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Angus

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  • Ass Pull: Angus's grandfather gives him a suit for the dance posthumously with a note. Considering he was about to get married when he died, it's very odd he will have a suit ready to gift on his will for an event that was gonna happen a few days after his wedding, but what pushes it into Ass Pull territory is that the note says "Don't open if you are Superman", which is a Call-Back to the conversation the two shared not even five minutes before he died.
  • Critical Dissonance: The film has quite a fanbase for a movie with a 36% rotten on Rotten Tomatoes. It was also a favorite of Roger Ebert.
  • Fridge Brilliance: The above-mentioned Ass Pull is negated if you consider that Grandpa Ivan planned to have the "Superman" conversation ahead of time, but obviously didn't expect to pass away before he could cap it off by presenting Angus with the tux.
  • Harsher in Hindsight: Angus' offhanded comment that Melissa is "Probably off somewhere puking her guts out" at the thought of dancing with him becomes a lot darker after she confides in him that she's suffering from bulimia.
  • Improved by the Re-Cut: The deleted scenes reinserted into the TV edit add more depth to the story and its characters, leaving fans disappointed that said version is the only way to view these scenes at all. One cut is somewhat understandable (an extended scene where Melissa tries to initiate conversation with Angus, since it gives away too early that she's much more down-to-earth and approachable than Angus has built her up to be in his head) but why the others were excised remains a mystery.
  • One-Scene Wonder:
    • Rita Moreno as dance instructor Madame Rulenska.
    • The magnet school interviewer who comes to see Angus, by virtue of being one of the more over-the-top characters in the film, from his cross-eyed stare to his humorous deadpan mannerisms.
  • Unintentional Period Piece: Angus favors the flannel-and-jeans "grunge" look that went out of fashion shortly after the movie debuted. The soundtrack is also full to bursting with 90's Alterna-Rock (and Peter Gabriel).
  • The Woobie: Even though he doesn't take much shit from Rick, it's hard to not feel sorry for Angus at times, especially the times when he pours his heart out to his grandpa. Angus' best bud Troy moreso, because he's a little guy and can't fight back (though he's somewhat mouthy).

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