I really enjoyed seeing this again. It had some sappy parts yet was somewhat realistic. I totally forgot that Matt Dillon was the bully - and believe it or not there was a bully in my high school that looked exactly like Matt Dillon. AND - this movie came out during my sophomore year (just like the characters in the movie).
Also, the cast was interesting - I didn't remember Martin Mull being in it or Ruth Gordon.
Then there are appearances by Joan Cusack, Jennifer Beals, John Houseman, Tim Kazurinsky (of SNL fame, doing one of his versions of the repairman that he's done in sketches and in other movies), and a pre-Cheers appearance by George Wendt.