Writer/Director: John Hughes
Starring: Anthony Michael Hall, Judd Nelson and Molly Ringwald
‘A Captivating Classic’
Do you remember the time when you were a teenager?
Teenage years are a formative time in life when everyone faces fears. Whether it’s demanding nature of high school studies, forming friendships or bullying, being a teenager is a phase in life that’s often challenging. I remember the time when I was a teenager. Looking back in reflection, it wasn’t a time of happiness. I was anxious about failing classes, being bullied and finding social acceptance from my peers in school. Nevertheless, I can’t deny that my adolescence experience did play a pivotal role in shaping the person that I am today. Given the impact my teen years had on my identity, I’ve enjoyed films depicting teenagers on the big-screen.
Few movies I have ever seen have captured the lives of teenagers as accurately as “The Breakfast Club”. Released in 1985, John Hughes’ film is a beautiful coming-of-age classic depicting the lives of five teenagers struggling to survive. Hughes paints a painfully accurate portrait of teenagers whose mental health in school has a tendency to deteriorate. It was one of the first ever mainstream movies in Hollywood to capture the experience of teenagers. Boasting exquisite production-design, sharp storytelling and phenomenal performances, it has stood the test of time as an enduring classic. Despite being made during the 1980’s, the film had aged beautifully and remains timeless. Ultimately, it delivers a universal message which would resonate with everyone that remembers their adolescence years at an early age.
Set over a single day, “The Breakfast Club” tells the story of five teenagers facing a detention in high school with a price to pay. Judd Nelson embodies Bender, a rebellious teenager with a love for breaking rules in high school. Bender is frustrated when he’s forced to spend a day in detention with students that are complicated. Initially, Bender struggles to get along well with a jock, princess, nerd and gothic girl. However, as the day goes by Bender is surprised to discover that he shares more in common with the students than he thinks. As the students develop bonds together, they discover harsh realities of being a teenager.
John Hughes is fascinated with stories about teenagers. Before directing “The Breakfast Club”, Hughes was well-known for making memorable movies about teenagers. His directorial debut “Sixteen Candles” examined the struggles faced by a teenager girl blowing sixteen candles. With “The Breakfast Club”, however, Hughes crafted his first teen rebellion movie. It was the filmmaker’s first attempt to capture the lives of teenagers with rebellious behaviours during the 1980’s, but he succeeded tremendously. Through captivating cinematography, Hughes captures bonds between teenagers that defy authority. Hughes effectively uses montages to capture strong bonds between rebellious teenagers that defy authority. Montages elevate the scene where the five teenagers driven to succeed begin dancing in detention after having weed. It’s a beautiful scene capturing bonds between teenagers setting differences aside in a school where odds are against their favour. Through spellbinding visuals, Hughes captures rebellious teenagers with tendency for rule-breaking.
Another admirable aspect of “The Breakfast Club” that merits appreciation is the production. For a movie made during the 1980’s, the film’s production values have aged incredibly. Hughes expertly uses the confined setting of a high school to capture bullying. The entire film was shot within the walls of a real-life school located in Illinois. Through this confined setting, Hughes captures the complicated dynamics of bullying. For instance, the confined setting elevates the bullying scene. During this heartbreaking scene, Bender begins picking on the weaker students during detention in relentless bullying. One acknowledges the confined setting of the claustrophobic detention room showcasing the realities of bullying. It brought back harrowing memories of my experience being bullied in a school by peers that abused their position of authority. Confined settings are tricky techniques to use in movies, but work tremendously in “The Breakfast Club”. Through awe-inspiring production, Hughes captures teenagers seeking identity formation.
Storytelling is a key reason why “The Breakfast Club” is a classic that remains entertaining. The film is beautifully written, capturing emotions faced by teenagers spending a day together in detention. Hughes’ screenwriting strength is capturing experience of adolescents through improvisation. In Hollywood, most movies rarely address the consequences faced by teenagers that face stress. Most modern teen movies often portray high school as a welcoming place without adversities. Fortunately, however, “The Breakfast Club” avoids pitfalls. Hughes uses improvisation to capture stress faced by teenagers stuck in a detention. Improvisation elevates the scene where the teenagers engage in discussion revealing the reason why they are in detention. It’s a wonderful scene that paints an accurate portrait of emotions teenagers face. Watching the teenagers confess insecurities reminded me of my own panic attacks that impacted by well-being. Improvisation is a tricky technique. Ad libbing is a technique that feels suited for comedies rather than teen movies. That being said, it works. Through a spectacular screenplay, Hughes captures emotions of teenagers today.
One admires astonishing performances. “The Breakfast Club” wouldn’t be the classic that it is without the performances which are iconic.
Judd Nelson delivers one of his best career performances as John Bender. In the role that launched his career, Nelson is magnificent as a rebellious teenager that doesn’t care about breaking rules without any fear. It isn’t easy to bring humanity to a bully that treats peers without any sincerity, but Nelson succeeds. With mesmerizing expressions, he captures the angst, desperation and rebellious nature of a troubled teenager that trapped in a detention. He manages to turn what could have been a detestable character into a sympathetic human being. It’s a phenomenal performance that kickstarted the career of a beloved movie-star.
Anthony Michael Hall is astonishing as a teenager facing pressure to success in academic studies that can’t bear the thought of failing. While Nelson gets the showier role, Hall is equally excellent as a teenager that is driven at any cost to achieve an academic goal. Whether he’s fearful of failing classes in school or silently being treated by bullies with ridicule, Hall captures the dilemma of a teenager through his meaningful expressions. It’s a powerful performance that captures the impact academic failure has on students today.
The rest of the cast is excellent, capturing bonds between teenagers trapped in detention. Emilio Estevez is excellent, capturing conflicted emotions of an athlete under intense pressure to meet expectations of parents that aren’t sweet. Molly Ringwald is magnificent, capturing the perspective of a sensitive teen girl wondering why she is stuck in detention with boys that are aggressive. Lastly, Ally Sheedy merits appreciation. As an eccentric girl, she brings mystery to the movie.
Finally, everyone would appreciate “The Breakfast Club” for its message about boyhood. Evoking Richard Linklater’s “Boyhood”, the film delivers a powerful message about teenagers. It tackles universal themes including adolescence, bullying and peer pressure. Despite focusing on teenagers during the 1980’s, its themes resonate in the modern century. It delivers a universal message that would resonate with everyone that remembers adolescence. Therefore, “The Breakfast Club” is one of those rare movies about teens everyone would adore.
Fans of coming-of-age dramas will definitely appreciate “The Breakfast Club” and so will movie-goers seeking meaningful entertainment.
Nearly 40 years following the release of an iconic film about troubled adolescents attending breakfast club detentions for breaking rules in high schools that are demanding, it’s an inspiring reminder of a classic that has stood the test of time through depicting lives of teenagers that can inspire modern-day youth to embrace a phase in life that for all its challenges is ultimately rewarding.
5/5 stars
The Film Buff 
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