The Brat Pack: Movies & Music Collection DVD Review:

The Brat Pack: Movies and Music Collection

This John Hughes collection has three of his more famous films from the eighties. The three films include The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, and Weird Science. The young actors in these films were given the nickname, The Brat Pack, a fitting title for the young cast filled with up and coming stars. Even the smaller roles were taken up by actors soon to become huge stars, such as Bill Paxton, Robert Downey Jr., and John Cusack. The Brat Pack was the essential group of young actors in the eighties, and now they are available together in one collection. It seems a strange choice to put Weird Science in the collection instead of Pretty in Pink, especially since it would have completed the Molly Ringwald trilogy. Strange as that choice may seem, it is still nice to see the films chosen in the new treatment.

The Breakfast Club
At Saturday detention it doesn’t matter who you are. On this particular Saturday every member of the typical high school stereotypes are present. Emilio Estevez is the popular jock, Anthony Michael Hall is the smart geek, Judd Nelson is the bully, Molly Ringwald as the popular girl, and Ally Sheedy as the weird girl. They are all stuck together against their will, but as the day wears on they actually begin to relate to each other.

This is one of the most celebrated high school films ever made, and it still remains timeless. The most amazing thing about the film is the fact that it all takes place in one day and in one location. It’s a film filled with drama and dialogue. Because the characters are in high school they tend to come off somewhat melodramatic, but this is probably what makes The Breakfast Club so appealing.

Sixteen Candles
Molly Ringwald completely switched roles in this film. She went from playing the popular girl to the girl that doesn’t get noticed. It’s Samantha Baker’s 16th birthday and everyone has forgotten. Her parents are preoccupied, her friends have other things on their mind, and she just wishes that the guy she likes would notice her.

Samantha Baker is like so many roles that have been created since then. She goes through so much heartache that it isn’t difficult to slip into self pity while watching most of the film. Things work out extremely well, in many ways like a fairy tale, but the journey leading to that point is painful. There are all of the icons of high school, including the foreign exchange student and the high school dance. What is most remarkable is the young John Cusack in one of his first roles.

Weird Science
The tradition Frankenstein story has been done and redone countless times, and John Hughes brings it to life with unique style. When two geeks decide to change their luck, they do it by creating the perfect woman on their computer. It’s a teenage fantasy with heart, like most John Hughes films.

The fact that this is more of a science fiction film than a comedy, although it is hilarious, tends to make me hesitant in recommending viewing this film along with the other two. Still, Weird Science is an eighties classic. Bill Paxton is hilarious as well in his smaller role, and Robert Downey Jr. even has a part in which he ends up wearing a bra on his head. If that isn’t reason enough to watch the film, I have no idea what is.

All three of the films have been digitally transferred and the picture looks must better along with new audio. The past versions of the film did not compare to how they look in these new transfers, but there isn’t much more than that to boast about in this collection, unfortunately. There are no special features to speak of, except for the theatrical trailer that each film has. The menus look great and the packaging is unique, but it seems a shame that there are no deleted scenes or behind the scenes footage. With films like these it seems impossible that there would be no footage available. In the very least a commentary track could have been made.

The one thing that the package does have which is somewhat unique is a music CD to go with the movies. It is in the title of the package so it cannot be considered a special feature, but it is mostly just a plus for me. The movies are the real reason for purchasing the package as far as I’m concerned.

The movies are set in a binder-like case which is somewhat awkward for storing, however unique and clever it may look. The inside covers of the binder have photos, descriptions of the movies, and a small trivia section for each film. Each of the films are set in plastic slipcovers.



Ryan Izay