'I don't ... love you anymore:' Name the worst break-up scenes of the '80s

Poor Gary's demise in 1982's The Last American Virgin might be the most heart-disintegrating moment of the decade. But keep in mind that he never really was dating that dark evil known as Karen. She always belonged to Rick, who never deserved her in the first place. That's life, it seems.

And so we tread again on blood-soaked ground, forcing ourselves to remember scenes that probably cut far too close to the bone for some of us. Yep, it's time to name the worst break-up scenes of the '80s.

Unlike the list earlier this week, these don't have to be at the end of a movie. In fact, one of my favorites comes right at the start. (Bear with me. This is all meant for therapeutic purposes.)

BETTER OFF DEAD (1985): Lane Meyer (John Cusack) gets the heave-ho in the first 10 minutes from Beth, who practically runs him over to be with the captain of the ski team, the sinisterly named Roy Stalin. So Lane tries to off himself -- repeatedly -- before the love of Monique (Diane Franklin -- who also played Karen in Virgin) saves him. Everybody needs a Monique.

FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH (1982): Brad decides that he's a "single, successful guy" and needs to break up with Lisa (played by Amanda Wyss, who also played Beth in Better Off Dead. See where I'm going here?) Of course, Lisa breaks up with him first when he's already down in the dumps after being fired by All-American Burger. Nice timing, babe.

ABOUT LAST NIGHT (1986): Rob Lowe dumps Demi Moore on New Year's Eve. Sounds cold, right? It gets worse. Watch him deliver the most painful words in the human language in slow, torturous fashion -- "I don't ... love you anymore" -- and you actually see Demi's heart rip in half. [Watch it. The breakup clip starts at the 4:50 mark] According to reports, that line by Lowe was actually improvised by him during the filming of the scene because Demi was having trouble crying. The line reduced her to real tears.

VALLEY GIRL (1983): Three breakup scenes actually. First, Julie (the lovely Deborah Foreman) dumps Tommy at the mall because being with him "is like totally boring, you know." (Gulp!) Then Julie dumps Randy (the great Nicolas Cage in his first starring role), once again delivering the atom bomb blast of "I don't love you anymore." At least Randy gets the last word in ("Like f--- you for sure, like totally!"), which by the way was totally ad-libbed. And finally, Julie dumps Tommy again at the junior prom and throws his bracelet out the limo's window. And we're supposed to feel all better?

SAY ANYTHING (1989): Perhaps the reigning champion of break-up scenes, but that's for you to decide. Lloyd Dobler (Cusack again. No wonder he's such a quiet guy) gets dumped by Diane Court (Ione Skye) ... in his own car ("It's his castle, man!"). Thus prompting one of writer/director Cameron Crowe's best lines ever: "I gave her my heart. She gave me a pen."

At least you got a pen, Lloyd.

Okay, that's all I can bear to write. Name your own favorite break-up scenes of the '80s.

Comments

[Richard]

Whats all this talk about breaking up? Three out of the last four posts about sadness and pain!

[John Hays]

Not IN the 80's, but certainly ABOUT the 80's - The Wedding Singer!

"Something you could have told me YESTERDAY!!!"

More great ones here:

http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/cinematic-listology/breaking-up-5-films-that-hurt-5-that-help.php

[dms]

For me it is definately the breakup in Last American Virgin. SO Coldheared!!!

[jon in bradenton]

'Lucas' (1986) with Corey Haim, Charlie Sheen, and Courtney Thorne-Smith still breaks my heart for, like, the whole movie.

[Zombieman]

One of the harshest breakups has to be in Christine. Arnie's girlfriend Leigh and his best friend Dennis plot to destroy the car, Christine, to save Arnie. Christine tries to kill Leigh and we find out that Arnie was actually driving. I can't think of a much clearer way of saying, "I don't think we should see each other anymore." Unless you count burying your wife and her lover up to their necks on the beach during low tide ala Creepshow. But, of course, nothing beats Prince's Telling Appolonia he loves her by singing 'The Beautiful Ones' and then kissing her off with 'Darlin' Nikki' in Purple Rain. "Come Back Nikki, Come Back! Your dirty little Prince wanna grind, grind, grind!"

[TD]

I'm not sure whether this qualifies as a breakup, but in "Class" when Ellen (Jacqueline Bisset) abandons Jonathan (Andrew McCarthy) in the clothing store after she sees the ID in his wallet and discovers he lied his age and background. "What am I going to do? I don't know her number. I don't know her address. I don't even know her last name." Of course, things only get worse when Jonathan finds out Ellen is Skip's mom and that he can never have a relationship with her.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkr2jgPfi4k

[CHAD]

all this pain and break up talk, what happened?

liten up francis

[Sara]

A couple of things.

I love this blog. It is always relevant at the exact moment I'm reading it, in some way or another. It's also written with honest and unyielding and totally geeky passion. Thanks.

