I recently invited a few close friends over to hang out and catch up. We’ve all been busy lately and finally had a chance to see each other. For background noise, we usually put on a movie. Something we’ve all seen, so we don’t have to pay much attention to it and can freely talk over any dialog or plot points. So, before their arrival, I’d prepared a small library of DVDs from my collection spanning from Universal horror classics to current films.
My guests arrived and settled in with a drink of choice. Kim poured her single serving boxed chardonnay in a beveled wine glass. She is a civil being who doesn’t drink from cardboard containers. Then, of course, ditched the emptied box properly in the recycle bin. This is California after all!
Sparky, Kim’s husband, held a Bubly can in hand. The sound of fizz echoing up through the open lid with his every movement.
Steve took his forefinger and cracked the aluminum tab on his mega-sized Monster energy drink big enough for two monsters, emitting a spray of citrus scent into the air.
Then I, of course, had my overpriced Starbucks nitro cold brew that I held tight in my hand like a kid holding onto their stuffed support animal. I just can’t seem to quit the high octane caffeine for some reason.
We gathered around the stack of the 90s era video disc bounty I’d pulled from my shelves, started perusing the choices, stating an opinion of each as the titles were read aloud.
When we got to the handful of 80s movies in the stack, Sparky, casually sipping from his can of effervescent water, posed a question to our quaint small group. A jarring question. A question of much debate. A question that is pondered internally, but not asked of a certain generation out loud.
“Kim and I were just discussing this the other day. Out of the three, which is your favorite and why?” he queried our small group while holding up 3 clunky DVD cases.
The “three” he is referring to is what I call the Hughes-Ringwald Trilogy: SIXTEEN CANDLES, THE BREAKFAST CLUB, and PRETTY IN PINK.
A collective “oof” was made, but then we grew quiet for a minute or two as the group sat to ponder our individual answers. An expression of “hmmm” rolled across all our faces.
I responded half jokingly, “That’s kind of like asking which child is your favorite.”
“I’ll go first.” Sparky declared excitedly.
“Number 1, THE BREAKFAST CLUB. Number 2, PRETTY IN PINK. Number 3, SIXTEEN CANDLES.” He had clearly thought about all of this since he and his wife’s discussion of the topic.
Kim interjected “PRETTY IN PINK will always be my number one!”
This did not surprise me in the least. I know Kim well, and her love for all things 80s Molly Ringwald. We have had several discussions or traded inside jokes about the film over the years. Not to mention the number of times we’ve listened to the soundtrack, together.
Honestly, I myself couldn’t exactly pinpoint my favorite. I’d be equally as happy watching whichever film won the coin toss.
After all, a Hughes film has always been a good way for me to spend a Saturday afternoon, whether it was one of the H-W Trilogy or one of his other films. What else is a kid going to do at that age when “locked in a vacancy” other than throw on a flick or binge MTV?
Even before regular cable started running Hughes movies most every weekend in the 90s, I’d pop in the VHS I’d recorded one of the films on, then go to the kitchen and make a snack. Personally, my favorite afternoon goodies were microwave nachos. By the time the cheese melted, the “Feature Presentation” clip HBO preambled every movie with back then like it was a red carpet event was finished, and the opening credits had started. I’d settle into my favorite spot on the couch and devour my plate of artificially heated chips and cheese
I still do this to this day, though I’ve upgraded my snacking game quite a bit as an adult. Pass me some mozzarella sticks please! Ok, maybe fried cheese isn’t much of an upgrade.
Anyway, back to Sparky’s question. I gave the following answer so as not to betray Molly or Mr. Hughes, nor my entire generation actually.
“It kinda depends on my mood. SIXTEEN CANDLES is great for a giggle or two. PRETTY IN PINK for the soundtrack and Duckie’s dance of course. THE BREAKFAST CLUB for when I’m having feelings about life stuff .” We all chuckled at that last statement. “They are kinda one big movie to me, honestly.”
Kim agreed. “Very good call on all of them!” she said. “And yes, it does very much feel like the same movie, just different chapters.”
I mused dramatically like a script writer making a pitch to studio types. “Molly starts out young, naive, with certain expectations of her world…then becomes Prom Queen and a mega-snob who brown bags sushi, and relieves the stress of popularity by dancing in the library…then loses all her money and status, becoming a bullied outcast, who studies fashion, gets stood up by a rich dude, moonlights at an independent record store, and is heavily into new wave music.”
“I relate most to the outcast who enjoys new wave” Kim giggled. “What about you, Steve?”
“I would say PRETTY IN PINK as well” he replied.
“Why?” Sparky asked, taking another sip.
“Because she really blossomed as an actor in that film”, he said.
“Hey Sparky”, me now aiming the question at him. “Why is THE BREAKFAST CLUB your favorite?”
Sparky replied “It’s the one I can relate to more! I love the other two as well, though”.
I totally get that. I’m not sure which film I relate to more though, to be honest. They all hold characters, or qualities of characters, that I have embodied at some point in my life.
Once there was a time when I wanted to be one of the guys in the Hughes cinematic cannon: Bender from THE BREAKFAST CLUB for his directness, though I’d be less abrasive about it; Andrew, also from THE BREAKFAST CLUB, for his athleticism and confidence; from SIXTEEN CANDLES, the character of Jake Ryan for his…well, for his Jake Ryaness. Who wouldn’t want to be Jake Ryan for a day? He’s got the looks, the girl everyone wants to date, the house, and the Porsche. The dude has it all!
But truth be told, as painful as it was in my youth, I relate most to the outcasts of all three of these films. Actually, I connect more with the outcasts of the outcasts.
In SIXTEEN CANDLES there are the nerds standing against the wall at the dance. I’ve definitely been those dudes before. In PRETTY IN PINK, Hughes gave us Duckie and the hurt of his unrequited love. I’ve been “friend zoned” more times than I care to admit.
However, THE one character I identify most with is Brian Johnson, the awkward nerd from THE BREAKFAST CLUB. Anyone that knows me, will not be surprised by this statement.
In my recent years, I’ve learned to accept my nerdiness, and the part-time introvert I am. I’ve settled into knowing that every situation I enter into, I’m going to be awkward, but still accomplish my goal at the end of the day. Along the way, I’ve also learned that I’m not alone in this.
In the words of Andrew Clark “We’re all pretty bizarre. Some of us are just better at hiding it, that’s all.” I’m not good at hiding it, and I’ve realized that’s ok. I pridefully wear my left-of-center status like a badge now.
So, no, I couldn’t choose a favorite single film from the Hughes-Ringwald Trilogy, but I could pick a favorite character. I will say though, Duckie doesn’t rank too far behind the geek.
What did we end up watching? Since the Hughes-Ringwald Trilogy was the topic of the night, we settled on one of the three instead of the 15 other choices we had. The consensus in the group was to keep the mood light and laugh a bit, so after a round of voting, we chose SIXTEEN CANDLES. (Sorry Sparky!)
