HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOHN HUGHES!!!!!

Not really much to say about John Hughes that the world doesn't already know: he grew up in Northbrook, Illinois (for his films, he created a fictionalized version of Northbrook called Shermer, Illinois and Weird Science, The Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Sixteen Candles, Pretty in Pink, and National Lampoon's Vacation are all set there).

He dropped out of Arizona State University to be a fulltime comedy writer after selling jokes to Joan Rivers and Rodney Dangerfield. His article for National Lampoon Magazine was then turned into Nation Lampoon's Vacation and the Kevin Bacon/Elizabeth McGovern film, She's Having a Baby is very close to his real life with his wife, Nancy. Before hitting it real big with teen-oriented films, Hughes wrote Mr. Mom (a big hit), Nation Lampoon's Vacation (a bigger hit), and the pirate move, Nates and Hayes (a huge flop). And then came Molly Ringwald…and the rest was History 101, I mean, just history. When I say “Eighties teen movies,” people usually say “John Hughes!”

·         Sixteen Candles (1984) (he also directed)

·         The Breakfast Club (1985) (he also directed)

·         Weird Science (1985) (he also directed)

·         Pretty in Pink (1986)

·         Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986) (he also directed)

·         Some Kind of Wonderful (1987)

After great success in the 80’s, Hughes wrote Home Alone in 1990, and struck gold again. He later wrote films (Beethoven, Maid in Manhattan, and Drillbit Taylor) under the pseudonym Edmund Dantes, the name of the hero of Alexandre Dumas's novel The Count of Monte Cristo.

Anyway, Happy Birthday, Mr. Hughes! Thank you for all the memories, and R.I.P.!

No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us. - 1 John 4:12

TEEN WOLF

Release Year: 1985

Starring: Michael J. Fox, James Hampton, Susan Ursitti, Jerry Levine, Lorie Griffin

TEEN WOLF TOO

Release Year: 1987

Starring: Jason Bateman, Estee Chandler, Kim Darby, James Hampton, Paul Sand, John Astin

Scott Howard (Michael J. Fox), a 17-year old high school basketball player, is sick of being an ordinary student stuck on a crappy team (the Beavers) His dream-girl, Pamela (Lorie Griffin), is dating Mick, a jackass from a rival high school team (of course), the Dragons.

Scott begins to notice weird changes to his body, until ultimately, he transforms into a werewolf. Scott's dad, Harold, knows what is occurring and presents himself to Scott as a werewolf as well, stating that he never told Scott about the Howard family curse condition because "sometimes it skips a generation." Scott is publicly outed at a basketball game after getting piled on. Naturally, the crowd is initially freaked, but he wins them over by finishing the game with a quadruple double.

Scott then learns how to transform at will, and starts using his alter-ego, "The Wolf" to become popular and wins the heart of Pamela while ignoring the affections of his best friend, Boof (Susan Ursitti), who has loved him since childhood (teen flick subplot #211).Scott's other best friend, a sleazy entrepreneur-type, Stiles (Jerry Levine), cashes in on Scott's new popularity, selling Teen Wolf T-shirts and other merchandise.

By the end of the film, Scott is put into positions where his "friends'" loyalties are tested and he comes to find out who he can really trust. ABC Afterschool Special stuff aside, TEEN WOLF is a silly, goofy, fun time-waster that doesn't take itself too seriously (or at all). Some clever jokes, a good cast and brisk direction complete the mix. Plus, Scott dumps Pamela and hooks up with Boof at the end.

When TEEN WOLF opened in August of 1985, it was the #2 film. The #1 film that week? BACK TO THE FUTURE!

The sequel, TEEN WOLF TOO, was released in 1987, starred Jason Bateman as Todd Howard, Scott's cousin, and was a flop, but not a bad film, relatively speaking. Plotwise, it is pretty much the same as the first, except instead of basketball, Todd is on the boxing team. Plus, there is more emphasis on the love story between Todd and Nikki (cutie Estee Chandler).

