Today’s quick review: Peggy Sue Got Married. Peggy Sue (Kathleen Turner), still reeling from her divorce with Charlie (Nicolas Cage), goes to her high school reunion to catch up with her old friends. But when she passes out at the party, she wakes up back in high school at the end of her senior year. Knowing what’s to come if she marries Charlie, Peggy Sue has to decide whether to change her past or make the same mistakes all over again.
Peggy Sue Got Married is a romantic comedy about a woman who gets sent back in time to 1960, a pivotal time in her life. The movie follows Peggy Sue as she revisits her past, works through her conflicted feelings about Charlie, and looks at high school through new eyes. Peggy Sue Got Married gets some good mileage out of its premise, with a nuanced romantic conflict and some clever ideas. However, its loose writing and odd emotional arc hold it back.
The strongest aspect of Peggy Sue Got Married is the way Peggy Sue treats high school. Having lived through it once before, Peggy Sue knows exactly what matters and what doesn’t, allowing her to cut through the teenage drama and have meaningful interactions with the people around her. The premise also adds layers to her relationship with Charlie, forcing her to reconcile how it started out and where it will ultimately end up.
Still, Peggy Sue Got Married is not as tightly woven as it could have been. The movie leaves its time travel mechanics ambiguous, focusing on the emotional conflict over specific changes Peggy Sue is making to the timeline. Peggy Sue herself bounces around a lot, pursuing a variety of loose ends from high school rather than focusing solely on her relationship with Charlie. And while the plot works well enough, it drifts towards the end.
Peggy Sue Got Married is a serviceable time travel story that deals with high school, romance, and marriage in a unique way. Neither its characters nor its story are strong enough to leave a lasting impression, but the themes it explores make it a worthwhile watch. Give it a shot if you’re in the mood for something eclectic and interesting. Skip it if you’re looking for tightly scripted comedy or a heartfelt romance.
For a romantic comedy starring Nicolas Cage about a man given the chance to revisit his life choices, try The Family Man. For a more playful and iconic time travel story set in the 50s, try Back to the Future. For a romantic crime comedy about a high school reunion, try Grosse Pointe Blank. For a sci-fi thriller that toys with similar ideas, try Frequency. For a trip through a dead relationship, try Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
[6.4 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091738/). I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for a fun and fruitful premise.