Not as good the second time around

Rating: 4/10 (4 February 2007)

Why I used to like this movie, I don't know. I'm sure it had a lot to do with me being a young pre-teen, aspiring to be just as cool as the cast of The Breakfast Club; that and whatever Molly Ringwald did in the 80's was supposed to be good. Watching this movie as an adult was very dissatisfying. The movie only reaffirmed a prejudice I already had, and that is: for the most part, I can't stand teenagers.
Five teens at a nice High School in Chicago get Saturday school. Immediately we're shown the different personalities: the wealthy popular girl, the jock, the geek, the misfit, and the recluse. Throw in the loud, obnoxious, overbearing, drill Sargent of a teacher to watch over them and you have a cult classic. It isn't a mistake that the five kids represent just about every group from the high school social hierarchy, and how could you have a movie if there isn't any conflict? Up steps Bender (Judd Nelson), the 30 year old high school student with no hopes of being a contribution to society. He provides instant wise-cracking and obvious behavioral issues. He is the straw that stirs the drink, without him there is no movie. He is not remotely pleased unless he is completely degrading someone else. Yet, what you find is that high school kids are so fickle, no matter how much another teen insults them, angers them, or risks their future, they will cover for him and eventually follow him if he is the loudest and the boldest of the bunch.
Bender, and the rest of his temporary "cellmates" all have some type of familial problems, and that is what ultimately makes them alike. Of course that is when the audience is supposed to have a sympathetic heart for these screw-ups because they aren't to be blamed for how they behave. And what better way to bridge the gap between you and your fellow teen than over a joint? I didn't finish the movie and I didn't think I had to really. I'm sure they all got along in the end, or at least came to a mutual understanding of respect though they don't like each other. The movie was far less funny and far more vulgar than I remember. Then again, my memory was stemming back to when my intellect was far less developed and my vocabulary consisted of the very cuss words used throughout the movie. All I got from this movie is that teenagers are fickle, dumb, and they like to smoke weed.