A reviewer at Reel.com called the movie "almost quaint in its depiction of disaffected high school students." It's true; a lot of the movie is dated. If it was made today, Clare wouldn't only not be a virgin, she'd have a ten month old baby at home. John Bender would already have done time for gang related activity. Andrew would be on steroids. Brian and the kid who had his buns taped together by Andrew would have formed the Trench coat Mafia, and the flare gun in the locker would have been an assault rifle. Allison wouldn't even be in the movie because she'd have hung herself in her bedroom closet and not been discovered for more than twelve hours. Extreme? Of course! But is it really so far off?
Later "teen movies" adjusted to the growing sophistication of teenage sensibility. "The Breakfast Club" may have been one of the last "innocent" teen movies made. But that innocence doesn't diminish the message of tolerance, acceptance and understanding the movie portrayed. We could use some of that today.
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