John Hughes and 80s films

Have you heard of John Hughes? John Hughes was an American screenwriter and director. He is known in particular for his hit films from the 1980’s. His movies defined a generation. He had a unique ability to capture the real true complexities of teenagers. Decades later, people, including me, are still deeply impacted by Hughes’ films. Some people have called Hughes the philosopher of adolescence. Hughes wrote movies about teenagers. He wrote about their dreams, their hopes and their insecurities. He did not sugarcoat the struggles of being a teenager. I think his films can be classified as their own genre. ”Everything is life or death, and these films recognize that, and don’t disparage it.” said film critic, Leonard Maltin. Hughes treated teenagers with respect. He gave them a voice. In Hughes’ movies, he balanced heavy themes with comedic elements. I think the writing was extremely genuine. 

Growing up, my parents were strict about some things and relaxed about others, which confused me. They let me explore New York City on my own, despite its chaos, but they drew the line at letting me watch certain R-rated movies, which I found frustrating. I remember my mom refusing to let me watch Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette. I think it was because there was nudity in the film. My parents have always been very big on family time, which I’m grateful for. When I was a kid, I didn’t have any friends who spent as much time with their families as I did. Occasionally when I was younger, I would get annoyed when my parents would make me and my siblings sit with them and watch old films. The first time I truly loved a movie was when I was seven years old. It was The Breakfast Club, which my dad put on one day. I was instantly hooked. The Breakfast Club is about five teenagers who spend a Saturday together in detention. In college, my roommate had a poster of The Breakfast Club in our room. The poster said: "They were five total strangers with nothing in common meeting for the first time. A brain, a beauty, a jock, a rebel and a recluse. Before the day was over, they broke the rules, bared their souls and touched each other in a way they never dreamed possible."

Watching The Breakfast Club at seven years old was probably young, and some of the themes like sex and drugs went over my head, but I loved the movie anyway. It portrays typical high school stereotypes: Brian as the geek and academic overachiever, John as the rebellious criminal, Claire as the popular princess, Andy as the athlete, and Allison as the basketcase. However, as the movie unfolds, these characters have deep conversations and realize they share more in common than they thought. There is a deeper side to all of them. I became obsessed with John Hughes and films from the 1980’s.

Growing up, whenever I would meet adults, I’d eagerly ask about their favorite movies and proudly listed mine: The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Pretty in Pink, The Goonies, and The Lost Boys. Many adults were surprised by my choices, but they often agreed with me how special these films were. Some adults were curious why I connected with these films so deeply and why they left such an impact on me. They combine entertainment with valuable insights. I think there are rich life lessons to be learned from 80s films. Ferris Bueller taught me to take charge of my life, to not take my friends for granted and that life flashes by if you don’t take time to appreciate it. No matter who you are nerd, jock, prom queen, or rebel, embrace yourself, and also-- who knew you could find friends in unexpected places. I learned this from the Breakfast Club. Pretty in Pink taught me I should always believe in myself.

The characters in John Hughes films are memorable and compelling. Even at seven years old, I felt understood and acknowledged by John Hughes through his characters. I believe everyone can find a character in a John Hughes film they can relate to. I believe John Hughes wrote movies for the underdog. During elementary and middle school,  I often felt disconnected from my peers. Adults would describe me as an old soul and wise beyond my years, but sometimes, I just wanted to fit in with my peers, but watching John Hughes' films taught me the importance of being true to myself.

There are honest depictions of real life in Hughes movies. When I was in high school, I would compare myself to Ferris Bueller and Cameron Frye.  Ferris Bueller was friends with everyone and didn't conform to any one stereotype or group, much like how I felt. Bueller was fearless, which is a word I’d use to describe myself. I think a lot of teenagers wish they were Ferris. He had incredible confidence. I think the movie Ferris Bueller can speak to all ages. Ferris Bueller is a fun movie filled with adventure. I think mostly everyone has pretended to be ill to miss school or has wanted to take the day off. I have to admit I took some tricks from Ferris Bueller when I was younger and fooled my parents. It’s a hilarious movie. Kids with siblings can relate to Jeanie Bueller. The characters are empathetic. During my last year of high school, I strongly identified with Cameron Frye. Cameron is Ferris Bueller's best friend, he’s depicted as depressed and angry. Similarly, as a senior, I battled debilitating depression and often found myself wanting to leave school early during the spring semester. I spent a lot of time alone and didn’t feel like I always belonged. Cameron is scared of his future like I was. I was struggling to find my place in the world.  Sadly, I think teenagers are more depressed than ever. There is more stress in 2024 than for previous generations. I think everyone has related to Cameron at some point in their life. 

