My husband, 15-year-old son, and I watched this movie together last night. I had heard that it followed the tradition of John Hughes' movies of the 80's. Having grown up on The Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink, Sixteen Candles, and Say Anything (I'm not sure if that last one is from Hughes or not), I thought I'd see how this one compared.
As one reviewer noted, it is a bit more vulgar than most of Hughes work, though not beyond what a typical high schooler has likely already heard, and not too far beyond The Breakfast Club.
Since I was 14 the first time I saw Breakfast Club, it is tough for me to be objective in comparing the movies. I don't think my son is going to rewatch this movie as many times as I have rewatched Judd Nelson and Molly Ringwald, but that may also be a gender thing. I will say that the predictable ending sends positive messages to kids in a way that is palatable to them. They can relate to the adolescent angst without feeling preached at. All in all, it was a movie we all enjoyed, which is gotten increasingly more rare as Daniel has gotten older.
Anything that can captivate the mind of a young teenager is impressive.
ReplyDelete