This work is striking in its accurate depiction of teenage life at the time of its execution. Though this is a broad generalization, parents of that time were too self-absorbed to be real parents, and those who were home tended to be far too distracted from the real issues, where their children were concerned. This film teaches us how to let go, even when it is painful, and does so with a sweet, melancholy, but informed style whereby Foster talks philosophically about feeling the pain of life. I loved that scene. It was my favorite scene in the movie, actually.The transition from funeral to wedding was meant to show that life does go on, and so must we. Baio's skateboarding through a pack of goons and outrunning them was meant to show us that the troubled times will pass, and we are meant to get through them, to better times.The whole metaphor of "moving on," and the procession of life, is present throughout the film, and serves to give us hope, in the end.I like this movie, though I do not watch it often, as it tends to make me melancholy.It shouldn't be viewed by young children, and probably only those raised in the 1970's-80's would want to.It rates a 7.4/10 from...the Fiend :.