Comedy, comedy, comedy

And to bring you up to date…..

February 5^th…. Classic John Hughes

Movie #1:  The Breakfast Club (1985, with Molly Ringwald, Judd Nelson, Anthony Michael Hall, Emilio Estevez, and Ally Sheedy)

“Don’t you…forget about me…..”   Unless you have lived under a rock for the last 30 years, you hear that song and immediately think of this movie.  They are inseparable.  THE movie to forever speak for angst-ridden teenagers everywhere, this is John Hughes’ masterpiece.  So…. Which one were YOU in high school, all my readers out there in blog-land?   The athlete?  The criminal?  The princess?  The brain?  The basketcase?  I, myself, suppose I would best be classified as a “brain”; however, I firmly hold that my “true” identity in high-school would really be more “band geek”.  But that’s not an option in this film, and I digress.  Most of John Hughes’ movies are highly comedic with not a lot of deep drama.  This one, though, is the furthest from that.  Oh there are some hilarious moments—my favorite being the principal going down the hall with the paper toilet-seat cover hanging out the back of his pants—but this particular slice of Hughes’ genius has some rather dark scenes (for a teenage movie).  It discusses a lot of issues that most kids just avoid or ignore, for many individual reasons.   The Tales of the Crypt from earlier this week looked at how far humans will go to hurt others.  This movie kind of does the same….although it’s more a microscope examining WHY we’re so mean to each other at the most difficult period in a person’s life.   No matter who you are or where you come from, everyone finds someone they identify with in this movie.  That’s what makes it endure and why so many people have such strong attachments to it.  And even after 28 years, it is still just as relevant to real life as it was in 1985 when the country was introduced to “The Brat Pack”.  

What we liked:  The famous last scene…Judd Nelson’s raised fist as he walks down the football field (cue music  “Don’t you….forget about me….”)

Ratings:  Jason 4.5; Kathy 3.5; Me 4

Movie #2:  Sixteen Candles (1984, with Molly Ringwald, Anthony Michael Hall, and Justin Henry)

This is classic John Hughes comedy.  The most momentous occasion in a teenage girl’s life—her 16^th birthday—is completely forgotten by her entire family.  Enter the annoying siblings, the creepy grandparents, and then the stress of navigating the mine-field of high school student hierarchy (Nerds to the left, jocks to the right, rich kids in the center…. Single file, please people, single file.)  There’s a lot of slap-stick comedy, the confusion of a Chinese foreign exchange student, a family wedding, and one pair of very famous red heart panties.  And in the center of all this chaos, one very cute senior—Jake Ryan.  (Okay, if any of you out there say you didn’t have a crush on that guy when you saw this movie, I call you out right now for the liar you are!)  Of course like all comedies, as dictated by Shakespeare, the confusion gets cleared, mistakes are mended, and in the end—the happy union.  One of the sweetest moments in film history is the end when Jake and Samantha kiss over her belated birthday cake.  (So sue me, I’m a gushy romantic….get over it.) 

What we liked:  1.  The scene with Jake when Anthony Michael Hall’s character (who is only known as “The Geek” in the whole movie) is mixing martinis and giving Jake advice on dating to a background of Frank Sinatra music!  2. John Cusack as a true “nerd”.

Trivia Tidbit:  Michael Schoeffling who played hunky Jake Ryan’s acting career only spanned 11 years, ending in 1991 with Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken after 1990’s Mermaid.  He was a champion wrestler in college, met his wife while modeling for GQ, and since the 90s has been living with his family in Pennsylvania making hand-crafted furniture.  (Anyone need a chair?  Road trip!)

Ratings:  Jason 4; Kathy 3; Me 4

February 11^th… Little known comedies

Movie #1:  In & Out (1997, with Kevin Kline, Joan Cusack, Matt Dillon, Debbie Reynolds)

What happens when an English teacher from a small mid-western town is outted as gay during an Oscar acceptance speech by his former student?  Well, this movie explores that….   Mr. Brackett’s whole world shifts after his student stuns the town by announcing that he was inspired for his portrayal of a gay man by his beloved English teacher.  Mr. Brackett is getting married in 3 days and is now having an identity crisis.  This movie is hilarious.  It’s definitely tongue-in-cheek and over the top.  Every stereotype is pulled out of the woodworks for this movie.  In the end…. Sure, there’s tears.  There’s shock.  There’s suspicion.  But past all that, there’s hope.

What we liked:  Cameo by Bob Newhart.  We just love him.  He has the greatest facial expressions.

Ratings:  Jason 4.5; Kathy 5; Me 4

Movie #2:  For Your Consideration (2006, with Catherine O’Hara, Harry Shearer, Eugene Levi)

Another “mock”umentary like Best in Show, this movie is all about the hype surrounding Oscar nominations.  We watched this one since it’s Oscar season right now—seemed appropriate.  Catherine O’Hara plays an aging actress who is rumored to be up for a nomination for her role in a period movie.  The whole movie is centered on displaying the world of show biz—the over-hype, the sleeze, the poor writers who just want their work recognized but no one even knows who the heck they are much less what they write.  At one point, the whole cast but one is “up for consideration”.  Of course, who wins… (this is no spoiler, you see it coming a mile away)… the Oscar nomination goes to the one guy who never had any buzz.  It’s pretty funny, and the movie is just filled with tons of great character actors.

Ratings:  Jason 3.5; Kathy 3; Me 3

So now you're all updated!  See you next week!