What if they were 17 again?

John Cusack

Now: These days you’ll find Cusack playing father figures (“Grace is Gone,” “Martian Child”) or angst-riddled hitmen (“War Inc.,” pictured right).

Then: An official member of the nerd herd in John Hughes’ “Sixteen Candles” [pictured left]. As Bryce, close pal to Anthony Michael Hall (“The Geek”), Cusack was the guy who The Geek wanted to impress—the one who instigated the panty-stealing hijinks that would ultimately change everyone’s lives.

Better when? Unless Cusack convinces Cameron Crowe to do a sequel to “Say Anything…,” anything from the past is better than the rut he’s in now.