So we lost John Hughes today. Talk about a dark day in the land of Generation X. I’m not sure if there was any other director who could be so tied to a generation as John Hughes. If you were a teenager in the 80’s you watched John Hughes movies. Hell, you wanted to live in a John Hughes movie. In honor of his work I will run through some highlights of his career output.
Sixteen Candles: Will be forever known as the movie that introduced us all to Molly Ringwald (or reintroduced for those of us who spent way too much time watching The Facts of Life.) Captures the high school experience perfectly with foreign exchange students, guys named Jake Ryan, prom and musical interludes. Girls wanted to be Molly, guys wanted to be Jake Ryan and somehow I ended up as Anthony Michael Hall.
The Breakfast Club: Speaking of Anthony Michael Hall has anyone ever discussed the cruel fate that his character suffers in this film. Five students are stuck in detention on a Saturday morning. Judd Nelson hooks up with Molly Ringwald. Emilio Estevez makes out with Ally Sheedy. What does that leave Anthony Michael Hall to do? Finish the damn report that they were ordered to write as a part of detention. Seriously, how sucky is that? Still this is a fascinating movie as you take the typical high school student archetypes and put them in a room and see what happens.
Weird Science: Did Hughes just hire Anthony Michael Hall for every movie he ever made? Wonderful if just for the plot of having high school students somehow create the perfect female by programming a Commodore 64. And people wonder why I consider that computer to be the greatest machine ever made. Most people could relate to the terrifying older brother of Chet. As well as having to confront rampaging mutant bikers in your kitchen. Hey, it was a tough life out in the suburbs of Chicago.
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off: This is the ultimate Chicago suburbs movie. Note that it is not the perfect Chicago movie. The Blues Brothers is the best example of what the city itself is like. This movie is about what it is like to be a kid from the suburbs getting to goof off in the city for a day. Wandering around the Art Institute holding hands with your girlfriend and schoolchildren while your Smiths loving friend stares into the Seurat. Catching a Cubs game, crashing a parade with the polka queen and just enjoying be a carefree teenager. And that is what the film is about: being young and knowing that you are at the only moment in your life where you truly do not have any worries and relishing in the moment. Even Cameron understood that at some point.
Planes, Trains and Automobiles: I’ll finish up with this one (and these are the first five films he directed. My God what a run.) Sometimes in your career you have to be able to prove that you can do something different. That not every film you make has to involve a high school. It is the story of simply trying to get home even when you aren’t sure where home is. It is about realizing that the way that you are living life might not be the right way. And it is about John Candy being a hell of a lot funnier than anyone ever gave him credit for.
3 comments:
How about a top 10 of your favorite Hughes characters.
The leads are obvious, but it's the supporting players that made the films great. Cousin Eddy, Long Duc Dong, Principal Vernon, and James Spader's Steff are characters everyone loved or loved to hate.
Did you know that Anthony Michael Hall was originally offered the part of Duckie in Pretty In Pink but turned it down because he didn't want to be typecast as geek. I guess he got his comeuppance in Johnny B. Goode.
Steff is one of my favorite movie characters of all time. Who wears a linen suit in high school? "The girl was, is, and forever shall be nada"
I always wondered why the rich kids in Pretty In Pink and Some Kind Of Wonderful went to the same public school as the kids who were literally from the wrong side of the tracks.
In Hughes films it did appear if you were rich and an asshole you were allowed to loiter in the hallways and make snide comments.
Spader was awesome and Hardy Jenns in Some Kind of Wonderful may have been an even bigger jerk.
Here are my top favorite Hughes characters;
Clark Griswold: Always reminds me of my father on family vacations. Remember when Chevy Chase was funny?
Ferris: I defy anyone to be in a bad mood after watching Mathew Broderick lip sync in parade scene!
Long Duk Dong: I know it's rascist and they would never put a character like that in a movie today, but I crack up in every scene The Donger is in.
The Geek: That is the actual name of Antony Michael Hall's character in 16 Candles! I can relate to the geek trying to fit in with the cool kids. Plus he makes it with the hot chick in a Rolls Royce at the end of the movie!
Jack: Before he became Batman, Micheal Keaton was very good in Mr. Mom.
Steff: Spader perfected his sleazy, arrogant, prick persona with this performance in Pretty in Pink.
Andrew Clark: Judd Nelson walking off, fist pumped in triumph to Simple Minds is the one of the best movie endings ever!
Paul Dooley: The father in 16 Candles. He's hilarious in the dinner scene with his future in-laws. Plus he has a nice scene with Ringwald that shows parents do understand, even if they forget your birthday!
LEAST FAVORITE Character:
Blane McDonnagh: I agree with Duckie, Andrew McCarthy has all the charisma of a major appliance.
Favorite Song:
"Try a Little Tenderness" by Otis Redding. Duckie turned me onto Otis Redding in Pretty in Pink. Thank you Jon Cryer.
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