The Breakfast Club (1985)

For my last blog I figured I would do the most popular movie of the 80’s, The Breakfast Club. This movie is the epitome of the 80’s. Like many movies form this era, it examines the relationship between young teen, and authority figure. These movies tend to frame the youths as the heroes and the adults as the enemies. The “uncool” kids are the ones that listen to the principle, and the “cool” kids are the ones that rebel. Bender, Ferris Bueller from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Jeff Specoli from Fast Times at Ridgemont High, and Ren from Footloose are all glorified as the heroes because they question authority. Vernon, the principle, is made to look like an idiot by Bender simply because he refuses to adhere to his rules. By pretending not to care about the consequences, Vernon’s ability to have authority over him is shot. Mr. Rooney from Ferris Buellers Day off comes off like an idiot because he can’t control Ferris. He spends all day trying to catch him, and ends up getting more hurt than Ferris. All the teen authorities come off as dumb, and the kids (who are breaking the rules) come off as cool. Brian, who is by far my favorite character simply because he got a fake ID so he could vote, is uncool because he does what he’s told. But in the end, in true 80’s cheesy fashion, they realize that they’re all the same. They all have a little brain, rebel, princess, athlete, and basket case in them. “We’re all pretty bizarre. Some of us are better at hiding it, that’s all”- (Andrew- the Jock).