Another Hughes Classic

Rating: Null/10 (5 September 2000)

Hughes follow up to "Sixteen Candles" is an even better effort, dealing with five teens stuck in a Saturday afternoon detention together. None wants to be there, of course, but by the end of the day they come to like each other. Not without the usual threats, anger and tears, which is what makes the film great as Hughes delves deep into each character. Though all the performances are great, the film really belongs to Nelson, who has the best lines, be it funny or antagonistic. Estevez is strong as well, Hall is pleasantly understated, Ringwald good at the emotional, and Sheedy a perfect neurotic. Hughes wisely trimmed his original script, dropping a silly subplot involving a teacher (Gleason, who watches over the kids) spying on a female co-worker throughout the building. And also to omit Vernon's change of heart that the kids are not so bad after all, as it would have been totally unbelievable. But for whats on screen, its all great, with a dynamite soundtrack, and a great final shot. One of three(!) great Hughes films from '85.