The Breakfast Club | Movie Review

Review of the 1985 Film – The Breakfast Club. “R” Rating Due to Language

The Breakfast Club Movie Review. I know I’m showing my age here but I just watched this movie last night, for the umpteenth time, and it again reminded me of why this is one of the all time best movies of the 80’s. Love the message that’s portrayed and one that should still apply today – “never be ashamed of who you are and don’t judge a book by its cover”. Are we guilty of this ourselves?

It’s been a while since I was in high school, but I had 3 kids go through these years and saw the pressure they put on themselves at that age, which can sometimes be unbearable – as we saw in this movie and may have experienced ourselves. This is one movie I would highly recommend, not only for the entertainment, but for the message as well.

The young cast members Judd Nelson, Ally Sheedy, Molly Ringwald, Emilio Estevan, and Anthony Michael Hall, all played their roles spectacularly, (pretty sure we can all relate to at least one of them), and who knows – maybe some of us have had to actually spend a Saturday in High School detention (I know I did – many times). Can you guess which character I can relate to? 🙂

The movie’s soundtrack is spot on, matches the flick to a tee. And come on – be honest here. If you’ve ever seen the movie before … how many times have you randomly heard “Don’t you Forget About Me” and at the end of the song pulled a Judd Nelson arm move? I did this once, sitting all alone in my truck at the grocery store parking lot, and turned to my side and saw a person doing the same in their vehicle. Gave us a great laugh for sure.

DIRECTED, PRODUCED, SCREENPLAY – JOHN HUGHES

This movie was directed by the brilliant John Hughes, who had a flair for matching up his films with great young actors of their times, which made his movies very relatable to his audience. Just like he’s done in his other movies 16 Candles, Pretty in Pink, Ferris Bueller. Funny story about John Hughes – back in the 90’s we lived a few miles away from his Illinois farm, met him through some mutual friends, and then bought one of his Draft Horses. This horse Clip turned out to be one of our best drafts.

The Breakfast Club – Released 2/15/1985

They were five High School students from different walks of life with nothing in common, forced to meet each other for the first time at a Saturday detention, under a power-hungry principal (Paul Gleason). The group includes rebel John (Judd Nelson), princess Claire (Molly Ringwald), outcast Allison (Ally Sheedy), brainy Brian (Anthony Michael Hall) and Andrew (Emilio Estevez), the jock. Each has a chance to tell his or her story, making the others see them a little differently. And before the day was over they broke the rules, bared their souls, and touched each other in a way they never dreamed possible, questioning whether school will ever be the same. This was the response to their class assignment, given to them by Mr. Vernon their principle.

Dear Mr. Vernon, we accept the fact that we had to sacrifice a whole Saturday in detention for whatever it was we did wrong. But we think you’re crazy to make us write an essay telling you who we think we are. And you see us as you want to see us… in the simplest terms in the most convenient definitions. But what we found out is that each one of us is a brain, an athlete, a basket case, a princess, and a criminal. Does that answer your question? Sincerely yours, The Breakfast Club.

Release date: February 15, 1985
(USA)Director: John Hughes
Featured song: Don’t You (Forget About Me)
Screenplay: John Hughes
Producers: John Hughes, Michelle Manning, Ned Tanen