When you think of ’80s movies, John Hughes is one of the most prominent names that stand out. His credits go beyond the films included on this Blu-ray and most of his projects are acclaimed. He is not the director of all of these films, but he serves as a core piece of them as a writer or producer. He set the formula for coming-of-age films which movies today still try to mimic to varying degrees of success.
“Some Kind of Wonderful” is a John Hughes movie I had never seen before, but I found it to be a bit forgettable. The story centers on a love triangle between Keith (Eric Stoltz), an outcast and artist, Watts (Mary Stuart Masterson), a tomboy secretly in love with her best friend, and Amanda (Lea Thompson), the popular girl. Masterson delivers the definite standout performance as Watts, but nothing else in the plot or performances really stands out. It just feels like another teen love triangle film where two teens from different worlds end up together. The story is pretty similar to “Pretty in Pink,” but “Some Kind of Wonderful” is more serious and grounded.
“She’s Having a Baby” features Kevin Bacon and Elizabeth McGovern who play young adults who recently got married and are adjusting to adult life. They are understandably a bit overwhelmed with things like buying a house and getting a job. Bacon’s character Jake Briggs, along with his friend Davis (Alec Baldwin), are incredibly selfish and complain about everything. Jake wants to go back to a bachelor lifestyle and starts fantasizing about other women. And though the film centers on young adults, not teens, there are some transitions and plot points that just don’t work and feel out of place in the more adult story tackled herein.
“Pretty in Pink” stars Molly Ringwald as Andie who ends up in a love triangle with her best friend, Duckie (Jon Cryer), and a popular boy, Blane (Andrew McCarthy). To me, neither Duckie nor Blane are impressive or worth falling for, but it’s easy to see why they would fall for Andie. Andie doesn’t have much money and lives in a shabby house with her father Jack (Harry Dean Stanton). Jack is very sweet in the role of Andie’s father. She starts to fall for Blane, a rich kid with a terrible friend played by James Spader but she is all too aware of her status. Duckie is disheartened that Andie’s attention is caught by someone else. And though Cryer plays Duckie as someone who is mostly sweet, his behavior is not. Duckie is more like a stalker than a best friend, keeping tabs on Andie’s schedule and showing up all the time. “Pretty in Pink” is clichéd but it works with its performances and has a few touching moments.
“Planes, Trains and Automobiles” is the most heartwarming film out of the five. Steve Martin and John Candy’s chemistry is electric, and they play off of each other so well. I’m like Steve Martin’s character, Neal. I do not like to make small talk on airplanes with strangers, I don’t like it when strangers take up too much space or sleep on me. Having someone like Del (Candy) tag along with me on a trip would be an utter nightmare. But the film’s central theme is empathy. Yes, Del can be annoying, but he is just trying to help, and though his help sometimes ends up hurting Neal more – he is still a human with feelings. The more time Neal spends with Del means the more that he understands that and that is when their friendship finally blossoms.
“Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” is a classic and is my favorite film featured on this Blu-ray. There is not much else I can add that hasn’t already been said about this movie, but it’s always fun to watch. Matthew Broderick just owns it as Ferris, and I know that I wish even now that I had more of Ferris’s attitude. “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” is the quintessential high school movie that highlights the importance of taking a step back from everyday stress and living life to the fullest. Cameron (Alan Ruck) is suffering a bit too much with daddy issues. So, Ferris fakes being sick, convinces Cameron and his girlfriend Sloane (Mia Sara) to play hooky at school and hang out in Chicago for the day. The three friends have a pretty memorable and busy day, with Ferris being the leader of the pack. Overall, “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” is a simple movie, but it has so many iconic scenes that it is always a good movie to re-watch, especially in times of stress.
“The John Hughes 5-Movie Collection” is now available to own on Blu-ray and Digital