The was a another sequel planned with Alyssa Milano planned, but that never materialized.  However, MTV is now filming a new Teen Wolf T.V. show to air this summer.  MTV syas that it will not be a comedy show, but a reimagining "with a greater emphasis on romance, horror and werewolf mythology". Here's waht the new TEEN WOLF looks like:

We who are strong must be considerate of those who are sensitive about things like this. We must not just please ourselves. - Romans 15:1

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

SECRET ADMIRER

Release Year: 1985

Starring: C. Thomas Howell, Lori Loughlin, Kelly Preston, Dee Wallace, Casey Siemaszko, Fred Ward and Corey Haim

On the last day of school before Summer, Michael Ryan (C. Thomas Howell) receives a love letter in his locker from a secret admirer. His best friend, Roger (Casey Siemaszko), convinces him that the letter is from class beauty Deborah Ann Fimple (Kelly Preston).

Michael writes Deborah Ann an anonymous love letter in return, and asks his female best friend, Toni (Lori Loughlin) to give it to her. Toni rewrites the letter, which is found by different people, most notably some idiot ‘80s movies parents and all manner of hilarious misunderstandings and sitcom hi-jinks and wackiness ensues.

This is the type of film where the protagonist’s gorgeous, long-suffering best friend (Toni) is in love with him, but he is totally oblivious until the romcom race to the airport, um, I mean race to the docks (Toni is leaving for a study abroad program).

An excellent supporting cast, great jokes, unique situations, and a young Corey Haim set this teen romantic comedy apart from the pack.

The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their cry. - Psalms 34:15

BREAKIN’

Release Year: 1984

BREAKIN’ 2: ELECTRIC BOOGALOO

Release Year: 1985

Starring: Lucinda Dickey, Adolfo Quiñones, Michael Chambers, Ice-T, Christopher McDonald (from Grease 2, Thelma And Louise, and Happy Gilmore)

Two films produced by The Cannon Group, known for their low budget b-movies that were made to cash in on the latest pop culture craze (Ninjas, Cyborgs, Barbarians, and in this case, break dancing).  Although initially greeted with jeers when first released, because of Cannon Films’ reputation of putting out cinematic trash, Breakin’1 and 2 grossed almost $75 million against tiny budgets and have become cult classics (the first more so than the second, but still…) because of their energy and vitality.

The plot of the first film (such as it is) involves Kelly, a struggling young dancer (the radiant Lucinda Dickey) who meets up with two breakers, Ozone (Adolfo Quiñones) and Turbo (Michael Chambers – my sister Mylee and I went to school with him) and her attempts to enter the burgeoning hip hop subculture.

As Kelly (now christened, “Special K”) immerses herself in Ozone’s and Turbo’s lives, she discovers that they have a bitter ongoing rivalry with another dance crew, Electro Rock, and when her talents help her new friends defeat their poppin’ and lockin’ adversaries, she becomes their hero and a big hit on the streets and clubs of Los Angeles.

The first film boasts groundbreaking choreography, a killer, platinum-selling soundtrack, the first performance by Ice-T, and cameos by then unknown stars Lela Rochon and Jean-Claude Van Damme.

BREAKIN’ 2: ELECTRIC BOOGALOO, released less than a year later, involves our three protagonists from the first film helping some kids keep their neighborhood community center open and blah, blah, blah…

The plot is still threadbare thin, the dialogue is still flat, and the budget is still low (even lower than the first?) but the soundtrack and dancing are still on fire.

 

A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person's strength. -Proverbs 17:22

GIRLS JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN

Release Year: 1985

Starring: Sarah Jessica Parker, Helen Hunt, Shannen Doherty, Lee Montgomery, Jonathan Silverman

Before So You Think You Can Dance, America's Best Dance Crew, and Live to Dance, there was Dance TV, the show that born dancer and Army Brat Janey Glenn (Sarah Jessica Parker) will do anything to appear on.  When she meets fellow Catholic school girl kooky Lynne Stone (Helen Hunt), nothing will stop them from going to downtown Chicago to audition for the show (even Janey’s father’s strict rules).

