Top Ten Teen Movies of the EightiesJun 14 '01 (Updated Mar 01 '02) Write an essay on this topic.
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The Bottom Line Sit back and stay for a while. Don't forget your 80's glossary.
Okay. I have a soft part of my otherwise icy heart for teen movies from the eighties. Maybe it is because I am a child of the eighties. I had it all. Legwarmers, a crimping iron, jelly bracelets and shoes, dangly earrings, and neon clothing. To say it bluntly...I was a fashion plate (I had those toys, too). But, movies of the eighties were great, too. Especially the John Hughes-esque flicks that began with the Brat Pack and have persisted in one form or another through this very day. Grab your remote...they show these on WGN, TBS, and USA all of the time (and occassionally Comedy Central). Oh, and by the way I'm sorry if I omitted anything...there are just too many to talk about! 10. Lost Boys: Okay, there had to be one of these schlocky horror movies starring obscenely good looking people...so here it is! You didn't think I'd forget to mention the "Coreys" did you? This one stars Corey Haim and Jason Patric as the new guys in an ocean side community. Well, it's not as nice as they think as it becomes very obvious with the introduction of a rogue group of vampires headed by an EVIL Kiefer Sutherland. These guys just shouldn't be messed with. But, Jason Patric's character just can't stay away and it's up to Corey Haim and yes Corey Feldman to save the town from the vampires. But, it's up to Patric to save poor Star (Jami Gertz) from her demise. We've all seen it, I know, but it's still entertaining. No reason to rent this one...you can get it brand new on VHS for about $5. 9. Say Anything: Touching with a classic scene. You know the one where John Cusack's character Lloyd is holding up a boom box serenading the princess Diane (Ione Skye). This is a story about an underdog who gets the girl and then loses her. But like all 80's movies, there is strife among the characters. This Cameron Crowe (of Jerry McGwire and Almost Famous fame) gem is a high quality 80's film, but almost too good for this list. Happy watching! 8. Pretty in Pink: The name says it all. Molly Ringwald plays Andie, a poor girl with a flair for fashion (especially the wild). Needless to say her fashion sense definitely has not held up fifteen or so years later. My favorite character is Ducky (Jon Cryer) who is infatuated, but Andie just keeps on looking the direction of the rich hunk Blane (Andrew McCarthy). You feel for Ducky, you yearn that Ducky with get Andie. But, it's up to you to see whether Andie chooses Ducky or Blane. If you judge according to names alone, but sound like bad choices. But... 7. St. Elmos Fire: Ahhhh. The Brat Pack. Starring Demi Moore, Emilio Estevez, Rob Lowe, Ally Sheedy, Judd Nelson, Andrew McCarthy, and Mare Winningham this story focuses on a group of twenty-something friends following college. It shows how friendships and individuals can change yet their bonds remain strong. It's a wholly entertaining film, but somehow this Joel Schumacher (yes, that Joel Schumacher) film has one of the most annoying themes to ANY movie I've ever heard. It's also got lots of eighties stereotypes. There's the wild one, the druggie, the nerd, etc... A good one. Good ensemble acting. 6. Can't Buy Me Love: The quintessential eighties plot. Patrick Dempsey is Ronald Miller. A nerd of epic proportions. He mows lawns for a living and has managed to fall desperately in love with the daughter of one of his clients. Cindy Mancini (Amanda Peterson) is a blonde goddess. Ronald hasn't a snowball's chance in you-know-where. But, when he bails her out of trouble on a whim, she makes him a instant chick magnet. Of course, nothing works out in the end like it should. 5. Sixteen Candles: Another John Hughes classic. Molly Ringwald is Samantha Baker this time. She is a normalish sophomore in high school and has turned sixteen immediately before her older sister's wedding. Nobody notices. Anthony Michael Hall is the nerd who loves her (Farmer Ted) and Michael Schoeffling (whoever he is) is the dreamy Jake Ryan. My favorite character is quite honestly the exchange student Long Duk Dong played by Gedde Watanabe who's made appearances in dozens of movies and the TV show "ER." Everytime I see him, I call him by the name I know him best. Long Duk Dong. Very funny. What other movie would feature a frisky grandma??? 4. Outsiders: This one barely counts as a eighties teen movie, but it is too darned good to disqualify. Starring a bevy of hot young guys, Tom Cruise, Patrick Swayze, C. Thomas Howell, Ralph Macchio, Emilio Estevez, Rob Lowe, and Matt Dillon, this movie was directed by Francis Ford Coppola. It's the S.E. Hinton story about a group of boys like most others that also happens to be from the wrong side of town. It speaks directly to discrimination and prejudice but also to love. It's a great book and a great movie. 3. Some Kind of Wonderful: Kind of an odd sort of eighties movie, this flick starring Mary Stewart Masterson, Eric Stoltz, and Lea Thompson is full of yearning. Poor Watts (Masterson) is a huge tomboy. She likes to get greasy. Keith Nelson (Stoltz) is a poor sort of guy who will do anything to impress the somewhat receptive school beauty Amanda (Thompson). You feel for Watts. You want her to be able to admit to her best friend that she's in love with him. You know how it ends, but I want to give props to a great theme song by the same name as the movie that is sung by Michigan natives Grand Funk Railroad. 2. Breakfast Club: Classic John Hughes eighties starring the brat packers Molly Ringwald, Anthony Michael Hall, Judd Nelson, Ally Sheedy, and Emilio Estevez this is a hilarious film about a saturday detention. The theme song is catchy and the end scene is classic (I love the speech/monologue thing). I can still remember the first time I saw it...needless to say I didn't understand every scene. Sure, there are stereotypes, but isn't that what eighties movies are good for? The nerd, the jock, the princess, the grease monkey, and the weird girl. 1. Better Off Dead: One of the funniest movies I've ever seen also happens to be an eighties teen movie starring the incomparable John Cusack. This isn't any comedy, noooo...this is dark, black, twisted comedy. The kind I like. There are the Howard Cossell drag racers, the homicidal paper delivery boys, and the good looking exchange student sponsored with the intention that she would fall in love with the nerdy neighbor. It's great, and Comedy Central made a wise choice in acquiring rites. Check it out :)  |
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