Review of The Breakfast Club (1985) by David L — 30 Jul 2017

A quintessential coming of age movie from the 1980s, The Breakfast Club broke ground and created a genre that has often been mimicked but seldom been done better. It follows the exploits of an unlikely group of high school students who have been put into a detention one Saturday morning.

The 5 pupils are stereotypes (the geek, the prom queen, the rebel, the jock and the emo) and wouldn't normally have anything to do with each other. Here, however, they are forced to spend time together, work out their differences and forge friendships.

Masterfully directed by John Hughes this is the "Go To" film of the the era. I was surprised on a recent rewatching just how little music there was. My memory had the movie jam-packed with hits from the time.

Still, the Simple Minds theme tune is a classic and just helps the memories, of those of us of a certain age, come flooding back. Definitely something of a time capsule, if you've never seen it, it's a movie worth seeking out.

The only aspect that is today a little cringe making is the last few scenes where the group couples-up and Ally Sheedy's "alternative" character gets the all American makeover courtesy of Molly Ringwold's bobby socks character, Claire.

This was a movie that defined and reflected a generation and is still good today.