Take Two translates the day’s headlines for Southern California, making sense of the news and cultural events that affect our lives. Produced by Southern California Public Radio and broadcast from October 2012 – June 2021. Hosted by A Martinez.
OK, the John Hughes classic is having its 3oth anniversary. But while "The Breakfast Club" might be the most celebrated teen angst movie, there are plenty of other good ones out there.
We asked writer, comedian and professional film fanatic Mark Jordan Legan to pick a few of his faves.
"Fast Times At Ridgemont High": Amy Heckerling and Cameron Crowe's 1982 comedy is jam-packed with talent–Phoebe Cates, Forest Whitaker, Eric Stolz, and Sean Penn in one of his first roles as stoned-out surfer dude Jeff Spicoli.
There's lots of crude humor and stoner hijinks, but the film also tackles some serious issues, everything from teen pregnancy to drug abuse. And it includes some priceless dating advice. If at all possible, when trying to kiss a girl, put on Side 1 of Led Zepplin 4.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMtdrKIdDgE
"Election": Reese Witherspoon is the ultra-ambitious Tracy Flick in this 1999 dark comedy. Directed by Alexander Payne and based on the Tom Perrotta novel, Witherspoon's character is running for student president at a Nebraska high school in a race that is every bit as dirty as any national election. Matthew Broderick is Mr. McAllister, who makes the mistake of supporting another candidate.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jA0RnDQiFbQ
"Student Bodies": Perhaps the least known film on this list, the 1981 horror spoof was written and co-directed by Mickey Rose, one of Woody Allen's early writing partners. His co-director was Michael Ritchie (Fletch, "The Candidate"). The plot is similar to the "Scream" movies – someone is killing high school students, and no one can figure out who the murderer is. (But "Student Bodies" came out 15 years before "Scream.") The humor is of the "Naked Gun"/"Airplane" mode. No joke is left unturned. Stupid, crude, silly, and fun.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPwwEgFcwho
"Dazed and Confused": Legan considers this the ultimate high school film. Set in Austin, Texas, it focuses on the last day of high school. Director Richard Linklater (Boyhood) gets everything right–the music, the cars, the clothes and the hair. Plus, it has an amazing cast that includes Ben Affleck, Parker Posey and a young but already scene-stealing Matthew McConaghey. (clip contains strong language, themes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wknywxfcE5M
Mark Jordan Legan writes mostly children's television, and we call on him whenever we need to delve into the inner recesses of filmdom.