Curly Sue 1992

Actors : Jim Belushi, Kelly Lynch, Alisan Porter, John Getz, Fred Dalton Thompson

An endearing rags-to-riches family comedy of a wandering scam artist and his streetwise, curly-headed sidekick, this guilty pleasure ranks with John Hughes's best films. Curly Sue is the story of the street-hardened yet tender Bill Dancer (Jim Belushi) and orphaned accomplice Curly Sue (Alisan Porter). Curly Sue and Bill scam Grey Ellison (Kelly Lynch), an unsuspecting power attorney, out of a hot meal and a penthouse bed. Grey warms to the adorable Sue and the diamond-in-the-rough Bill and cools to her ruthless profession as the trio begins to feel more like a family. John Getz plays Walker McCormick, Grey's stuffy, affected boyfriend who tries his best to force the vagabonds on to the next train out of Chicago. Belushi is well cast for this role, blending grit and heart nicely, but it's the charming performance of Porter that steals most scenes. Imagine a modern Annie through the witty eye of hit filmmaker Hughes and you have Curly Sue. --Sarah Chace