The Breakfast Club


                As far as I know of my high school did not have Saturday detentions.  I am not even sure how popular regular detention was.  Yes, people got into trouble, and maybe they went to detention, but it was not something I really paid attention to.  If I had gotten detention, I think I would have preferred for it to be after school instead of using up an entire Saturday as it does in The Breakfast Club.        
                In this classic movie, five students are forced to attend a Saturday detention for various reasons.  Only two of them, Claire (Molly Ringwald) and Andy (Emilio Estevez), know each other as they have similar social circles, but the others all have different crowds.  Rebellious John (Judd Nelson), loner Allison (Ally Sheedy), and studious Brian (Anthony Michael Hall) are not exactly the types popular Claire and wrestler Andy would hang out with.  Actually John, Allison, and Brian would probably not hang out with each other either.  They all see themselves as too different from each other and it takes the Saturday detention to make them realize they are not.
                My favorite character is John.  He has all the best lines and is the perfect bad boy.  I also really like Brian.  He seems really sweet and is doing his best to be the perfect son his parents want.  At first I roll my eyes at the stereotypical Claire and Andy, but I warm to them as the movie goes on.  In the beginning Allison gets lost in the shadows, which is pretty much the point of her character, but I love when she makes the sandwich with the candy powder and cereal.
                All in all the cast does really well together.  This is also true when the assistant principal (Paul Gleason) is added to the equation.  He is the classic burnt out educator who has come to hate the students.  While he tries to pretend the actions of the students do not affect him, once he leaves their presence it is clear that it does.
                As much as I love this movie, there is one thing I do not like and that is how Allison is changed in the end.  I am torn between seeing she may be happier with a new look and upset that she was not fully seen for herself without it.  If this is confusing, I apologize, but I am trying not to give too much away.  So maybe once you see the movie you will understand what I mean.   
The Breakfast Club is a movie that I do not think will ever die.  The lines are funny and I think the conversations will always be related to as the topics are timeless.  What I find really funny is watching the movie on TV.  Some of the editing done to make it suitable for television is hilarious, especially since I know what the dialogue and actions are supposed to be.  I suggest watching the DVD first and then trying to find it on TV.  The differences are great fun to watch. 

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