The Pointlessness of Cliques or Bueller…Bueller

The Pointlessness of Cliques (or) Bueller…Bueller

The Pointlessness of Cliques or Bueller...Bueller

Monday, August 10th, 2009

• Weekend Challenge Review•

This past weekend the challenge was to honor the late John Hughes by watching one or more of his classic 1980’s movies. My wife and I watched two of his more famous films, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and The Breakfast Club. I didn’t grow up in the 1980’s but these movies seemed appropriate for a time capsule of the decade. I’m curious to know how accurate the movies are in representing that time period so if you have first hand experience please share.

One of the main themes that John Hughes explored in these movies is the prevalence of stereotypes and cliques in high school. The characters in The Breakfast Club were the brain, the athlete, the princess, the basket case, and the criminal. I’m guessing a lot of us experienced the same thing first hand during our high school years, but now that we’re all grown up we’ve moved past that right? I’m not so sure. Even after we all get married and are secure in our relationships, artificial separations based on superficial labels or interests can still exist. In our society it’s not hard to place married couples into cliques - the Material Couple, the Sports Couple, the Religious Couple, the Blue Collar Couple, the New Age Couple, etc.

The tendency to place married couples into specific groupings is pointless since we all so much in common. We share the same commitment to our spouse and all desire great marriages. My hope for He Said She Said blog is that it can be a place like the library in The Breakfast Club where couples who wear different labels can come together to discuss their similar experiences and learn something from each other during the process. Thoughts…

Four out of five stars. That is the rating I would give this Weekend Challenge. It was nice to have a relaxing and mindless weekend. While no popcorn was eaten watching back to back Hughes movies was a great time. Our “Now Showing” list included Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and The Breakfast Club. I get a kick out of saying these movies hit the box office when my husband and I were around two years old. I grew up watching other John Hughes films like Curly Sue and Home Alone. Nevertheless, I would catch pieces of many Hughes films on TBS in my teen years.

What I most enjoy about watching films are the applicable real life undertones. In Ferris Bueller’s Day Off great messages were present. I learned that life moves quickly and you have to take moments to just enjoy it. I learned that making the most of a day of hooky is essential in life once in a while. I don’t know if I’ll the opportunity to create massive dance outbreak to the tune of “Shake It Up Baby” during a parade in my lifetime but a girl can dream right? I know I’m still quite young by most standards; however, I can see how I have let tunnel vision set in just a bit. I’m focused on the many roles in life I must balance and have sort of forgotten how to just let loose. I wouldn’t go as far to say I am too uptight or a stick in the mud but feel seriousness is setting in. I guess I better have a Bueller kind of day soon!

In final thought, I loved just taking the time to spend my weekend with my husband. My heart goes out the Nancy Hughes and the rest of the Hughes family. Many generations will continue to watch his brilliant films and hopefully find their own applicable real life undertones. I think my husband and I will pay tribute often and enjoy a Hughes movie together every now and again. Feedback…

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