The Breakfast Club

John Hughes always managed to write very good characters, but here he really let loose. At first glance, the protagonists may seem like caricatures, but they are deep, which is actually the essence of the whole film, and John Hughes captured it perfectly. We are who we are, and this film beautifully shows that. Nothing will transform us unless we want it. We just have to realize it. (30/12/2015)

In the fifties it was Rebel Without a Cause, in the eighties it was The Breakfast Club. Two films that portrayed (and still portray) the contemporary problems of adolescents and their exacerbated relationship with authority and parents far more eloquently than any others. A small auteur film that through clever dialogue, believable characters and a dash of non-violent rock grimace has deservedly become a cult and quotable classic. Although it won't say much at times to someone who doesn't identify with any of the characters, it is undoubtedly an exceptional timeless work. (26/05/2016)

An original premise – one Saturday, the movie fills a single classroom with five completely different people who are characterized by exactly what they are; so a nerd, a jock, a wannabe gothic, a princess and a crook. They all hate each other and they all become friends in the end. A classic that interestingly hints at its era, young people and their opinions, which do not differ from what our generation went through years ago in many respects. (25/01/2016)

At times I thought it was a bit naive, an "old man's" (which John Hughes was definitely not) view of teenage life, but on the other hand I would carve some of the statements and ideas in stone. Certainly the mental processes of teenagers stemming from the traumatic "despotic father vs. son" relationship was hit perfectly by Hughes, the unusual comedic exaggeration was surprisingly fine considering the seriousness of the topic, the light hinting of sexual themes was amusing, the five completely different characters complemented each other perfectly and it just flowed very nicely. A very nice film and a well-deserved major overseas cult following. (18/02/2024)

I get what John Hughes was trying to say, and especially given the punchline, I won't fault the film for the fact that the main characters represent well-known (not only) American high school stereotypes... But if I hadn't been so bored watching their dialogue and monologues, I would have been at least one star happier. (13/04/2020)