Yeah, sometimes I’m a sucker.  Peer pressure is something that never really got to me, but movie character pressure puts the heat on quite often.  Show me something in a movie and if it intrigues me, catches my eye or just looks cool, I probably have to try it.  I may not “jump off the bridge” if everyone else does; however, I will certainly revamp pieces of my wardrobe, re-create memorable movie scenes in real life, get my hair cut a new way or try an odd cuisine choice if I see it on the screen.  I mean, if it worked for the fictional characters I love, I have to give it shot, right?  “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery,” so I’m showing homage to my much loved movies and fictional creations.

I have danced, lit up only by my headlights, to the Footloose soundtrack and threw down a ½ full bottle of beer just like Ren McCormack.  I have lain down in the middle of the Circus Liquor parking lot in Burbank to recreate when Cher Horowitz was robbed in Clueless.  And, I have driven down the part of PCH with the Northern California overlook, blaring Barry Manilow’s “Ready to Take a Chance Again” on the radio just like Gloria Mundy in Foul Play.

I’ve taken photos to my hairdresser of Monica Potter in Head Over Heels, Mary Stuart Masterson in Some Kind of Wonderful, and Heather Locklear in Wayne’s World 2, and Money Talks, and The First Wives Club, and…okay, okay, so I love Heather Locklear’s hair (mostly Melrose Place-era…not so much Dynasty or TJ Hooker).  Even got my ears pierced three times on one side and two on the other…courtesy of Michelle Pfeiffer and The Fabulous Baker Boys.

And, of course, there are more than enough wardrobe choices in my closet that became my favorites because they reminded me of clothes that a particular movie character wore.  Some I’ve even lucked out on, by accident.  Remember those bunny slippers worn by Chris Knight (Val Kilmer) in Real Genius?  I actually received those years before the film came out as a Christmas present from my Aunt Nancy.  They still reside in my closet – a prized possession and I have absolutely no plans to get rid of them – 35+ years and still going strong.

Within reason, I will even try the odd snacks or food combinations.  Barbecue Corn Nuts (Heathers), Captain Crunch & sugar sandwich (The Breakfast Club) and Fruit Loops with Hershey’s chocolate syrup (Secret Admirer) all had to be tested just to see what they tasted like…once.  Or, to dine at one of the restaurants that was used in filming some of my favorite movies like Katz’s Deli from When Harry Met Sally, The Russian Tea Room from Tootsie, or Du-par’s from Valley Girl – the moments are magical.

How fun, to live in the moment of some of my favorite on-screen characters!  It brings back all the emotions of watching those scenes and all the love that I have for each film.

In fact, without fail, every time I visit the Fox Plaza building in Century City, I smile uncontrollably knowing I am on the grounds of Nakatomi Plaza (Die Hard).  At times, I still can’t believe that my old apartment building was actually adjacent to the old Sherman Oaks Galleria (Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Night of the Comet, Commando, Terminator 2 and Chopping Mall); and, to throw it all out there without restraint, I almost cried last year when I saw the note emblazoned on the wall of the Heathrow Airport arrivals area: “This is where LOVE ACTUALLY’S opening sequence was filmed.  Think of here whenever you feel gloomy…”  The beginning of that film makes me sad and happy; and, totally tugs on my heart, no matter how many times I see it.  To know it was filmed right there was an amazing feeling.

And, then there was the best of all…Filoli Estate, located about 25 miles south of San Francisco.  It’s a country house with 16 acres of formal gardens surrounded by a 654-acre estate and it is where they filmed Heaven Can Wait (though you might recognize it from the opening credits of Dynasty).  It was my destination of the day while in Northern California for a wedding nine years ago – it is a historic site, so happily for me, it’s open to the public.  I must have walked triple the recommended 10,000 steps or more just making my way through the rose garden, ballroom, carriage house, tree lined grounds, dining room and up & down the steps, over and over and over again.  I didn’t want to miss a spot.  As I strolled each section of beautifully manicured grounds and every single interior room, repeatedly, I found myself imagining Warren Beatty, Dyan Cannon, Julie Christie, Charles Grodin, James Mason, Buck Henry and Jack Warden reciting their lines, hitting their marks and putting onto celluloid what is truly my most cherished cinematic treasure.  I can’t even recall how many times I have seen the film, but its indelible mark on the person I have become since my first viewing in 1978 at Roselawn’s Carousel Theater is unquestionable.  I stood and stepped every place I could recall a memorable scene taking place.  I know it is probably impossible for most everyone I know to understand, but it was one of the most amazing days I ever had.  For that day, at that estate, in that moment of time, I was there.  I was part of something that has brought me the most masterful mix of both delight and melancholy whenever I needed it most.  Whenever I wanted to remind myself that everything happens for a reason and there’s always a plan – Heaven Can Wait was there.  The one-sheet hangs framed in my bedroom and I have a lobby card of Joe Pendleton back in his Los Angeles Rams quarterback jersey above my desk at work.  It is around me everywhere and it reminds me that the world is good, life is magical, true love will find a way, and not to take anything too seriously – whatever is meant to be, will be.

And, clearly what is meant to be is that I will remain a sucker for the movies.  Truly, nothing makes me happier or, in the best way possible, plays with every feeling mapped out on my emotional scale.

So, if you happen to see a crazy person standing out in the rain shouting about writing letters every day, dancing around the living room in their underwear to Bob Seger, running up the art museum steps in Philadelphia, sitting in Daley Plaza on Valentine’s Day or ordering shawarma from a nearby Mediterranean grill, maybe, just maybe, they understand how I feel and are trying to recreating or take pleasure in something just because they saw it in one of their favorite movies.  To those people, I say, “I hope you enjoy EVERY second of that moment…and, can I join you?”

*Another very strange coincidence:  The day I wrote this post and figured out my challenge for the week, I decided to do a quick search on Twitter, in the extreme off chance Warren Beatty had an account.  What I found was that 39 years ago today (June 28^th), Heaven Can Wait premiered in theaters.  Just another way the world is telling me I am on the right path, I guess?