Disappointing


This movie has a big reputation as an 80's teen flick, but I was wholly disappointed. Most of the discussions between the five students from different cliques -- the popular girl, the jock, the Brainiac nerd, the dope-smoking rebel and the neurotic misfit -- come across contrived and unconvincing. Some of the dialogue is actually cringe-inducing.

The hoodlum (Judd Nelson) could've worked as a character, like the Fonz or Vinnie Barbarino, but he's such an annoying, loud-mouthed jerk that he loses all sympathy, particularly when he verbally rapes the redhead on multiple occasions for no ostensible reason. The fact that the two end up together at the end adds insult to injury. Not to mention two others that unrealistically couple up.

It's strange that "The Breakfast Club" is billed as a comedy because there's very little that's funny, although it's occasionally entertaining, like some of the music sequences. Unfortunately, writer/director John Hughes wasn't into the heavier side of rock and so the soundtrack consists solely of bland 80's new wave bands, like his other 80's teen flicks (e.g. “Sixteen Candles,” “Pretty in Pink” and “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”). Don't get me wrong, there are a couple of quality songs, like “We Are Not Alone” by Karla DeVito, but where are the heavier popular bands of 1984, like Van Halen, Scorpions, Judas Priest, Ratt, Dokken, Queensryche, Def Leppard, AC/DC, Twisted Sister or Motley Crue? Is it asking too much to have ONE song that actually rocks?

But the music is the least of the movie's problems (and isn’t really a problem at all, except that there aren't any heavy tracks). The actors are fine, but Hughes' dialogue is unconvincing. The script needed a serious rewrite.

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I RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE ONE THOUSAND PERCENT.🙂

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We need YOU to rewrite the World.
Our lives would be so much better if YOU were in charge.
Have at it, Genius.

Sincerely - Bender

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You failed to address my legitimate criticisms.

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YOU HAVE NO " legitimate criticisms.".....JUST TWO OVERSTATED OPINIONS ON THE DIALOGUE AND MUSIC CHOICES...MILLIONS OF PEOPLE FIND THE FILM TO BE EXCELLENT...BOTH ARE OPINIONS,BUT YOURS IS WRONG.🙂

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I also pointed out the absurd way the smart redhead ends up coupling with that grossly-abusive-for-no-reason piece of sheet Bender (and another unrealistic coupling as well).

Not to mention, I pointed out how Bender is not a sympathetic protagonist like similar hoodlum-like characters, e.g. the Fonz or Vinnie Barbarino. His actions make the viewer hate him and he's not convincingly 'redeemed' by the end of the story.

What I said about some of the dialogues between the students wasn't "overstated opinions," but rather simple observation regarding unbelievable, cringe-inducing lines, which reflect poor writing. Lousy scripting isn't a matter of opinion; it's reality. The proof is in the pudding.

Millions of people love every widely released movie; this doesn't make the flick above legit criticism.

But, if you love the film, more power to ya. Sing it from the rooftops.

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I SAW IT FRESH WHEN IT CAME OUT...ALL YOUR CRITICISMS ARE PERSONAL OPINION...A PERSONAL OPINION NOT SHARED BY MANY PEOPLE.

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"I also pointed out the absurd way the smart redhead ends up coupling with that grossly-abusive-for-no-reason piece of sheet Bender (and another unrealistic coupling as well)."

This you found to be unrealistic??? Lol

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Totally unrealistic

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A judgmental asshole who prefers bringing people down to elevate himself is a perfect fit for today's Democratic Party.

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I hear ya.

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The dialogue is the best and most realistic part of the movie for me. Also, Bender´s arc is never to be "redeemed". None of them are "redeemed" per se. The main point of the movie is these group of "different" kids who are conforming to differing stereotypes are essentially the same, dealing with parental issues and trying to get through high school. The only glaring flaw of the movie for me is Allison´s arc.

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That's why I put 'redeemed' in quotes. Forget redemption, after it's plainly established that Bender's a piece-of-sheet abuser the viewer has to see something worthy enough in Bender that would attract Claire's romantic interest by the end of the detention period. As it is, it's thoroughly unconvincing, even laughable.

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They may be Legitimate Criticisms, but they are very personal to You.

I imagine most people are carried away by the intangible Vibe that BC has.
Kids meeting, kids overcoming their differences, kids having fun together, kids figuring things out.

No, it's not the most sophisticated effort, but it Hits Home for many of us. It means something, and it doesn't Pander.
At least not too much.

I have always found it much more satisfying than the other J Hughes efforts, but ymmv

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I imagine most people are carried away by the intangible Vibe that BC has.
Kids meeting, kids overcoming their differences, kids having fun together, kids figuring things out.


Yes, that explains why I'm able to appreciate it to some degree.

Yet that doesn't change the reality of the criticisms I've voiced -- particularly Claire warming up to Bender by the end of detention enough to date him. Why Sure! In other words it's not just a "personal" criticism; it's a glaring flaw in Hughes' script. An example of a personal criticism would be not liking a film because of the muted colors or vice versa.

I'll take "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" over Hughes' other 80's teen flicks, followed by "Some Kind of Wonderful" and "Sixteen Candles."

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I've always liked the Breakfast Club. My kids love it too, so it's not a generation thing.
My wife can't stand it though.
People eh?