Complications ensue (of course): Janey makes the cut, Lynne does not, and Janey meets natural dancer Jeff, who butts heads with Janey initially over dancing styles, but the two naturally fall for each other in the end.

GIRLS JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN is basically a mash-up of Footloose, Flashdance, and a precursor to Hairspray.  And that’s NOT a bad thing.  It is a charming film with earnest performances from its leads, and good supporting work from Helen Hunt and T.V. actor Jonathan Silverman (what the heck ever happened to him?), and even Shannen Doherty, who steals some of the scenes that she’s in. There are the requisite “competition movie” clichés, such as the evil, rich bit@# who tries to use daddy’s money to win, the stern, uncompromising father who changes in the end (Janey’s dad, played by the great Ed Lauter) and the enlightened, supportive father (Jeff’s dad, played by Tim Burton regular, the fantastic Biff Yeager).

Famous KROQ DJ Richard Blade has extended cameo in the film, and its soundtrack contains the New Wave dance classic Dancing in Heaven (Orbital Be-Bop) by One-Hit Wonders,Q-Feel and a decent version of Martha and the Vandellas’ Dancing in the Street by Animotion (Obsession).


Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. - Proverbs 4:23

BAD BOYS

Release Year: 1983

Starring:  Sean Penn, Esai Morales, Ally Sheedy, Reni Santoni, Clancy Brown, Alan Ruck

Seering performances by Sean Penn, Esai Morales, Ally Sheedy, and the always fantastic Reni Santoni punctuate this violent, realistic, and thoroughly engrossing drama about the lengths that two hardened, yet heartbroken young men go to for justice (or is it just plain old revenge?). As with most "prison-type" films, Bad Boys does contain its share of scenes involving physical and emotional abuse; but never is the film exploitative or leering. These scenes are even more impactful because they involve children and influence the formation of what really is a future adult.

 

When Sean Penn's character, 16-year-old Mick O'Brien attempts to rob a rival hood, Paco Moreno (Esai Morales) and instead accidentally kills an Paco's kid brother, all hell breaks loose (cliché alert!). Mick is sent to Rainford Juvenile Correctional Facility, which does not seem to rehabilitate the juveniles, but just makes them angrier and more prepared for a life of crime as adults. Outside of Rainford, Paco sexually assaults Mick's girlfriend J.C. (Ally Sheedy) to get revenge for his brother's death (and also to get sent to Rainford to confront Mick).

The showdown between Mick and Paco is emotionally-charged and the climax of the film is relatively uplifting and surprisingly satisfying; the scene in which Sean Penn fills a sock with cans of Coke to use a weapon is clever, disturbing, and obviously quite memorable. One key to the film's success, aside from the immense talent and commitment of its actors, and the measured, even-handed direction, is the way the script always ensures that ever violent blow, every seemingly over-the-top response, and every act of self preservation has honest motivations. Bad Boys is one of the best dramas of the eighties.

Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. - Romans 12:18

THE WRAITH

Released: 1986

Starring: Charlie Sheen, Sherilyn Fenn, Nick Cassavettes, Randy Quaid, Clint Howard, Griffin Dunne

Charlie Sheen is Jake, the new kid in school (cliché alert!). He arrives around the same time a phantom racer in a Dodge M4S sports coupe is burning up the nearby highways. This phantom, known only as "The Wraith" systematically destroys members of Packard Walsh's gang in lethal road race after another.

Who, or what is The Wraith, and what does he/she/it want? Is it a coincidence that Jake seems to bear strange similarities to Jamie, an innocent killed by Walsh's gang? Is it a coincidence that Jake falls for Keri (a striking Sherilyn Fenn), the girl Jamie was dating when he was killed?

Great cars, a great soundtrack (Ozzy Osbourne, Motley Crue, Billy Idol, Robert Palmer), and a creative, above average script for a sci-fi/action b-movie. The film borrows heavily from other films, such as High Plains Drifter, Shane, and The Road Warrior and was influenced by true events, in which a teen involved with illegal street racing caused four deaths here in Arizona.

He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds. - Psalm 147:3