John Hughes Pyjama Party
12 hours, two cans of Red Bull, no sleep (aside from one power nap) and two bathroom breaks later and 3OW is walking out onto Leicester Square at 8am on a cold February Sunday morning. So what gives? What would drive a person to push the limits of human endurance?
Well rewind those 12 hours back to the previous night and 3OW is taking its seat in the downstairs theatre at the legendary Prince Charles Cinema (PCC) to watch a mutant’s handful of John Hughes films from the decade that taste forgot the 1980’s.
The films in question are Weird Science, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Planes, Trains and Automobiles, Pretty in Pink, Uncle Buck (when aforementioned power nap occurred) and The Breakfast Club. What a sextet of celluloid gold.
This was 30W’s first ‘Pyjama Party’ at the Prince Charles Cinema and didn’t realise that people take them so seriously. 3OW was one of the only patrons not wearing either pyjamas, a onesie or fancy dress.
John Hughes
To get us in the mood we were treated to some original 80’s trailer for films starring Sarah Jessica Parker (pre SATC makeover), Helen Hunt, Judd Nelson, John Cryer and Nicolas Cage. The names of the films seemed a bit unfamiliar and after watching the trailers we realised why. Let’s just say the films were from the ‘must try harder’ pack of 80’s films. Anyone remember ‘Girls Just Want to Have Fun’ or ‘Making the Grade’? Us neither.
So, enough already, on to the films. For each film we’ve pulled out our favourite bit and weigh up the ‘rose-tinted glasses effect’. In short, have the films stood the test of time or are they a little dated and cringe worthy?
First up . .
Weird Science (1985)
Writer / Director: John Hughes | Stars: Anthony Michael Hall, Ilan Mitchell-Smith, Kelly LeBrock
Two unpopular boys (Hall and Mitchell-Smith) attempt to create the perfect woman (LeBrock), but she turns out to be much much more than that.
Rose-tinted glasses effect
Some of the fashion is terrible and LeBrock’s tough girl Lisa thankfully makes up for the wet girls that Gary and Wyatt lust after. But there are still plenty of laughs and it was great to see Robert Downey Jr. in his pastel outfits when he was still just plain Robert Downey.
Favourite bit
A toss-up between Gary (Hall) holding court with ‘scary’ patrons at a downtown Blues club and any scene featuring ‘cutting edge’ 1980’s ‘tech’.
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)
Writer / Director: John Hughes | Stars: Matthew Broderick, Alan Ruck, Mia Sara, Jennifer Grey
A high school wise guy is determined to have a day off from school, despite what the principal thinks of that.
Rose-tinted glasses effect
Still as good as we remember it. Right from Bueller’s (Broderick’s) fourth wall breaking piece to camera on how to cut school, through Principal Rooney’s attempts to catch Ferris to Cameron’s dad’s car hurtling out the back of garage window.
Favourite bit
Ooooo, do we have to pick just one? Oh OK, let’s go for the final scene when Ferris is rushing to beat his parents home. Finally, what a great use of ‘Oh Yeah’ by Yello in the soundtrack.
Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987)
Writer / Director: John Hughes | Stars: Steve Martin, John Candy
A man (Martin) struggles to travel home for Thanksgiving, with an obnoxious slob (Candy) of a shower ring salesman his only companion.
Rose-tinted glasses effect
Still pretty fresh and it’s nice to see a film that reminds you how funny Steve Martin can be and what a big loss John Candy’s death was to comedy. The only cringe came when we got to the family reunion at the end. Cue the soft focus, smaltzy music and cheese that John Hughes sometimes likes to crowbar into all his films final reel.
Favourite bit
‘Those aren’t pillows!!!!’ Enough said.
Pretty in Pink (1988)
Director: Howard Deutch | Writer: John Hughes | Stars: Molly Ringwald, Jon Cryer, Harry Dean Stanton, Andrew McCarthy
A poor girl (Ringwald) must choose between the affections of her doting childhood sweetheart(Cryer) and a rich but sensitive playboy (McCarthy).
Rose-tinted glasses effect
One of the John Hughes ‘Brat Pack’ films. Again, questionable fashion was on display here and time has not been kind to Andie's home-spun prom dress that raised a few titters in the PCC crowd. But, Duckie (Cryer) is still a classic character and got a round of applause. James Spader chews the scenery as bad rich boy Steff and made you wonder how he and Blaine could ever be friends.
Favourite bit
Duckie’s lip-synched rendition of ‘Try a Little Tenderness’ in Tracks to the astonishment of owner Iona (Annie Potts) and exasperation of Andie.
Uncle Buck (1989)
Writer / Director: John Hughes | Stars: John Candy, Macaulay Culkin, Jean Louisa Kelly
Bachelor and all round slob, Buck, babysits his brother's rebellious teenage daughter and her cute younger brother and sister.
Rose-tinted glasses effect
One of the best John Candy films, full stop. Who wouldn’t want Buck as their uncle when he would happily do DIY dentistry on any boy who broke his niece’s heart? Culkin and Hoffmann are pleasingly cute and smart as Buck’s younger charges and make up for a slightly too pouty Kelly as teen Tia. Again, the cheesy ending rears its ugly head again in the last five minutes but it’s preceded by 95 minutes of great comedy.
Favourite bit
The scene in the ‘warty’ assistant principal’s office which is still ‘pee your pants’ funny and ends with a classic line when Buck flips a quarter at the AP and instructs her to ‘go downtown and get a rat to gnaw that thing off your face’.
The Breakfast Club (1985)
Writer / Director: John Hughes | Stars: Emilio Estevez, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald, Anthony Michael Hall, Ally Sheedy
Five high school students, all different stereotypes, meet in detention, where they pour their hearts out to each other, and discover how they have a lot more in common than they thought.
Rose-tinted glasses effect
OK, fess up time. 30W had a mini-crush on Emilio Estevez in the 80’s, so TBC has always been one of its favourite John Hughes Brat Pack films. While the crush has pretty much gone the love of the film still remains. None of the 97 minutes are wasted and every scene has its place. Plus who can't beat the great soundtrack with the seminal (Don’t you) forget about me topping and tailing the film. Finally, special mention should go to the late-great Paul Gleason as the jaded Principal ‘Dick’ Vernon.
Favourite bit
The whole film.
And here we are, right back at the beginning. Stepping out onto that cold Leicester Square after a whirlwind tour of some of the best films of the 1980’s, a little rough around the edges but wearily happy for taking this trip back in time.