Ringwald and Batinkoff make this movie a very entertaining movie. They portray the angst of having a baby when you are very young with such intensity that one would think the story to be a true story. I have no idea why the IMDb score for this movie is as low as it is. The plot is sound, the characters are logical, there is plenty of romance, humor and drama. The story might not be set into the breathtaking New Zealand landscapes but instead to a place we all might relate to. Same goes with the situation the two youngsters end up in. They are intelligent and ambitious and they have a solid plan how they intend to waltz through life. However, plans are just plans when life takes an interesting turn for you and this movie portrays such a situation with skill. Yes, it's a bit predictable but romantic movies tend to be so, eh? The plot moves at a brisk pace and I felt there were no unnecessary scenes or characters. Even the minor characters (there's a comedic relief guy too) stayed very minor as the story concentrated on the two youngsters.The most interesting thing in this movie for me was how the two youngsters try to cope with their new situation, responsibilities and emotions. They love each other, but it is not easy all the time. Are there any couples who could say that statement is untrue? Their responsible families are not perfect (as it is in real life) and cause problems by loving too much. It's both sweet and annoying, maybe partly because that's just how it goes in real life too.If you are looking for a good and entertaining "chick flick" to watch, this one won't fail you.

For Keeps (1988) Molly Ringwald, Randall Batinkoff, Kenneth Mars, Miriam Flynn, Conchata Ferrell, Sharon Brown, Renee Estevez, John Zarchen, Michelle Downy, Pauly Shore, D: John G. Avildsen. Long-term high school couple marries thinking they can handle a life together after diligent Ringwald gets pregnant. Truthful teen trials like sex, marriage, parenthood, and family acceptance are underscored, but the repercussions of the story are obvious and insincere. Good intentions though. Running Time: 98 minutes and rated PG-13 for some language and sexual situations. RATING: ** (out of ****)

For Keeps is a movie with good intentions yet I found it to be obvious and lame. The script does not sound the way that real people talk- it sounded very much like the way middle-age people think teenagers talk. The characters seemed too cliched to really have an impact.And what was wrong with Molly Ringwald? She was so real and interesting as an actress in Pretty in Pink and Sixteen Candles, and so dull and uninteresting here. I don't want to sound like a grouch, but For Keeps just seemed poorly made. The characters were simplistic and shrill - especially the parents. "Stretch marks are the badge of a real woman!" bellowed the dad. Puleease, I used to teach middle and high school, my students would not buy these characters for a minute. They just seemed false and overly stereotypical. I was in high school in 1988 when this came out and I did not buy it either. Real people are much more complex and interesting. Teen pregnancy is a potentially rich subject for a film, the teens who could benefit from a well-done movie about it. A disappointing 4 out of 10 for this well-intentioned mess.

This movie is an excellent depiction of what a young couple goes through when having a baby. I was surprised at how accurate they were, from the reaction of the parents down to the fighting between the couple. I was also surprised at the realism of how they all came around, both of the couples parents realizing that they wanted to be involved in the child's life, and the couple coming around realizing they were fighting for the wrong reasons. This movie took a page right out of my life. To all the teens who read this review, this is what having a baby is really like. Remember life isn't always as easy as it looks in the movies. I give this movie a 10/10....only because it wont let me rate it any higher...it really deserves a 20/10 because it is so good.