The Breakfast Club (John Hughes, 1985) Review

It's time for a teen film! One of my first reviews I ever did was of Ferris Bueller's Day Off so I think it's time we take a look at what it would be like if it was really serious. Sure, the late, great John Hughes had done some crap (Flubber for example) but this is one of his best! I can't really think of a good introduction so let's just dive right in!

On a weekend day, five students arrive at high school as they have each earned detention. These students are (from left to right in the picture) John Bender (Judd Nelson), Andrew Clark (Emilio Estevez), Allison Reynolds (Ally Sheedy), Claire Standish (Molly Ringwald) and Brian Johnson (Anthony Michael Hall). The film follows these five students taking place in one day. That's basically the summary. There isn't much else. To be honest, there is development but that would be telling spoilers...which I only do with certain films...if I feel like it.

 Like I just said, the film basically runs on development. The characters go through some character development (naturally) and end up pouring their souls out to each other. They are all likeable and well (sorry for the overused word) developed. The actors work well off each other (all though I believe there was tension on the set, am I right? AM I RIGHT?!) and it works with a great setting...which I think is the same high school as in Ferris Bueller's Day Off...probably. The acting is the main reason this film is actually really good. There is a lot of emotion used and conveyed so acting is top priority...and it didn't disappoint.

You want all your questions answered? Good for you because you aren't getting any answers. The film is filled to the brim with enigma codes which is something that John Hughes seems good at. What happens the next school day isn't even mentioned. I keep having to compare it to Hughes' other film, Ferris Bueller, just because this film is the darker twin of it. Another parallel is that we also see the story of the principal (Paul Gleason) just as we did with Ferris Bueller but it's not played for laughs and is actually quite tragic in a way. This film will tug at your heart strings.

The Breakfast Club is filled with development, enigma codes and emotions. It's a touching film that is actually sort of dark in comparison to other teen films like American Pie and Ferris Bueller's Day Off. It is a great film that set the bar for teen films afterwards...that people seemed to ignore. The acting is great, the story, while limited, is great and the characters are very likeable. Well, that's that film done (i've been meaning to do it for a while) but I can tell you Friday's film since I watched it today...hence why this is up late: Pixar's latest film Brave.

Verdict:
9/10
A well written teen film that actually is more serious than it is funny. Great acting helps increase the quality.