Our '80s Shue fetish

Elisabeth Shue is a complex creature of the decade. She only appeared in four really big movies during the decade -- easily half the number of credits of her peers. And even those roles were a little too watered down at times.

KARATE KID (1984): Is anyone else creeped out that Shue's "Ali" character is twice the size of love-interest Ralph Macchio? To this day, I think Ali had a better chance of taking out Daniel-San than Cobra Kai's "Johnny" did. And then they just write her out of the sequel by having her dump Macchio on prom night? Heartless!

ADVENTURES IN BABYSITTING (1987): This is a movie that's always on sale at Target for like $5, and every time I go, I'm THIS close to buying it and still don't. I remember loving Shue as "Chris Parker," the babysitter who also is a dead-ringer for the Playmate of the month. And the Chicago club scene -- "Nobody gets out of here without singing the blues" -- is classic. But something is still missing. (A nude scene with a future '80s blogger? Think about it, Hollywood!)

COCKTAIL (1988): Ah, the infamous waterfall scene. What red-blooded guy hasn't thought of going to Jamaica if only for the totally shallow reason of trying to re-create that moment in our love lives. My question: If she's not pregnant, does she still take Tom Cruise back in the end? "Coughlin's Law: Never fall for a Scientologist ... your future acting career will never be taken seriously by the press."

BACK TO THE FUTURE II (1989): So you just co-starred in three relatively successful '80s flicks, so why do you play the largely paper-thin role of "Jennifer Parker" in this trilogy? Though it does make her other 1989 work -- starring as a doctor in Disney's Epcot Center ride "Body Wars" -- look like a career highlight.

Aww, don't hate on the Shue. She turned it all around in the '90s with flicks like The Saint and Leaving Las Vegas. Shue, who turns 45 years old today, is still looking for that great role. She's currently working on Waking Madison, a movie about a woman with multiple personality disorder trying to piece her life back together.

She's also rumored to be working with her Saint co-star Val Kilmer again in The Hard Ride. Nice movie, my lovely Elisabeth. Just stay clear of that Macchio reunion.

[Photo from Karate Kid]

Comments

[Bassnote]

Loved Adventures In Babysitting.

"Don't $%^ with the Babysitter!"

[ARod]

Oh my sweet Elisabeth Shue! Adventures in Babysitting was the movie that brought her to my attention. Babysitters should never look that good. Even if she played a prostitute once with Nicolas Cage, she still is in my top 10.

[Crockett]

Shue was a doll, no doubt, but the two '80s chicks that did it for me were:
The Super Cute: Deborah Foreman
Waxwork, April Fool's Day, My Chauffeur

AND
the Lovely Karen Mistal,
return of the Killer Tomatoes, Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death,

'80s B Movie Dolls - a Podcast?

[Anansi]

Don't forget Link! Well, it is pretty forgettable. But she's naked at least.
No, not a body double.

Karen Mistal - nice reference!

[Ray]

Steve, I thought taking a shot at Scientologists was dangerous in your "neck of the woods".

[CHAD]

i like elizabeth shue as well, adventures in babysitting is classic. although, cocktail isnt the best movie, she looks stunning in it.

[Roy, UK]

She was damned good in Cocktail, but that doesn't interest me right now. I saw 'Say Anything' for the first time last night and i'm now cursed with Steve's bloody crush on Ione Skye...

[Miguel]

Oh,Elisabeth Shue, Elisabeth Shue!

That`s all i have to say. Damn,she was and is incredibly cute. Why the hell didn`t she have the success she deserved after Leaving Las Vegas?

[Mick]

I remember watching Link on HBO and that was my first time seeing Elisabeth Shue nude WOW! She got one nice bod. Also watch her in the remake of Cousin Bette very nice backside.

[80sfan]

You should check out the movie Gracie which was loosely based on the Shue family where Gracie a.k.a. Elisbeth, fought to play soccer at a time when that was unheard of for girls. Elisbeth produces the film and is in it briefly along with her brother.

[johnny B. Goode]

Don't go chasin' waterfalls...