The world is an imperfect place......

Rating: Null/10 (27 September 2001)

The world is an imperfect place. well, according to Bender (Judd Nelson) it is.
it's always a hard task to choose between this and Ferris Bueller's day Off as John Hughes best out of the teen flicks he has written, directed and produced. Weird Science, Sixteen Candles and Pretty in Pink. All classics in their own way, but as for the best it's Ferris and The Club going head to head.
Ferris's nuggets of wisdom, "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while you could miss it." or Bender's one liners, "Does Barry Manilow know that you raid his wardrobe?"
It's a tough decsion but I think The Breakfast Club wins over all. It is superbly acted and directed. It has classic comedy moments, such as the five stars getting stoned. It has classic one liners, classic soundtrack. The whole film is in fact a classic. It's remembered by all who watch it.
It was the movie that defined the teen genre. It's format has been used in various other films, like The Faculty and referenced in many more. The Breakfast Club is a part of movie history. Many teen flicks have tried to be the new Breakfast Club, but none will ever better the orginal. It is the epitomy of teen movies, with the brat pack cast including Judd Nelson, Emilio Estevez and Molly Ringwald, whos names are now synomomous with the genre that made them stars.
It has touching moments and funny moments and serious moments. It has all that you could need for ninety minutes of light hearted entertainment. The actors are great at portraying the characters on screen. Judd Nelson as the criminal hard ass, Bender who has a screwed up family life. Emilio Estevez playing the sporto, Andrew Clark, who feels he's being pressured to do things he doesn't want to do. Brian Johnson, the nerd is played by Anthony Michael Hall, a John Hughes regular (starring in not only The Breakfast Club but also Sixteen Candles and Weird Science). Another Hughes regular is Molly Ringwald, playing perfect prom princess, Claire. Last, but not least Ally Sheedy has quite possibly the hardest role of all. Playing the quiet kleptomaniac, Allyson who doesn't talk until halfway through the movie. Then of course there's the obligatory authority figure, Mr. Vernon, or Dick. As in most of Hughes' films the authoriy figure is ridiculed. This is true not only in The Breakfast Club but also in Ferris Bueller's day off (Mr. Rooney) and Chet, Wyatt's older brother in Weird Science.
All of the characters have their own problems and they bare their souls to each other having become firm friends at the end. The film isn't just about entertaining, it's a lesson in growing up. It's not just the characters, themselves, that learn an important lesson. It's the viewer too. The cast find themselves. That's the plot of the movie. Finding out that there's more to life than credit cards and theiving, more than just grades and wrestling. Finding friends and new love. They all change for the better and the message is that we can all change if we look inside and decide we want to change.
Hughes directs the film with more than just making a film. There's psychology. At the start of the film the characters all wear several layers of clothing. Various coats and sweaters that as the group get closer the layers are shed. They become less of the image and more of the real deal. They become themselves. This is what Hughes is good at, teen psychology, which is also used in Ferris Bueller's Day Off. This makes Hughes a cut above the rest when it comes to teen flicks. He understands what teens are going through and portrays it on screen perfectly.
If you have the means I highly recommend that you watch this movie. You won't feel disappointed.
You see us as you want to see us...