish t-shirt .... Lloyd Dobbler! And in this corner, from fictional Shermer, Illinois, wearing a sweater vest and hiking boots ... Jake Ryan!

Let's go to the stats:

Movies:
Lloyd: Say Anything (1989) features sensitive Lloyd, directed by the soon-to-be famous Cameron Crowe. It would be Cusack's last teen movie.
Jake: Sixteen Candles (1984) offers Jake Ryan (Michael Schoeffling), who can score any chick in Shermer High. Directed by the ultimate 80s director, John Hughes. Schoeffling had only one big movie left in him after this -- Vision Quest. (Sadly, no one considers his "Kuch" character as the ideal boyfriend.)
Advantage: Even


Significant other:
Lloyd: Completely devoted to Diane Court, played by Ione Sky -- easily the sexiest female character of the 80s. Any decade really.
Jake: Ditches the prom queen for Samantha Baker, played by Molly Ringwald, who hasn't quite reached her prime at this point.
Advantage: Lloyd

Fashion:
Lloyd: T-shirts, baggy Army pants and a trench coat. Perfect for a night out with the guys at the Gas N' Sip. But a fixer-upper project for potential girlfriends.
Jake: There's a reason Schoeffling was a male model before and after this movie -- he looks good in anything. But sticking to preppy outfits is a smart move.
Advantage: Jake

Signature line:
Lloyd: "Maybe I didn't really know you. Maybe you were just a mirage. Maybe the world is full of food and sex and spectacle and we're all just hurling towards an apocalypse, in which case it's not your fault."
Jake: "Happy Birthday, Samantha. Make a wish."
Advantage: Even again -- it just depends on whether you like your men talky or not.

So there you go. There's no clear winner when you stack them up against each other. So, ladies, you're going to have to go with your heart.

Pick a winner and tell us why: Is it Jake or Lloyd that wins your love as perfect boyfriend?

Comments

[Alexis]

I say Lloyd. He's amazing. He devoted his soul to her, and he wasn't a guy. As his friend said in the movie, there are too many "guy"s out there. He was a man. He proved he was one. And if that boombox scene doesn't crush the cake scene, then I don't know what does... Though I do admit that I adore Jake... Just Lloyd WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY more.

Lloyd Dobler. Jake Ryan is no contest. Jake reminds me of Ken. Handsome, rich, but not the deepest. In other words, boring. On the other hand Lloyd is cute and quirky and says lines that are affectionate while meaninful. He is very dedicated to Diane Court. The scene withe the boombox playing In Your Eyes is simply heartbreaking.

[Marissa]

haha Mother Rucker! Steve made the Fishbone/Phish error in another blog regarding Say Anything. I think he's fixated.

[Mother Rucker]

Just for the record, Lloyd wore a Fishbone T-Shirt, definitely NOT a Phish T-shirt.

[jake ryan rules]

Jake Ryan is awesome. He wins hands down. He is so good looking and drives a porsche, cmon! But it's not just the fancy house and car, he says he wants to have a relationship with a girl who he can love and who will love him back. He doesn't want a party girl, so that shows maturity too.

[wendyy]

jake ryan! no doubt about it. you all gotta be kidding me.

[Six]

Gimme Lloyd, Lloyd, all null-and-void, babe! It took Jake Ryan 'til the end of the frickin' movie to figure out that Molly Ringwald's character liked him. Let's face it - Jake was a hottie, but he wasn't too bright.

On the other hand, Lloyd knew what he wanted the moment he saw Diane Cort. She was way out of his league, but he didn't let that stop him. He pursued her dilligently and by the end of the movie, she was his. When asked how he did it, his response was simply, "I'm Lloyd Dobler". You can't beat that for cool.

By the way, does everyone know that Ione Skye is the daughter of Donovan, the 60s folk rocker? She's also the sister of Donovan Leitch, the actor who starred in "The In-Crowd" (1988).

[lillapoyka]

Ione over Molly. NO WAY! In the 80's Molly Ringwald was my dream girl. and... She's still hot!

[Erin]

Lloyd.

[Anonymous]

is it even a question? LLOYD! in my eyes, in the back of my car, in my...well, you get the picture. cusack's 40? jesus, we're getting old...

[Anonymous]

I'll take Charlie Sheen in "Lucas", thanks.

[Hamptune]

As a guy, I don't want either. But given the choice who to be: Rich and good looking hands down.

[Saur♥Kraut]

Lloyd. All the way. But why can't I have Han Solo???

[Anonymous]

Can I have both?

[Anonymous]

Jake Ryan is like high fashion and Lloyd Dobler would be your most favorite pair of jeans that are worn to perfection. I'm a jeans girl, as much as i want to do unspeakable things to Jake Ryan (he's just so pretty). I can only realize this now, as a mature adult woman who now needs to go take a cold shower.Michael Schoeffling also was able to convince Winona Ryder in Mermaids to, um, not be a nun. I wanted him then too.

[DC]

I say...Ione Sky. OOp. Wait. I didn't read the article thoroughly enough.As a drinking buddy? I'd chose Dobler. Happy 40th to John Cusack..

[80sfan]

FYI the bushy-haired drunk guy in Say Anything was none other than Jason Gould, a.k.a son of Elliott Gould & Barbra Streisand.

[Squirll]

good article Cathy - and i totally forgot the part where the girl with the songs about joe says,"You're not a guy, The world is full of guys. Be a man, don't be a guy."

[Anonymous]

Jake Ryan was every teenaged girl's fantasy....Lloyd suffers from nice guy syndrome. Here is a great article on how many women are still waiting on Jake Ryan...http://www.hankstuever.com/jryan.html

[Anonymous]

Definately Lloyd. He gave his heart and soul (and all he got in return was a pen). He can stand on my lawn with his boombox anytime (even though he hated doing that scene).

[Cathy]

It's gotta be Lloyd. He would do anything for Diane and any brainy girl in high school hoped that there would be a boy out there like Lloyd who would love her for her brains and not go for the bimbo. But, most of all, Lloyd ruins it for every guy when he lands on her lawn brandishing his boom box, playing 'In Your Eyes.' Have you seen the Washington Post follow-up to the Jake Ryan article?http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/13/AR2006021302411.html

[Anonymous]

Man. Man man man.Jack Ryan. Hands down. I'd go straight for him.

[Anonymous]

Lloyd.John Cusack is too adorable as a kid. I'd say it's more of a tie between him and Ferris Bueller.

[Rick Gershman]

Steve.Steve.Steve Steve Steve Steve Steve.It's Dobler, brother. One B.But then, I know you have trouble with names. ;-)If I can spell Uwe Boll, man, I know you can spell Dobler.(BTW, we're teaching kittens how to square dance over at the Ill Literate. Come check it out!)And answering the question, of course, it's Lloyd.

[Steve Spears]

Stoltz wasn't the one who was drunk at the party. Remember, it was at his house. It was the bushy-haired guy who was too drunk to drive. But your point still is valid.

[Anonymous]

Lloyd.

[Squirll]

such a great question... I say Lloyd. Lloyd seemed to be more caring and attentive.Let me list my reasons...he was a conceren friend and very good key master kept stoltz from driving home drunk, jake let farmer ted drive home in his fathers car- after drinking martinis. Lloyd had hobbies, like kickboxing, Jake did fake pull-ups. Lloyd had clash tshirts, Jake had odd spikey hair. even though jake was rich and hunky - Lloyd had charm and is the measure for all great boyfriends