The Breakfast Club

Written and directed by John Hughes, The Breakfast Club follows a disparate assortment of high schoolers (Molly Ringwald’s Claire, Emilio Estevez’s Andrew, Ally Sheedy’s Allison, Judd Nelson’s Bender, and Anthony Michael Hall’s Brian) as they’re forced to spend a Saturday afternoon in detention. It’s a decidedly spare premise that’s employed to impressively (and consistently) engrossing effect by Hughes, as the filmmaker does a superb job of establishing the various protagonists and their decidedly archetypal personalities (eg there’s the jock, the brain, the rebel, etc) – with the captivating vibe heightened by the actors’ near flawless efforts as their respective figures. (And this is to say nothing of Paul Gleason’s justifiably iconic work as the cranky principal.) The almost instant chemistry between the five heroes ensures that The Breakfast Club grows more and more absorbing as it progresses, and it’s clear, too, that Hughes’ willingness to explore the darker side of his characters’ lives paves the way for an unexpectedly moving third act – with, especially, certain revelations surrounding Estevez’s Andrew packing a far more emotional punch than one might’ve anticipated. The end result is a teen classic that holds up remarkably well all these years later, and it’s certainly not a surprise that The Breakfast Club remains the template for stories of this ilk.

**** out of ****