Product Of The 80's

*Before you read this blog, please note that there are a few movie spoilers. I don't know if you care or not, but I just thought I should warn you because I am not being held accountable for ruining a movie for you. Ok, on with the show.*

I wish someone had told me years ago how good movies (and music) from the 80's are. I just find it kind of unfortunate that I am but days away from entering my 20th year, and I am only just discovering what a genius John Hughes is. The movies he wrote about teenagers (for teenagers) are funny, full of life and energy, and stand up to the test of time.

But...holy frig I hate the endings.

I mean, is being a teenager immediately equated to ambiguity? Because none of his movies seem to have solid, set-in-stone endings. I mean, I don't mind ambiguity every now and then (because, true, none of us really know where life is going to lead us from day to day), but I am certain that I would sleep better if, in some situations, I know for certain what happens.

I mean, does Ferris marry Sloane? How much trouble does Cameron get in after destroying his father's car? I mean, these are valid questions that need to know the answer to!

In The Breakfast Club, John hooks up with Claire, and Andrew hooks up with Allison, which is all just fine and dandy...but what happens on Monday? Is the reason John Hughes left it ambiguous because he knows for a FACT that it would never work (in high school) between these couples, and he wants to audience to be happy living in the belief that love will somehow find a way? Maybe it's just me, but I'd rather know. I mean, as nice as it is to see Judd Nelson immortalized forever, frozen, outstretched fist forever rocking out to "Don't You (Forget About Me)", I'd rather know if by Monday he was suddenly single again, because to be honest, I'd like a piece of that (Andrew, I see you rolling your eyes and you can stop now - Judd Nelson was hot.)

My biggest beef is with Pretty In Pink. Not only does Andie choose the WRONG guy (as far as I'm concerned), but you don't know what happens after the prom. I mean, do things actually work out with Blane, or does it fizzle when Andie goes away to school? Does Duckie actually find another girl, or is his heart forever broken from Andie's rejection, and ends up in a mental institute living in his own unrequited love hell?

While we're on the topic, how could Andie go for Blane when Duckie is so much more adorable? I mean, would Blane dance into the store where you work and lip sync to "Try A Little Tenderness" for her? Probably not.

Duckie Dancing to Try A Little Tenderness (Pretty In Pink)

I mean, how adorable is Jon Cryer? Seriously, any guy does that for me, and I'd melt into a little puddle on the ground - it's just too cute.

So that's my issue with 80's movies. I have yet to watch Sixteen Candles and Weird Science (although both have been sent to me from zip.ca), and I'm hoping that they have slightly better endings, because I'm not sure how much more I can deal with.

P.S. Speaking of "Try A Little Tenderness", I found this great video of my future husband and hottest bachelor, Taylor Hicks singing that very song. The only reason I mention this is because while I was typing this blog, I heard his single on the radio for the first time (I don't listen to the radio very much, so this was a big deal.) Enjoy, and feel free to comment with your own personal movie annoyances - ambiguous 80's endings is only just the beginning of things that bother me about movies. But I'll stop complaining now and let you enjoy the sultry sound of Taylor's voice.

Taylor Hicks - Try A Little Tenderness