Hughes portrayed the real challenges teenagers face, shedding light on issues often overlooked by many. Some adults dismiss teenage problems as insignificant, but high school was personally a tough period for me, as it is for many. In Hughes' films, no issue a teenager faced was deemed unimportant. In Sixteen Candles, Samantha Baker’s family forgets her sixteenth birthday. Understandably, she is pissed. In the film, she says, “I can’t believe this. They fucking forgot my birthday.” In Pretty in Pink, the main character Andie feels insecure about not coming from money. In The Breakfast Club, Brian is suicidal from dealing with the pressures of school and getting good grades. John Hughes movies have always been comforting to me. Whenever I’m having a rough day, my best friend Josie normally suggests to me, “Lou, you should watch an 80’s movie.” Every time I follow this advice, it helps. When I first got dumped, I watched The Breakfast Club. When one of my closest friends died, I watched Sixteen Candles. One of my favorite things is introducing someone to a John Hughes film for the first time. Either they instantly connect with it, or they don't—it's that simple. As a kid, every sleepover at my house had to include an 80's movie. I think teenagers' feelings are extremely valid. They feel desperate. They feel lonely. They feel unwanted. They feel pressure from their parents. They feel misunderstood. John Hughes understood teenagers. I’m truly thankful for John Hughes and his films. 

In recent years, people have argued John Hughes films are incredibly problematic. He’s been called sexist. He’s been called out for not having enough representation. Some people think John Hughes films should be cancelled and that they do not live up to today’s cultural standards. When I was eighteen years old, my older brother Wolfgang surprised me for my birthday and took me to the legendary Hollywood Forever Cemetery. A company called Cinespia shows films on a huge projector in the cemetery. I was so excited to watch Sixteen Candles, which is one of my favorite films. It was a special experience for me. However, during the movie, a couple nearby had an intense argument about the film being sexist, while another couple remarked on its racism. I acknowledge there are many flaws in John Hughes' films, but I still value and appreciate his work. In 2018, Molly Ringwald who was John Hughes' biggest muse wrote an essay for the New Yorker titled, “What About “The Breakfast Club”? Revisiting the movies of my youth in the age of #MeToo.”

Molly Ringwald wrote, “It’s hard for me to understand how John was able to write with so much sensitivity, and also have such a glaring blind spot.” In Sixteen Candles, the popular dreamboat, Jake Ryan’s girlfriend Caroline is incredibly wasted and unconscious. He hands Caroline over to another guy in trade for a pair of another girl’s underwear. Jake even makes a horrific comment, “I could violate her 10 different ways if I wanted to. I’m just not interested anymore.” When he hands his girlfriend over to the geek, Farmer Ted, he says, “She’s so blitzed she won’t know the difference.” Jake lets the geek borrow his father’s car and drive off with Caroline. Caroline is too drunk to understand what’s going on when she wakes up. The next day, the geek and Caroline presume they had sex. The geek asks Caroline if she enjoyed it. She says, “You know, I have this weird feeling I did,” Molly Ringwald interviewed the actress who played Caroline. Her name is Haviland Morris. Ringwald writes, “In her mind, Caroline bears some responsibility for what happens, because of how drunk she gets at the party. “I’m not saying that it’s O.K. to then be raped or to have nonconsensual sex,” Haviland clarified. “But . . . that’s not a one-way street. Here’s a girl who gets herself so bombed that she doesn’t even know what’s going on.”

Rewatching Sixteen Candles, I've found certain scenes to be super uncomfortable. Many argue that Sixteen Candles should be retired because of the date rape and racist elements. In Sixteen Candles, there is a character named Long Duk Dong. He is used for comic relief. Long Duk Dong is a foreign exchange student who is living with the Baker family. Every time he is mentioned, there is a gong sound. He’s referred to as the “China Man” by the other characters, which I think is not ok. Additionally, parts of John Hughes' film Weird Science can be seen as misogynistic. I believe it's okay to appreciate media that has problematic aspects. It's important to acknowledge the flaws in these films, considering the time they were made and the evolving societal standards today. As our world changes, our understanding of what is acceptable in media evolves as well.