Stuck in a Saturday detention are 'a brain, an athlete, a basket case, a princess and a criminal.' They have nothing in common, and are not happy about being there. Their supervisor Mr Vernon is having a mid-life crisis, and is just as unhappy as they are. He soon wanders off and gets drunk with the janitor, while the teenagers laugh, cry, confess, confide, get high, and eventually write the essay Mr Vernon set for them.
Aside from the genuine and energetic cast, the film's progression really relies on John Hughes' clever script. Hughes is an omniscient writer, getting deep into the thoughts of both kids and adults, and presenting their feelings and fears with true authenticity. Anyone can relate to it, and every word of dialogue has its purpose.
The cast all stand out in their own way, fully embodying their characters. They are all so uniquely interesting, and all remind you of someone you went to school with. A tremendous scene between Mr Vernon (Paul Gleason) and Carl the janitor (John Kapelos) ties the ends of adolescence and adulthood together. "Why did the kids change and turn on me?" asks Mr Vernon. "The kids didn't change, man," Carl replies, "You did. I mean, would you have liked you at their age?"
Not only is this movie clever and insightful, it's also very funny, partly down to the great script, and partly down to the wonderful performances. Bender (Judd Nelson) is the petty criminal/ class clown/ bully, and his cockiness and cheeky charm make him lovably amusing. Allison (Ally Sheedy) is withdrawn and kooky, making her odd outbursts all the more hilarious. And there is something truly awesome about the maths geek (Anthony Michael Hall) gathering all his nerve and lung power to scream, "Fuck you!"
Entertaining, intelligent and uplifting, The Breakfast Club perfectly sums up two separate generations, and doesn't ever lose its touch.
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