Basic plot: Five kids from varying backgrounds spend a Saturday together in detention.
I’m really, really far behind on John Hughes movies – at least when it comes to the Brat Pack installments. Home Alone, Uncle Buck, Ferris Bueller, and Vacation were staples of my childhood movie-watching, but I seem to have missed out on his huge teen-star-spawning 80s movies. Though Sixteen Candles and Pretty in Pink remain on my to-do list (the latter of which will indefinitely stay there until it’s forced upon me), my friend Lauren and I did yet another trade-off, and this was the result. She gets to watch Office Space.
I’m not sure why I had such low expectations for this, but I was pleasantly surprised. John Hughes is a fun writer/director and I can’t think of a single time his work has truly disappointed me, so my doubt was completely unfounded. He proved himself yet again.
The characters are all pretty cookie-cutter high school stereotypes, but rather than relying on matching them with stereotypical actions to guide the story, 85% of everything revolves around these five kids talking to each other. Because of that, it felt more like a writer’s reflection on what high school was like rather than some ridiculous fantasy a writer wished had happened (See: Charlie Bartlett, The New Guy, Never Been Kissed, etc., etc.).
All the actors are great in their roles, though I have no idea why Molly Ringwald would have ever been considered that attractive considering the “weird girl” looks way better than her after a little clean-up. The Emilio Estevez I grew up with always coached hockey, and since he apparently has refused to age, it was a little weird watching him play a high schooler, but it worked well enough. Anthony Michael Hall and Judd Nelson were awesome, as was the principal.
The one thing that completely caught me off guard was the comedy:drama ratio. I was expecting something cheesy and slapstick-y and while it does have those moments, the movie actually splits things right down the middle in terms of funny vs. serious. I didn’t see that coming at all, but it was a welcome change of pace thanks to the solid writing and performances.
I’d definitely pick up the DVD if I could find it for under ten bucks seeing as it’s well worth watching again if only to learn from the dialogue. This movie wins for simplicity.
April 18th, 2009 at 8:08 pm
Yep, that was the world in which I grew up (I was 14 or 15 when that movie came out—though I didn’t see it until a few years after that). The problem is, I didn’t fit any of those stereotypes—but I knew several people who fit each one.
I think the thing with Molly Ringwald’s character isn’t so much that she was the *prettiest* girl, but she had a lot of money and could dress in the latest fashions, and she had the Alpha Female personality, which immediately set her at the top of the pecking order. Knew a few girls like that—well, knew of them. They pretty much ignored me.
The one of this group whose career has interested me most in recent years has been Anthony Michael Hall. After the hit film roles he had in the ’80s and early ’90s, he disappeared for a while. It’s been nice to see him make something of a comeback with the Dead Zone TV show (though it’s off the air now) and the movie roles he’s once again getting.
April 18th, 2009 at 8:35 pm
I’m glad you liked it! It is such a good movie.
And don’t worry… Pretty in Pink and Sixteen Candles will be coming soon enough.
(:
April 18th, 2009 at 10:25 pm
Interesting read. This movie has been on my to-watch list for ages, much like the other John Hughes films but I just haven’t gotten around to it. I don’t want to pay the $20 that Wal-Mart is asking.
If my friends were all able to put aside their fears and buy copies of Pretty in Pink then I think you should be able to get over whatever is keeping you from watching it. Besides, I want to hear your thoughts on it before I go out and buy a movie with a pink cover
April 21st, 2009 at 2:14 pm
I haven’t seen this movie in years. Really need to though.