Movie maestro made teen films with staying power
‘Sixteen Candles’ starring Molly Ringwald and Anthony Michael
Hall
John Hughe’s died Aug. 6. He is credited with writing 38 films,
producing 23 and directing eight.
Though it has been nearly two decades since the filmmaker last
directed a movie, his films of the ’80s have proven they have
staying power. If I had to choose a top 10 teen movies of all time,
at least five slots would go to Hughes’ films, and I was only 6
years old when he directed his first movie.
Movie maestro made teen films with staying power
‘Sixteen Candles’ starring Molly Ringwald and Anthony Michael Hall
John Hughe’s died Aug. 6. He is credited with writing 38 films, producing 23 and directing eight.
Though it has been nearly two decades since the filmmaker last directed a movie, his films of the ’80s have proven they have staying power. If I had to choose a top 10 teen movies of all time, at least five slots would go to Hughes’ films, and I was only 6 years old when he directed his first movie.
I never saw a Hughes film in the theater, but somehow the movies became part of the collective consciousness for my generation. Perhaps it was the ease with which we teenage girls could rent the movies on VHS for slumber parties. Or maybe it was the re-screenings of the movies over and over on TBS, TNT and USA with the few curse words dubbed out that made the movies appeal not just to the Brat Pack generation, but to those of us born a few years later.
For anyone who doesn’t know, Hughes is the mastermind behind “Sixteen Candles,” “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” and the “Breakfast Club.” He also wrote “Pretty in Pink” and “Some Kind of Wonderful,” which to me fit into the top teen movie category.
“Sixteen Candles”
The thing that made Hughes such a great filmmaker is that he created characters to whom teenagers could relate. His Samantha Baker (Molly Ringwald) in “Sixteen Candles” is dealing with what every teenage girl fears most – that she won’t be noticed. Samantha deals with her family forgetting her 16th birthday in the whirlwind of her sister’s wedding and her crush Jake Ryan (played by the gorgeous Michael Shoeffling who quietly disappeared from movies in 1991) certainly doesn’t see her.
The only person who does seem to notice her is a geeky boy (Anthony Michael Hall before he became cool on “Dead Zone”) – also a fear for teenage girls. John Cusack even has an early appearance as a dorky guy with head gear.
“The Breakfast Club”
Hughes teamed up again with Molly Ringwald and Anthony Michael Hall in the “Breakfast Club.” Their band of outcasts caught in detention is rounded out by Emilio Estevez, Judd Nelson and Ally Sheedy. The actors are all from a different clique at the school and they slowly get to know each other during a Saturday detention. Brian (Hall) is the nerd. Andrew (Estevez) is the football player. John (Nelson) is the bully. Claire (Molly Ringwald) is the popular girl, and Allison (ally Sheedy) is the weirdo. The students bond together against their principal and start to share bits about themselves that break down the stereotypes. Most teens can relate because they’ve either been stuck in detention or felt stuck on the outside – or inside – of a clique.
“Ferris Bueller’s Day off”
This movie appeals to teens because it’s what we all wanted to do once in a while – come up with some clever way to cut school and not get caught. Ferris Bueller has moxy that keeps him going even when he does something really bad – like destroying his best friend’s dad’s sports car. Matthew Broderick, who plays Ferris Bueller seems so young, but has just the right snarkiness in the film to make Ferris likeable. Cameron Frye is played by Alan Ruck, who is the doubting Thomas best friend who worries the whole time that they will get caught. Jennifer Grey has a nice turn as Ferris’ sister Jeanie who can’t stand how her brother gets away with everything.
“Pretty in Pink”
Hughes wrote this 1986 film directed by Howard Deutch. The story touches on the cliques Hughes focused on in “The Breakfast Club,” but this time the lines are drawn along income levels. Andie Walsh (Molly Ringwald) lives with her single dad Jack (Harry Dean Stanton) on the poorer side of town. She is unpopular at school and spends most of her free time with her friends Iona (Annie Potts) and Duckie (Jon Cryer.) Things get a little awkward when Duckie, who dresses like he got lost in the 1950s, reveals he has a crush on her just when Andie meets a guy at school. Blane McDonnagh (Andrew McCarthy) is one of the rich kids, and his best friend Steff (James Spader) wants him to have nothing to do with Andie.
“Some Kind of Wonderful”
This is my favorite Hughes film, and also one that falls under the radar compared to his other films. The movie again pits kids from the working class against rich kids. Keith (Eric Stoltz) has a thing for rich and popular Amanda Jones (Lea Thompson). When Amanda breaks up with her boyfriend, he sees his chance to ask her out, and even goes so far as to break into his college savings to plan an extravagant date that will woo her. He asks his best friend Watts (Mary Stuart Masterson) to help him with his plan without realize that his tomboy friend actually has feelings for him. The story isn’t original, but I always loved the interactions of Watts and Keith, as she puts aside her own feelings to help him get what he wants.
Of course, the best thing about a Hughes’ film is that almost everyone ends up with the right person in the end. Except for the dorky boys played by Anthony Michael Hall and Jon Cryer.
Movies under the Stars
August 27: Hairspray, PG
Tracy Turnblad (Nikki Blonsky) just wants a chance to dance on the Corny Collins show in this musical set in 1950s Baltimore. Her mother Edna (played by a cross-dressing John Travolta) wants her daughter to aim low, while father Wilbur Turnblad (Christopher Walken) encourages her to pursue her dreams of dancing on an integrated show with whites and blacks alike. Starring Zac Efron, Michelle Pfeiffer and Amanda Bynes.
September 3: Mamma Mia!, PG-13
All Sophie Sheridan (Amanda Seyfried) wants before she gets married is to have her father walk her down the aisle but her mother (Meryl Streep) has always been secretive about her past. When Sophie finds an old diary she decides to invite all three of her mother’s beaus to the island hotel they run in Greece so she can discover which is the real deal in this musical inspired by the music of ABBA. Starring Stellan Skarsgard, Pierce Brosnan and Colin Firth.
