One of the best things about summer in San Francisco is Film Night in the Park. Hundreds of people pile into a designated park at dusk with their blankets, picnics, and friends to cozy up and watch the classics. The fog rolls in along the shimmering skyline and the energy is vibrant and infectious. And since this past weekend's featured film was The Breakfast Club, directed by the brilliant John Hughes, it was at the top of my must-see's for the season. Though parking was ridiculous and the fuh-reezing temperature a bit of a challenge, the movie experience was so much fun. It got me thinking about John Hughes and just how friggin' brilliant he was and is. There was a recent L.A. Times article on his work, his mysterious disappearance from the limelight, and the imprint he left on film and our culture. I don't want to eulogize like he's died since I'm still hoping he'll have the Mariah Carey comeback of comebacks, so here are my top ten reasons why I heart him. I heart you, John Hughes.
10. He made nerds like Farmer Ted and Duckie cute and cool. Duckie singing "Try A Little Tenderness"? Stop. It.
9. Dutch. The scene where Dutch is lighting off fireworks while Doyle watches from the car. I do it every Fourth of July and no one gets it.
8. The Great Outdoors. The perfect illustration of family camping trips.
7. Uncle Buck. "You should see the toast, I couldn't even get it through the door!"
6. National Lampoon's Vacation, European Vacation, and Christmas Vacation. Other than Bridget Jones moments, I have Griswold moments. Because dysfunctional is in.
5. Home Alone and Christmas Vacation. It's sacrelig in
my house to listen to or watch anything Christmas related until
December 1. That's eleven months of discipline that just adds to the
anticipation of the holiday season. They are in the same exclusive club as
Ralphie and Jimmy Stewart; they're part of tradition in my family and
I'm sure the rest of the free world.
4. Ferris Bueller's Day Off. The singing-in-the-parade scene was killer but I die every time I watch Cameron call the school pretending to be Sloane's father-- "Roonnneeyy! Ughh!"
3. Pretty in Pink, The Breakfast Club, and Sixteen Candles.
The classic Molly Ringwald trio. John Hughes' legacy would be the same
had he only created these three movies. The '80s reeeallyyy owes him.
2. The only reason I ever wanted to be a redhead=Molly Ringwald.
1. Jake Ryan, Jake Ryan, Jake Ryan.
Speaking of Jake Ryan, ever wonder what happened to all your favorites? They all kind of anticlimactically fell off the radar, no? Why didn't Molly Ringwald and Michael Schoeffling have Julia Roberts' and Brad Pitt's careers? Sigh. I'd love to see what Jake Ryan--whom GQ called "the Salinger of male models/actors" (classic!)-- looks like now. But then again, maybe not. Maybe it's like seeing the hot quarterback at your high school reunion has turned into a shmoozy, fat, hairless, ball-scratching, butt-slapping nobhead. Or maayybee he's hammering away on his carpentry in rural Pennsylvania, shirtless and sweating, just waiting for you to show up with an ice cold lemonade and be the "real" girl who shows him what's what. I'm just sayin'.
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