YMMV / Dogfight

• Adaptation Displacement: The off-Broadway musical is probably more familiar or recognisable to audiences than the film it's adapted from. The film saw limited release and, while critically acclaimed, is relatively obscure these days.
• Adorkable: Both Eddie and Rose behave like typical young adults, complete with social awkwardness and occasional goofs - like Rose attempting to put her nightgown on in her cramped closet, and Eddie not knowing where to put his hands at first during a dance. It only makes them endearing.
• Alternate Character Interpretation: It's implied that Eddie never writes to Rose, since he has to throw her address out the bus window to save face with his friends. But she would write to him, and letters from her would have a return address on them, so he could continue to write to her in secret. It's suggested in the end that they haven't heard from each other in some time, but they could still have corresponded a little.
• Harsher in Hindsight: Filmed only two years before River Phoenix's sudden and tragic death, the theme of Eddie making the most of normal life before he heads off to war is startlingly prophetic.
• Fridge Brilliance: Eddie sets things up in the arcade so that he and Rose can dance to the musical attractions. During the dogfight, she had really wanted to dance, but he didn't want to because that was when the judging was to happen. He wanted to make sure she got a dance she enjoyed this time.
• Funny Moments: Rose at first scolds Eddie for cursing so much, but then when the waiter takes her order...
  Rose: Yes, goddammit. I'm going to have the fucking poached salmon, with the son-of-a-bitching rice, and a dirty bastard salad with a shitload of Roquefort dressing. Thank you. And um, who knows what this asshole wants.
  Eddie: (stunned) Ugh, I'll just take a fucking beer.
• Heartwarming Moments:
  • Eddie feels so awful for having subjected Rose to the dogfight that he begs her to let him take her to dinner so that he can make it up to her. He even insists on a fancy restaurant, spending nearly all his money on her food alone, just to make sure she has a good night.
  • Eddie encourages Rose to perform a song for him, despite her shyness. From the beginning, he assures her that she's got talent, and he wants to hear her play.
  • The Dance of Romance in the arcade. Initially starting off with the typical teenage awkwardness, it soon becomes a tender embrace and the viewer can see that Eddie has fallen in love with Rose genuinely.
  • Their reunion at the end. Minimal dialogue, just a bittersweet embrace.
• Hollywood Homely:
  • Rose is considered a candidate for the dogfight. Lili Taylor is dressed down and might not be considered conventionally beautiful, but she's still very cute. The script called for Rose to be overweight as well, but Lili simply gave the best audition. She did gain weight and have her costumes padded however. And of course, Eddie still falls for her, so she's obviously not meant to be hideous.
  • Marcie is likewise meant to be the dogfight winner. They put EG Daily in unflattering black '60s Hair and have her missing teeth, but otherwise she looks fine.
• Retroactive Recognition:
  • Just that same year, EG Daily, who plays the prostitute Marcy, would have the role that would establish her as a voice actress; Tommy Pickles in Rugrats.
  • None other than Brendan Fraser has a small role as a sailor the marines fight with at the arcade.
• Tear Jerker:
  • Rose discovering the dogfight's purpose, giving Eddie the "Reason You Suck" Speech and storming out of the club. When she gets home, her mother notes that she's back unusually early, and Rose weakly tries to pretend her night was good.
  • The scene that depicts JFK's assassination being announced on TV. Rose collapses into her mother's arms in tears.
  • The low key but no less sad reveal that all of Eddie's friends are dead in the finale. It was suggested by him being alone on the bus at the start, and we see Benjamin get shot in Vietnam. But when Eddie shows off the tattoos, it's very clear that they're all gone.
  • There's also something incredibly bittersweet about the fact that, after three years and with all his friends dead, Eddie chooses to return to a girl he only knew for one night.