R.I.P., Corey Haim, who passed away today at the age of 38.

Growing up in the 80′s, I saw pretty much all his (and the other Corey’s) movies in that period. Lucas was one that I missed. I didn’t see it until I was in my late twenties (I believe it was this enthusiastic Roger Ebert review that prompted me to see the movie). I’m glad that I saw it as a grown-up though, because what I like about Lucas is that nostalgic feeling about the pure, innocent, and idealist adolescent love that grown-ups can never recapture. Japanese cinema has an entire genre based on this concept of “Jinai” (Pure Love), which is all about adults remembering the life-defining romantic crushes they had when they were young. Perhaps due to cultural differences, we don’t really have this genre in American cinema, but Lucas strikes the same emotional chords in me.

Lucas (1986) - Written/Directed by David Seltzer

The story is not all that different from any other American teenage high school movies. Nerdy but intelligent kid Lucas (Corey Haim) falls in love with a pretty girl (Kerri Green) who is attracted to the school’s star quarterback (Charlie Sheen). A nerdy girl (Winona Ryder) is secretly in love with Lucas, while the football star has a beautiful girlfriend (Courtney Thorne-Smith) already. To complicate matters, Lucas is the target of the football team bullies.

But Lucas is not just another teenage movie. What sets it apart is not the plot, but its characters. These are not stereotypical teen movie characters. They don’t utter lines simply to advance the plot or to get a laugh. Writer/director David Seltzer treats his characters with respect and love. He gives them intelligence and sensitivity and in return, Seltzer is rewarded with note perfect performances from his young actors – in particular Corey Haim.

Corey Haim and Kerri Green

Ebert wrote (in 1986)  that Lucas is “as pure and true to the adolescent experience as Truffaut’s The 400 Blows” (you really can’t get any higher compliment than that), and Haim “creates one of the most three-dimensional, complicated, interesting characters of any age in any recent movie. If he can continue to act this well, he will never become a half-forgotten child star, but will continue to grow into an important actor. He is that good.” He was that good. And it’s truly heartbreaking to see such potential wasted.

Any 80′s movie worth its salt has a slow clap scene. Lucas has one of the best. Little Lucas has earned that slow clap.