I assume from your "therapeutic" comment that, well, obviously. How can this be? You're adorable. If I've assumed incorrectly, you're still adorable.

Finally, though off screen, Karate Kid Daniel-son (Ralph Macchio) is unceremoniously dumped by Ali (Elizabeth Shue) for a ski instructor. (I think, it's been a while.) That one always stuck with me somehow because, obviously, they were meant to be together during the first film. I lost my innocence a little with that one.

[Dr. Dim]

How about 1980's 'Ordinary People'? The scene where Donald Sutherland's character, Calvin, asks Mary Tyler Moore (the cold and emotionally distant Beth) if she really loves him. Her answer, "I feel the way I have always felt about you."

Ultimately, he tells her, "I don't know if I love you anymore..."

Beth quietly walks back to the bedroom and begins to pack.

[wuenchdog]

Although you don't actually see the breakup, I always liked Billy Crystal's dark period at Giants Stadium after splitting up with wife in "When Harry Met Sally".

"Mr. Zero knew before I knew".

[Bassnote]

I have to agree with your #1. Cusack plays Lloyd's devistation perfectly.

I know "The Wedding Singer" is not an 80s movie, but when Linda leaves Robbie hanging at the alter, and then later tells him she never wants to marry him, it is pretty cold.

[Melissa]

How about when Judd Nelson and Ally Sheedy break up in St. Elmo's Fire? The scene where they are fighting over the albums......classic. Then she sleeps with his best friend, gets caught and now the guys aren't friends either!

[Spears]

Duckie was in love with someone he couldn't have. I know the feeling.

[Miguel]

When John Malkovich (Valmont) leaves Michelle Pfeiffer (Mme. Tourvel)in Dangerous Liaisons,who ends up falling ill and ultimately dying. We then find out that Valmont was actually in love with her,from his reaction. Sad,tragic!

[TheLoneIguana]

I always felt bad for Duckie.

[jezusdonkey]

In Urban Cowboy Sissy & Bud go two seperate places after the fight at Giley's, Sissy can't go thru with it but But Bud Knocks the boots right off the rich oil princess. Then Sissy comes to her senses and cleans up the trailer only to have the oil princess show up. Bud was snarfing some awsome tail for a guy working on a refinery.

[Dominic]

In the beginning of Stripes, Bill Murray's girlfriend Anita breaks up with him (albeit after a nice topless scene, so he had that going for him).

"Talk about potential for growth! I am the acorn that becomes the Oak. You can't go, all the plants are gonna die!"

[Brad]

I am pleased to see the Better Off Dead breakup on the list, although I think it should be on the "Most honest (and therefore least likely to be used in real life) Breakups" list:

"I think it would be in my best interest to go out with someone more popular - better looking - drives a nicer car."

So much for the old "it's not you, it's me."

How about Repo Man? Otto and Layla's relationship is not always front and center but it does provide this awesome exchange at the end of the film:

Her: But what about our relationship?
Him: What?
Her: Our relationship?
Him: F__k that!
Her: You S__thead! I'm glad I tortured you!

Good times.

[Spears]

"Say Anything" is all about pain, isn't it? I hadn't realized that until now.

I'm only halfway through my goal of writing 65 songs all about pain.

[Roy, UK]

Would Corey's break up with Joe in 'Say Anything' count? I know you don't actually see it but, y'know, "She's written sixty-five songs. They're all about you. They're all about pain". Then the moment she almost falls for him again while Depeche Mode plays in the background...tragic.

[Spears]

Break-up scenes within John Hughes usually go fairly painlessly, but you're right: Pretty in Pink is devastating. And the pathetic look on Andrew McCarthy's face is priceless. He just knows he's being a weasel and he hates himself for it. Best 10 or 15 minutes of the movie right there, between the breakup, Steff telling Blaine that Andi is a loser and then Duckie beating the crap out of Steff.

Sadly, rarely does real life administer justice like that.

[John]

Say Anything... Oh, yeah, sure... Lloyd and Diane ended up together in the end but who can forget the lament, "I gave her my heart and all she gave me was a pen."

Then again, Diane and her father also experienced a "breakup" of sorts. Where trust was thrown out the window.

[Red]

Pretty in Pink - when Blaine ("That's an appliance, not a name!") comes up with the pathetic excuse that he forgot that he had already asked someone else to prom. Good for Molly Ringwald for screaming "Liar!" at him. Man, that's still painful to watch.

[Spears]

I guess that's sort of a break-up scene in "Officer and a Gentleman."

I'd argue that the more painful one is when David Keith gets dumped after proposing to the girlfriend he thought was pregnant. Of course, he ends up hanging himself in the shower after swallowing the diamond ring. Wow. A top 5 contender.

[Mary]

Would An Officer and a Gentleman count even though Debra Winger and what's his name eventually got back together?