Review: Don't You Forget About Me

The Breakfast Club. Sixteen Candles. Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Weird Science. Pretty in Pink.

Who hasn't watched any of these movies and go "damn, that's me"?

Image courtesy of 123nonstop.
Don't You Forget About Me is a documentary about John Hughes' impact on teens worldwide. The documentary follows four directors as they road trip in search of John Hughes.

Throughout we get bits of interviews with people who Hughes' influence has touched. This includes the actors he had worked with during the making of these films plus directors of today.

What I liked best was the interviews they did with kids who were currently in school. Every one interviewed spoke to how the "teen films" that Hughes wrote spoke to them more than the current teen films today. This is because movies like the ones I mentioned on top tackle things we all went through without glamorizing it. (How many teen flicks have the perfect boy and/or girl driving the latest model car? Exactly.)

As a YA writer, this documentary was important. John Hughes was a pro at getting the teen dynamic down in a way that rang true for everyone. This is something we should all strive for. Remember: the key to a great YA story is to get the important details right.

I'd totally recommend this to anyone who has a love for John Hughes, pop culture, or great teen fiction.


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Last.fm hit of the day: Wrath Within by Children of Bodom