Maid to Order (1987)

You won't be disappointed!

Clever, believable, and super fun to watch. It totally has replay value.

Fanciful, disturbing, and wildly original, it announces the arrival of a fresh, bold voice in American cinema.

This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

Really wanted to love this movie. The era is one of my favorites, as are many of the actors. Just couldn't get into this one. In my opinion, Ally Sheedy's performance was weak; not believable. And what was up with her hair?! A rich girl with a short mullet? I don't think so. She looked like a homely boy in this film. The other young maid, "Maria", was very beautiful -- and had good character, good work ethic. I found it difficult to believe the young chauffeur, "Nick", would not be more attracted to the more beautiful and stronger woman, Maria. Anyway, this movie is still an OK way to kill a couple hours, but it's not up to par with other 80's greats. Thanks

Jessie Montgomery (Ally Sheedy) is a spoiled troublesome bored rich L.A. kid. After a drug arrest, her exasperated widow father Charles (Tom Skerritt) makes a wish that he never had a daughter. Her fairy godmother Stella (Beverly D'Angelo) comes to take Jessie out of jail but tells her that she is no longer Charles' daughter. She is penniless and without any connections. Stella tells her to straighten up and get a job. She stumbles into an employment agency which just happens to be looking for a white maid. She's working for the crass Starkeys (Valerie Perrine, Dick Shawn). Nick McGuire (Michael Ontkean) is the chauffeur pretending to be a mechanic who's trying to get talent agent Starkey to listen to his tape.It's an interesting switch on the Cinderella story. I was in love with Ally Sheedy from 'The Breakfast Club' back in the day. This is one of the last starring roles before her stardom faded. She never really found her sweet spot but she continued to work. There are no big laughs in this movie but it is kind of cute. Sheedy is perfect for this role. She still has rooting interest despite being a complete brat.

Seriously? Fairy Godmother? Okay, I'm not totally against fantasy and magic in a film, but this just seemed lazy. It's like the script writers knew where they wanted to go, but had no idea how to get there. In the late Eighties, Hollywood was aghast at the re-election of Ronald Reagan, and there were a lot of caricatures of the evil rich, and of the nobility of poverty and labor. The caricatures of the rich people went a bit far, and weren't really very funny. And record company executives being enthused over a singer who does old Motown sound? They were looking for a "new" thing, and though Merry Clayton was in fine voice, there are tons of people who can sing old songs well. The plot was formulaic and predictable, on top of being ridiculous. Just not a very good film.

The reckless Jessica Montgomery (Aly Sheedy) is the spoiled daughter of the wealthy millionaire Charles Montgomery (Tom Skerrit), who dedicates his life to philanthropy. In order to compensate the absence of her mother, her father gave everything money can afford, but Jessie has a total lack of character. When Jessie is arrested for driving in high speed using drugs, her good father regretfully wishes he would have never had a daughter. His wishes are heard by Jessie's godmother Stella Winton (Beverly D'Angelo) and her former existence is erased from Earth. Jessie has to learn how to survive, working as a maid in the mansion of a weird couple. She becomes friend of the household staff and falls for Nick (Michael Ontkean), becoming a better woman. "Maid to Order" is one of the most delightful fantasies ever made. This Cinderella in reversed fairy tale is a great lesson of life and presents a great moral in the end, as usual in movies from Disney Studios. Aly Sheedy is perfect for this role; Michael Ontkean has a perfect chemistry with her; the whole cast has a wonderful job; but the unknown Merry Clayton "steals the show in most of the scenes" in the role of a singer. This film is underrated not only in IMDb, maybe with the viewers influenced by the professional critics, who seems that do not like this type of movie. However it is highly recommended as a great family entertainment. My vote is eight.Title (Brazil): "Cinderela às Avesso" ("Cinderela in Reverse")Note: On 24 March 2016, I saw this film again.