High school student Darcy Elliott (Molly Ringwald) from the small town of Kenosha, Wisconsin is set to start studying journalism at the University of Wisconsin while her boyfriend Stan Bobrucz is going to Caltech. They intend on doing the long distance dating. Their plans take a turn when they get pregnant.

It's two years after Pretty in Pink where Molly Ringwald solidified herself as the queen of the teen comedies and John Hughes' muse. It's also two years before Betsy's Wedding. It's her knocked-up teen phase. She's great. She has the full capacity of her charms. Her male lead Randall Batinkoff is at a lower level. He doesn't have quite the acting power. Director John G. Avildsen is going for the grittier teen melodrama with humor. The subject matter clashes with the public's preconceived notions about Ringwald. My biggest problem comes from the parents. No matter how much they disagree, I can't take them abandoning the young couple at such a crucial time. I understand the planned progression for the characters but their actions really bug me. I kept thinking that they could do better and the couple have enough resources to achieve some of their previous plans. It's kinda funny that the mean girl kept calling Darcy stupid. The first time is mean-spirited but the second one is true. With some support, these kids would have smoother sailing and much of the difficulties are self-inflicted.

A high school ace with everything going for her goofs up and gets pregnant; her mother is devastated, and her boyfriend's parents object, but the teens get married and hope for the best. Molly Ringwald's appealing personality manages to shine through the plastic coating and convictionless screenplay by Denise DeClue and Tim Kazurinsky, good writers who have no idea what tone to set--nor how to wrap things up. The adults are shrill caricatures played cartoonishly over-the-top, while newcomer Randall Batinkoff is just average. Ringwald's career became rudderless after out-growing the John Hughes/teen-angst comedies which made her a star, so why in "For Keeps?" is she back in high school? It's a defeatist move, and while Ringwald never embarrasses herself, she's obviously too smart a cookie to lend any kind of credibility to this hackneyed scenario. ** from ****

Darcy (Molly Ringwald) is a high school senior. She is interested in becoming a journalist and her domineering mother encourages her to pursue college. Darcy, however, is also in love with fellow senior, Stan, who has been offered a complete architectural scholarship to Cal Tech. Despite being on the pill, Darcy ends up pregnant. Whatever will the young couple do? This sweet film is a bit stretched in the realism department, but is carried well by the two young stars. Molly, especially, is so lovely and touching, one wonders why she never became a major star. The supporting cast is capable, the costumes very alluring, and the scenery of Kenosha, Wisconsin, captured perfectly. If it is your mission, ladies, to see as many romantic dramas as you can, add this one to your list, by all means.