I thought long and hard about how I wanted to do this, but what can really be said about writer/director John Hughes that hasn’t already been put forth? He was the impassioned voice of a generation, a pensive, level-headed auteur who brought the plight of the American teenager into the mainstream without all the sneering condescension. He shunned the “young and stupid” cliché by treating youths with the respect they deserved and rarely fashioned a script that didn’t contain a surplus of downcast yet quotable anecdotes reflecting the human condition. His characters were one-of-a-kind in their eccentricity which, to me, only makes his death more difficult to swallow, because we’ll never know what oddball creation he might have introduced next.
After all, we’re talking about the same guy who scoffed at authority in “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” tackled class differences with “Pretty in Pink” and made the phrase “neo-maxi-zoom-dweebie” part of the pop culture lexicon. Furthermore, I don’t think there’s a guy between the ages of 25 and 45 who doesn’t get excited just thinking about Kelly LeBrock standing in Wyatt’s doorway toward the beginning of “Weird Science,” so the impact Hughes had goes beyond mere entertainment value.
His success was the product of a Reagan-controlled universe in which kids either acquiesced to the corporate lifestyle or risked being called a “burnout” the rest of their life.
Some call it exploitation, but that implies a degree of mean-spiritedness on Hughes’s part that didn’t exist in the slightest. He simply constructed a cinematic world where high-schoolers could be themselves and not have to be ashamed of going against the grain. For once, someone in the media wasn’t treating them like second-class citizens and they loved every minute of it.
Instead of doing a full-on retrospective, I’ve decided to highlight five films and quotes that I feel best define the legacy of this beloved filmmaker. If your favorite doesn’t appear on the list or you’d like to add your own thoughts to the mix, feel free to comment at your leisure. I’m always looking for a good debate, so bring it on…
*I love “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” as much as anyone, but it’s been talked about to death, so I decided not to include it here.
Films –
“National Lampoon’s Vacation” – Hughes didn’t direct this instant classic, but he did pen a script that showcased Chevy Chase’s ability to elicit a laugh from any situation imaginable. Whether it’s the picnic scene or the babbling father-son talks, it’s difficult to watch without emitting even the most temperate giggle.
“The Breakfast Club” – Since this happens to be my personal favorite, I’ll defend its quality to no end simply because of the filthy one-liners that spew out of Judd Nelson’s mouth at every turn. His rugged exterior makes for an array of laugh-out-loud moments and the fact that everybody knows he’s full of it only adds to the hi-jinx. If you’re one of the few people on Earth who hasn’t seen it, consider it a must, because Hughes’s ability to blend humor with irascible parental issues has never been better.
“Pretty in Pink” – Once again, he only wrote the script, but with a cast featuring Molly Ringwald, Jon Cryer, Andrew McCarthy, James Spader and Annie Potts, how can you possibly go wrong? The age-old tale of forbidden love is played out expertly as Ringwald and McCarthy pursue a relationship despite coming from opposite ends of the economic spectrum, while Cryer creates a character sure to live forever in the minds of women who wish they had a “Duckie” to turn to in times of despair. Great stuff.
“Planes, Trains and Automobiles” – The pairing of Steve Martin and John Candy is pure genius from beginning to end. Enough said.
“Uncle Buck”/”Home Alone” – Both films feature John Candy and Macaulay Culkin and they’re both hysterical works that have a high-volume of repeatability. I love both of them dearly and feel they should be staples for any budding film fanatic young enough to idolize Kevin McAllister.
Quotes –
“Does Barry Manilow know that you raid his wardrobe?” – John Bender (The Breakfast Club)
“Drinking and driving don’t mix. That’s why I ride a bike.” – Duckie (Pretty in Pink)
“Will milk be made available to us?” – John Bender (The Breakfast Club)
“How 'bout a nice greasy pork sandwich served in a dirty ashtray?” – Chet (Weird Science)
“Can I borrow your underpants for 10 minutes?” – The Geek (Sixteen Candles)