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Well, I believe that you make some good points about the plot and the characters.
It is very annoying too that Allison just had to be dolled up in the end to get a boyfriend.
However, I think I must remind you that everybody isn't into heavy rock
So I disagree with you about the music.

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Like I said at the end, I can live with the music, it's the other issues that hurt the movie.

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Yeah, I see that now.
But now that I think about it, it is not like one rock song or two would have hurt.

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It mostly an empty on the surface but there is subtext, it just doesn't spell everything out for you like newer films do it is also a teen film so they weren't going for a heavy handed approach. The truth is though that girls choosing the bad boy losers who treat them like crap is a lesson we as males learn very early on in life. So that is very accurate.

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It's a good point and helps me respect the movie more but, come on, there are all kinds of attractive, smart females out there who want nothing to do with the "bad boy," even in high school. And a good percentage of those who are drawn to them eventually wise-up for the future.

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It is common though. Females like to think they can change a man and so the bad boy not only offers excitement but is also the ultimate fixer upper. Also in the film Claire likes the idea of being with the Bad Boy to piss off her parents so she isn't the nice girl her cute well groomed exterior suggests anyway.

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I really like this movie, watch it every couple years or so. My favourite part is the dialogue, so i don't think i can agree that its unconvincing. I can concede that that its not how people actually talk but that's sorta the point, its meant to be somewhat stylised.

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I assume you are a young man millennial generation or Z gen watching this for the first time.

It is interesting to me how different generations view this.

I am a Xer and I must say it is not one of my favorite teen films. Just a skit to put different "clicks" into a room and have fun with the interaction.

Your comment on "verbal rape" is most telling. NOBODY from my generation would use those words, we would just call the guy a jerk.

It is also telling that it "needs a rewrite", where actually what I hear is that this COULDN'T be written today as is because the dialogue is much to cruel to a teenage girl, verbal rape and all.

I am a firm believer that there should be no handcuffs on dialogue. Younger generations have a different view, going back to a 1950's style of film(with different taboo's)

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Your comment on "verbal rape" is most telling. NOBODY from my generation would use those words, we would just call the guy a jerk.


Way worse than just a jerk, brah. Bender's gross verbal abuse of Claire was unwarranted and totally overkill. Then we're to believe that a smart girl like Claire warms up to this piece of sheet by the end and they're actually dating? Get real. Too much of the dialogues were unconvincing or even cringe-inducing.

Meanwhile what you say about the supposed generation gap is irrelevant, at least in this case.

As far as quality 80's teen flicks go, I'll stick with "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" and "Footloose"; not to mention "Christine," Valley Girl," "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" and "Just One of the Guys"; even practically every one of the first eight Friday the 13th flicks, excluding Part 3. (Yes, I realize "Christine" and the Friday the 13th movies are horror films and "Footloose" is a drama, but they're all 80's teen flicks at heart).

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🙂 There is a generation gap!

The character Claire was a princess on a pedestal, a snob. She looked DOWN on poor people. Claire thought her shit didn't stink. She rich parents, white privilege, everything given to her, the works..

Benders "gross" "unwarranted" "verbal rape" was used to bring her down from her pedestal...that was all it was used for! My generation sees this clearly.

Some members of the younger generations do not, they see it as a disgusting verbal attack on a innocent teenage girl.. which is taboo in media today. Claire belongs to one of the "protected" (women, minorities, disabled, sexually different) that writers have to think twice before writing them in a negative light.

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She didn't remotely deserve to be talked to like that regardless of what "privilege" you (and that piece of sheet Bender) think she had. If she spoke to him like that then, sure, but that wasn't the case.

According to your reasoning, anyone lowborn has the moral right to verbally abuse those born into more affluent circumstances. Bull!

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If the affluent look down on them or act all snooty..SURE!

The character Claire came across as a high class snob to me. Watch it again, she gave Bender looks like ..what a dirtbag..

As I said, Claire thought her shit didn't stink. Benders harsh language just brought that out in the light.

I understand if you had a thing for Claire, many of my generation did🙂.

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Nevertheless, what you say helps make sense of that particular part of the movie. So thanks!

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I think context matters. This has to be taken for what it is, an 80s teen flick, emphasis on the 80s. It's very of its time. Do I think it's losing it's charm as time goes on? Absolutely. But it's also a time capsule and there's a magic in that for a lot of people. Personally, I really appreciate how unpolished it is, especially in contrast to current teen flicks.

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Some 80's teen flicks hold up, like "Christine," Valley Girl" and "Ferris Bueller's Day Off." "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" and "Footloose" are arguably the best of the lot and, in my mind, masterpieces of that genre. But I didn't find several of the dialogues in "Breakfast Club" convincing; some of them are cringe-inducing. Hughes overdid it with Bender's despicable treatment of the Redhead (Ringwald). It wasn't justified and didn't ring true. The fact that they couple-up at the end is laughable -- totally contrived.

I have no idea how this film became a runaway hit.

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I respect your opinion. For me, when I think of some of the people kids idolize these days, like Jake Paul for example, it doesn't seem that unconvincing.

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Verbally rapes? Ugh. Next!

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Give the movie a rewatch; that's basically what Bender does to Claire, and inexplicably so. How better to describe it than "verbal rape"? Or we can go with simple gross verbal abuse. It all amounts to the same thing -- abrasively attacking an innocent person with the tongue and figuratively destroying them, murdering them, raping them.

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