Re-evaluating an old fave and still loving it!

Rating: 8/10 (14 September 2001)

A few weeks ago a film buff I'd just met made a disparaging comment about "The Breakfast Club" when he saw it on my list of faves. He was incredulous that anyone could like such rubbish. I must confess that (in light of his comment) I had to re-watch this old favorite and, as I did, I continually wondered, "Okay, as much as I used to like this as a teen, is this REALLY any good?" After close observation and careful consideration, I must re-affirm (for the world to know), "I love this movie!" Whether or not I SHOULD, I do. No amount of condescension can take that away.
One thing, however, that changed in the interim since my last viewing was the response I felt toward Judd Nelson's John Bender. This time around I found him much less "cool". Frankly, I thought (especially in the first hour) that he was annoying and loud, if sporadically amusing. Snide comments and monologues that I used to love weren't as fun this time around. Not as you saw the faces fall of whoever happened to be Bender's target. As I saw the movie progress, though, and carefully watched the other characters' reactions to Bender, I realized that this was probably closer to Hughes' intention than my initial adolescent adulation. The gradual revelations we are given into his background aren't as meaningful unless we begin with (at least) mild revulsion.
One of the reasons I really care about this move is because it just plain FEELS GOOD to experience this gradual change of heart toward John. Sure, you never quite like him but you can definitely see that underneath all the barbs and bluster is a whole lot of fear and pain. The look on John's face as Vernon publicly denigrates him says it all. He is cringing and hollow-eyed as Vernon jeers, "You wanna see something funny? Let's look at John Bender in five years. Now that's funny." Chilling moments like this, however cleverly written, reinforce the fact that "The Breakfast Club" may be funny but it's no comedy.
I personally find the progression from mutual indifference to anger and eventual understanding (however limited) believable and touching. Sure, in truth, not much is really accomplished. A few silly stories are exchanged. Some personal secrets are revealed (hidden fears about growing old and shame about being virgins to name a few). And some unstable romantic unions are formed. But, isn't this part of what makes this such a wonderful movie? Sure, nobody saves the world. Nobody really accomplishes much of anything...'cept a little bit of understanding. And isn't that, after all, EVERYTHING? Sure, the intimacy these five kids find in this ephemeral moment will never be rekindled in quite the same way. I think of the end of "Stand By Me" where the narrator tells us that Teddy and Vern would eventually become for him just two more faces in the crowd. But this, by no means, invalidates what was gained by these kids. Each of them will take away something invaluable and (hopefully) indelible: a slightly broader mind and a little bit bigger heart.