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Podcasts Take Two
4 memorable high school flicks that are not 'The Breakfast Club'
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Mar 25, 2015
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4 memorable high school flicks that are not 'The Breakfast Club'
While John Hughes' 'The Breakfast Club' was a touchstone for kids growing up in the 80s, here are four other teen angst movies worth rescreening.
Sean Penn as classic surfer dude Jeff Spicoli.
Sean Penn as classic surfer dude Jeff Spicoli.
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Universal Studios
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While John Hughes' 'The Breakfast Club' was a touchstone for kids growing up in the 80s, here are four other teen angst movies worth rescreening.

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.