Jamie Loves John Hughes

I finally watched Pitch Perfect as it made its way onto HBO last weekend.  And then I watched parts of it several times again because I really, really enjoyed it.  How could I not?  I mean, who doesn't want to be friends with Anna Kendrick ?  Or just be in the presence of the hilarity that is Rebel Wilson?  Plus I have loved Brittany Snow since American Dreams.   Also, so much fun music and an adorable nerdy guy.  (He was born in the 80s, I checked, so I can think he’s adorable).  But what was my favorite thing about it you ask?  Same as my favorite thing about Easy A (another recent teen comedy that I adore and can watch repeatedly), the homage paid to the creator of the greatest teen movies of all time, John Hughes.  In Pitch Perfect it’s all about The Breakfast Club, and a song that I would definitely put in my lifetime top ten, Simple Minds’ Don’t You (Forget About Me).  In Easy A the tributes are to 80s movies in general, but Hughes’ work is dominate and singled out because it is superior to all the rest. 

I’m sure there are people who watch movies like Barney Stinson, and root for the rich, popular kids to rule the day.  But not me (well, except Ferris).  Just like I will always root for the underdog in a sporting event, I want my movies full of nerds & outcasts saving the day, or at least improving their lives.  John Hughes gave the spotlight to those very characters, and created funny, heartfelt movies.  Since I like lists, here is my list of the best of his work:

5. Some Kind of Wonderful – You’re probably skimming this list and asking, where is Weird Science?  I enjoy Weird Science, but it’s not my favorite.  And I am a much bigger fan of this lesser known gem, Some Kind of Wonderful.  Tomboy girl has crush on outcast best friend, who in turn has a crush on super popular girl.  The popular girl (Lea Thompson) turns out to have more depth than first anticipated, which is a twist on the standard take where she is super shallow, but by the time that all gets figured out, the boy (Eric Stoltz) has realized that he actually likes tomboy girl (Mary Stuart Masterson).  Love triangle done well.

4. Pretty in Pink – The first of 3 Molly Ringwald films on the list.  She effortlessly switched from uptight rich popular girl to wrong side of the tracks outcast to awkward underclassman.  Here (wrong side of the tracks outcast) she falls for a rich guy whose name sounds like an appliance, breaks the heart of her best friend whose name is more often preceded by “rubber,” wears a terrible dress to the prom, and we still love her.  We probably would have fallen for Duckie’s Try a Little Tenderness dance moves, but  we forgive her for preferring the wimpy rich guy because who doesn't adore Andrew McCarthy.  I also cannot neglect mentioning that James Spader is the perfect sleazebag in this movie. 

3. Sixteen Candles  - Here is Ringwald again, this time that awkward underclassman.  Her parents forget her birthday and it’s all downhill from there.  But that’s okay, because sexy Jake Ryan gets her underwear back from a geek.  There is a lot in this movie that wouldn’t fly today (politically correct it is not), but it more than makes up for it with excessive amounts of humor.  Plus there is the right balance of heart and teen angst.  Because let's face it, teen life is angsty. 

2.Ferris Bueller’s Day Off – This was a tough call.  Matthew Broderick brings this iconic roll to life in one of the greatest movies of all-time.  Who hasn’t based their entire Chicago vacation on just the things that Ferris did with Cameron & Sloane when they skipped school?  I mean, how else does one decide what to do in that great city?  It is one of the most quotable films in existence, including my personal favorite: “Life moves pretty fast, if you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you might miss it”  Ferris coming in at #2 on my list should in no way take away from its greatness, as it could certainly flip flop with #1 on any day.  Cause he sings on a float in a random parade and it's so awesome.   Like I said, it was tough, but for today...

1. The Breakfast Club – Maybe it’s the influence of having just watched Pitch Perfect.  I might still be thinking about how much I love that Simple Minds song and Judd Nelson thrusting his fist in the air.  Which brings back the serious crush that I had on Judd Nelson after viewing this movie as a teenager.  This was significantly after it was first released (maybe 10 years?) and Nelson is actually just a couple years younger than my parents, but all teenage me saw was teenage (okay, mid-twenties)  Judd Nelson lipping off to the obnoxious vice principal.  Don’t get me wrong, my love for this movie is bigger than that crush, but I think that’s what is pushing it over the edge into the #1 slot at the moment.  Nostalgia, wins every time.

Pitch Perfect & Easy A are quality films in their own right, featuring some of the most talented and likable actresses popular today, but I will love them forever for their efforts in immortalizing the works of the late, great John Hughes.

Coming Soon: Sarah makes a compelling argument in favor of 90s teen comedies, but is wrong.  Except for Clueless, which is practically perfect in every way despite its protagonist being pretty much the opposite of an underdog.