The Breakfast Club
Bride of Chucky

Back in the 80s there was a group of young adults that did movies together. They hung out together. The media dubbed them The Brat Pack, partly in homage, partly in parody of the Rat Pack. These kids (?) were box office gold, but at the same time the running joke of Hollywood.

While most of their stuff fell under the "teen comedy" genre, two films stood out as pretty good dramatic pieces: St. Elmo's Fire, and The Breakfast Club. The latter is the better of the two.

Five high school students end up at school on a Saturday for a detention. Their crimes against the school vary in degree of seriousness, but the punishment will be the same for all: Write an essay on just who you think you are. Brian's opening voice-over sets the stage for the whole film, and is a pretty good quote in itself. "You see us as you want to see us, in the simplest of terms, in the most convenient of definitions." The motto of teens everywhere.

As the movie unfolds, some of them click immediately, some are outcasts, as is their role in the educational caste system. One does his best to be disliked. Freud would have had a field day with these characters. Eventually, they realize that they're not really all that different from one another and become friends -- at least for the day. They interact, share their deepest secrets and desires, argue, cry, laugh, and understand each other the way no one else possibly can.

I remember the first time I watched this movie. I was "too young" for it, but Tim, my Big Brother in the Big Brother/Big Sister program (which is an excellent program, and if you can spare a few hours each month, you can really make a difference in a child's life), rented it for us to watch one evening. It moved me. Even though I was much younger than the kids on screen, I could relate to every one of them to some extent. Like Claire, I felt that my parents (divorced) expected me to be some kind of perfect person. Like Andy, I was expected to "win" at whatever I tried. Like Brian, I was a brain who was treated accordingly by the popular kids. Like Bender, I had "issues" with the father figure at home. And like Allison, I was a "basketcase" and general outcast. Each of these I felt to a different degree, but I still felt them all. I watched this movie twice that night.

Even today, this is a movie I enjoy watching. The performances of each of the five stars are perfect for each character. I still feel for every person on that screen. (I don't care for Andy's "tape confession" anymore... it looks and feels forced, so I usually fast forward through it.) The obvious chemistry among them adds to the comraderie on screen.

The issues, too, still seem relevant. Teens are still misunderstood by everyone around them. The caste system still prevails in the high school. When you're young, your entire life is made and broken within the walls of that prison. It's only as an adult that you realize the things you did in school don't mean a thing now except in memory.

Despite the 80s being known as the decade for 100% pure grade A cheddar in the film and music departments, some of the movies of that time still -- and likely forever will -- stand out as some of the best ever. Disagree if you will, but I believe The Breakfast Club is one of those.

This movie is rated R for graphic language. Also contains drug use. Not for children.

SCORE: 9 Say what you will about the 80s in general and the Brat Pack in particular, but I love the heck out of this movie. I truly think everyone will be able to relate to the characters on some level, and despite some of the superficial dialogue, it's truly a deep and profound statement on friendships and coping with one's "station" in life. Highly Recommended! Return to top

Okay, I'll admit it. I was going to skip right over this movie and never give it another thought. After all, you have to admit that the sequels to the decent Child's Play were, shall we say, somewhat lacking. Had it not been, in fact, for a certain chat friend -- who shall go only by the name of Rogue -- being somewhere in this movie, I would have skipped it.

Gee, thanks, Rogue. (Big smile here)

The fourth installment of Chucky's adventures managed to do what the other two sequels couldn't. It made me enjoy myself tremendously! No doubt taking a cue from the recent influx of slasher films, the movie is ripe with in-jokes, self-poking referentialism, and downright gruesome fun! From the opening scene, in which can be glimped a hocky mask, chainsaw, knifed glove, and "Halloween" mask, you know you're in for a movie with laughs, laughs, laughs. That's what makes this such a good movie. Unlike 2 and 3, Bride of Chucky doesn't even try to take itself seriously. Yes, there are moments of genuine suspense (Chucky sitting on top of Tiffany's boyfriend), and LOTS of gore (though the computer-generated blood of the truck death was more comical than gory....), but what makes this one stand out is that it's more of a comedy than a horror flick.

"Okay, flickuy, we get the picture. So what's this thing about, anyway?"

Glad you asked. This one takes Chucky on a cross-country (Well, only a couple of states, actually) trek to find an amulet that was buried with his body. He's been resurrected by his girlfriend (who we, conveniently, were never told about), and after getting into a fight about marriage, he kills her and transfers her sould into a "bride" doll -- talk about sending mixed signals!! He then tells her that to get out of the doll bodies, he needs the amulet he was wearing the night he was killed. (Shhhh... don't spoil the plothole, okay?)

Enter naive and gullible teen lovers Jade and Jesse (Katherine Heigl and Nick Stabile), a pair of kids who are about to elope, due to "Uncle" Warren's refusal to let them see each other. (Okay, here's one of the "think about it and start to hate it" points: Who, exactly IS this guy, and why is Jade stuck living with him? Brief mention of her parents is made, but nothing solid is fleshed out.) Tiffany (now in doll form, and still voiced by Jennifer Tilly) cons Jesse into taking "two dolls" to New Jersey -- there's $1000 in it for him.

Excuse me while I try to stifle a giggle... you see, as the quartet travel around, a path of blood follows. Jade thinks Jesse is committing these murders, Jesse thinks Jade is, and everyone else thinks the two are in cahoots. The kicker?? One of the victims is riding in the van TOO!!

"Are you all right, flickguy? You're not making any sense."

That's the beauty of the whole thing! I don't have to make sense, it's a blasted CHUCKY movie, for crying out loud!! It's not fancy schmancy art... it's not an overly long movie that tries desperately to be the book it's based on, it's not even for thinking people. It's just plain, old fashioned, escapist fun.

This movie is rated R for violence, gore, language, and sexual situations -- that you have got to SEE to believe!!

SCORE: 8 I do love a good sequel, but this one takes the cake. Sure, it has holes -- what movie doesn't? -- but I guarantee that if you're a horror fan (Chucky in particular), you'll die laughing throughout this movie! Recommended for certain audiences! Return to top