Courtney Thorne Smith

Lucas is a 1986 tragicomedy starring Corey Haim, Kerri Green, Charlie Sheen, Winona Ryder and, naturally, Courtney Thorne-Smith.

Lucas is the tale of Lucas (Haim), a shy and very intelligent teen who always finds himself victimized by the other kids. He has a protector of sorts in friend Cappie (Sheen), a football player who’d originally been a tormentor until Lucas helped keep him in school when he was sick. And over summer Lucas meets and befriends older girl Maggie (Green) who has just moved into the neighbourhood.

Lucas begins to feel for Maggie, but she doesn’t return the sentiment; instead she turns to Cappie, who loses his girlfriend because he likes Maggie. This enrages Lucas, who feels absolutely humiliated when he shows up to escort Maggie to a school dance - only to find Cappie has taken his place. He finds some small consolation in his other female friend Rina (Ryder), but not enough. He decides he wants to impress Maggie, and does so by joining the football team.

This is a fatal mistake, however, and Lucas finds himself beaten fairly to a pulp in the first game. He’s sent to the hospital. Rina, trying to help Lucas’ two friends understand how bad his life is, takes them to his home - a trailer, broken-down, complete with an oft-drunk father.

Lucas comes back to school some days later, thinking it will be the same bully-filled day as every other - however, upon opening his locker, he finds a varsity letter jacket with his name and football number on the back.

Then the whole hallway begins to clap, and Lucas raises his arms in triumph.

Where does Smith fit into it, you ask? She’s another student called Alise. And not one terribly important to the story.