Mean-spirited
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CCRider01 — 10 years ago(May 03, 2015 12:54 AM)
Now, the material is dated in terms of its social responsibilities
Social responsibilities? Who the heck wants to see social responsibilities in a damn comedy film, especially teen comedy? Not me. I will take "rude, funny, and lacking social graces" for $100 Alex. -
The-Last-Prydonian — 9 years ago(May 13, 2016 05:03 PM)
Social responsibilities? Who the heck wants to see social responsibilities in a damn comedy film, especially teen comedy? Not me. I will take "rude, funny, and lacking social graces" for $100 Alex.
I agree, in terms of the Chinese stereotype, it's not as if anyone else from any other nationality hasn't been been on the receiving end of comedic stereotyping. Hell, the Americans have themselves and speaking as a Scot I've laughed at over the top comic representations of my people. Perfect examples being Grounds keeper Willy in
The Simpsons
and Fat Bastard in the Austin Powers movie's. And Gedde Watanabe was simply hilarious in his role as Long Duk Dong. This was a comedy hence it wasn't meant to be taken too seriously. I think most sensible people can see beyond the obvious caricature which was there for comedy value. Saying it's dated in terms of it's social responsibilities I think is very condescending as I think it implies that most people aren't intelligent enough to see what is an obvious stereotype. That ironically to me is more offensive. -
three-amigos — 13 years ago(June 18, 2012 12:46 PM)
I grew up with the "edited for television" version of this film, and recently saw the original on DVD for the first time. In the extra interviews on the disc, the "politically inncorrect" humor of the era is addressed and it is openly recognized that it would be hard to get a Hollywood studio to make this film today with the script as it was made in the early 1980s. The actor who played the Chinese boy seemed to be ok with it in the interviews, he seems quite content that he created a memnorable, funny character who pretty much stole every scene he was in. He wasn't playing a stereotype, just a young teen from another country, limited English and unleashed into a playground of American teens. There was concern in the interviews of how close the film skirted the "date rape" issue. In the end, Jake stated in the film that he could have taken advantage of the passed out girl, but he did not actually do it. And AMH as the geek did spend the night with her in the car. It is never shown that he actually took advantage of the situation. For him, it was enough that she thinks something probably happened between them and she was ok with it. I have always concluded that nothing actually happened between them, and the geek was just happy to finally be socially accepted by someone like her. I know this film was rated PG before PG13 existed, and since I have memories of multible viewings of the edited for tv version, I was surprised by the close up body shots in the shower scene and the 2 F words. For me the shower scene really wasn't necesary for the film to work, and even Hughes chose to cut out simularly scripted scenes in the Breakfast Club and Ferris Bueleer's Day Off. In the disc interviews, the general opinion was that the John Hughes trilogy 16C/TBC/PIP was written the way teens of the era really talked, it wasn't trying to be politically correct or to dumb down the kids. There is a realism in the way the kids talked, the way it was filmed on location in the suburbs using mostly real teenagers, not just in a LA studio with already popular actors or young looking adults playing teen roles. I can see why some people looking through the politically correct lenses of today might take issue with this film. But as a teen who grew up in the eighties, I can honestly say that I went to school with people who could have easily been the characters in the Breakfast Club. John Hughes did capture that era with a realism that is sadly lacking from most fims made about teens that have been made since.
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laeyisoracle — 13 years ago(September 20, 2012 09:37 PM)
LOL, the fact people still think he was a Chinese exchange student is racist in itself. He was a KOREAN exchange student. So, all Asians are Chinese?! THAT is racist!!!
J/K, but it does give something to think about(most people I've ran into, especially on this board, still think Long Duck Dong is Chinese). Saying a Korean is Chinese is like saying a Cuban is Mexican or saying an Irish is German. Ironic thing, that's actually what was more common back then(everybody referring to all different Asian nationalities as being "Chinese". It really hasn't change that much, has it(again, J/K, LOL). -
jefgg — 13 years ago(January 20, 2013 11:42 AM)
I grew up in the '80s and that seemed like one humiliation after another. School sometimes reminded me of a bad prison movie especially the cafeteria and gym class. That is in my rear view mirror. Whatever hassles I got at school did not bother me much. It was the hassles I got at home from family and so called friends that brought me down. Too often the people who should be pushing you up are the ones keeping you down.
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Aqquila989 — 13 years ago(February 08, 2013 07:23 AM)
the 'hero' Jake giving his drunk girlfriend to a horny 14-year-old to drive safely home, w/the implication that he can score
I don't think there was such an implication. Ted was at first very uncomfortable with Caroline coming onto him. Next morning, when he believes that they had sex and Jake sees them together, Ted is shocked; he crosses himself and says "Oh, my God, I'm dead." I think that makes it clear that Jake didn't give Ted any "permission" to sleep with Caroline. -
witster18 — 13 years ago(February 23, 2013 11:27 AM)
oh come on now racial stereotyping? you just discredited 60% of the film industry. and the joan cusak character you're missing another point - SHE WAS WEIRD! forget her physical handicap, and somehow Joan infused some sort of likability into the character.
jake didn't know he closed the door on her hair.
and she was the slut, remember the statment "she had to (*#$^%( about nine grades", and the way she acted he was right to blow her off
besides these depict typical high school situations - often cruel if they weren't made to look that way then they'd be 'unrealistic'.
