They Took Over 1985

the Jock, the Brain, the Criminal, the Princess and the Basket Case

The Breakfast Club

“Hey, hey, hey , hey….oooooohoooooohooooo!” yeah, you know the song, and if you recognize the opening lyrics of “Don’t You Forget About Me”, then you remember the totally awesome mega cult hit The Breakfast Club.

The Breakfast Club stars Molly Ringwald (16 Candles) as Claire Standish, Judd Nelson (St. Elmo’s Fire) as John Bender, Emilio Estevez (St. Elmo’s Fire) as Andrew Clark, and Ally Sheedy (St. Elmo’s Fire) as Allison Reynolds.

All do an awesome job excelling in political incorrectness while portraying the very teens one might find in a 1980’s school. Though the thought of an entire movie filmed in a library can be off putting, each performs solidly as lost souls gathered on a dismal Chicago March Saturday. Soon this incoherent group discovers that a Brain, a Princess, a Criminal, a Jock and a Basket Case can do way more as a group than as individuals. Their mannerisms and expressions throughout the movie are perfect. Even individual dance moves in the famous “make up dance” scene betray their individuality. You can imagine each one with their particular click dancing in the same manner during the prom. Also, Gleason performs most excellently as the gnarly Principal Vernon, bent on punishing the “children”.

Memories of teen angst hit me after watching this movie for the 2d time 27 years later. “Yeah, that’s the way it was”, I found myself asking, “Who didn’t relate to at least one of the characters?” I remember shortly after my 1985 viewing how my friends and I comparing ourselves to someone or maybe even a few of the dentionees. It wasn’t hard then and it was just as easy now. And not to mention the awesome crush I had on Molly Ringwald.

Memorable quotes include:

Claire : Do you know how popular I am? I am so popular. Everybody loves me so much at this school. 

Bender: Poor baby. 

Clark: If I lose my temper you're totaled, man. 

Bender: Totally? 

Clark: Totally. 

Bender: Does Barry Manilow know that you raid his wardrobe? 

Vernon: Don't mess with the bull, young man. You'll get the horns. 

Sound track was incredible with the hit singles:

“Don’t You Forget About Me” Simple Minds

"Fire In The Twilight" Wang Chung

The Breakfast Club is rate R for language, drug usage and other politically incorrect stuff.

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Mr. Mom

Mr. Mom stars the very funny Michael Keaton (Johnny Dangerously, Gung Ho, Beetlejuice) as Jack and the beautiful Teri Garr (Tootsie) as Caroline. Both are working class family in the face of chaotic circumstances with hysterical manifestations.

Jack is a victim of workplace cuts. Out of necessity Caroline applies for and wins a job as an add executive. I mean, where else but in an 80’s movie can a wife with eight years experience as a homemaker make such a bitchin’ transition.

Soon their roles are reversed. Keaton is great as a homemaker and father of three. While Garr dukes it out in the jungles of marketing, he is cleaning house and taking names.

Nevertheless, the gnarly workplace becomes a hassle as Caroline becomes an absentee mom meeting the demands of bringing home the bacon. Jack becomes overwhelmed meeting the needs of the kids and the household. Both juggle their new roles while fending off sexual predators (well played and extremely funny roles by Martin Mull and Ann Jillian).

As far as an 80’s music score, you won’t find it here. However, you can reminisce with the Theme From Rocky, Nadia’s Theme and a few more instrumentals. 

Summer Rental

Summer Rental (1985). John Candy (Splash, Trains, Planes, Trains and Automobiles, Canadian Bacon) stars as Jack Chester, an air traffic controller. He is under a lot of stress and barely avoids a major air catastrophe by mistaking a fly for an airplane. The solution; take his family on a much needed vacation.

However, location isn’t everything. The Chesters soon learn that trying to get good old dad to relax is going to be one catastrophic event after another. Men try to date his wife and daughter, a preppy yachtsman challenges him to a race and so many more adventures await.

Summer Rental also stars Kerri Green, Joey Lawrence, John Larroquette, Karen Austin, and Richard Crenna

Summer Rental is an excellent and fun fabulous 80’s movie. This movie takes you from the boiling room pressure cooker of an FAA control tower to the supposedly tranquil beach vacation.

Awesome soundtrack includes Footloose and Axel F. Yeah, you’ve heard them before and now you can hear them on Summer Rental. See it now.

This movie is rated PG-13

The Gate

The Gate stars Sylvester Stephen Dorff as Glen, Christa Denton as Al, Louis Tripp as Terry, Kelly Rowen as Lori Lee and Jennifer Irwin as Linda Lee.

One day Glen wakes up to discover the rotten tree in his back yard has been removed. He and his buddy Terry dig around as boys do and discover a passage. Upon further investigation they discover it is a passage to hell. Their curiosity releases a gnarly band of diminutive demons that totally release terror on our side of the world.

To make matters worse, Glen and Al’s parents leave for the night leaving Al in charge. That’s the great 80’s teen angst opportunity. Poor big sister has to babysit her bratty big brother and occult worshipping friend.

Backwards playing records, ancient messages in modern rock songs, zombies, terrible dolls, spinning rooms and more make this a forgotten gem. Be sure not to miss this one and find out.

Why did the dog have to die?

What is this big giant monster?

Why does Glen get an eyeball on his palm?

Find out in The Gate

Over the Top

Over the Top stars Sylvester Stallone (Rambo and Rocky franchises) as Lincoln Hawk, Robert Loggia (Big, Jagged Edge) as Jason Cutler, Susan Blakely (Airport franchises, Dream a Little Dream) as Christina Hawk and  David Mendenhall as Michael Cutler.

Lincoln Hawk is an estranged husband and father. Christina is his dying ex-wife who wishes for Lincoln to reestablish ties with his 12 year old son Michael. Jason is Christina’s father who forced them all apart in the first place.  Unknown to Lincoln and Michael, Jason has not allowed Michael any contact and has hidden all letters from father to son.

On her death bed, Christina has arranged for Lincoln to pick up his son from school at a military academy and drive him back home. Along the way, tense relationships begin to melt as father teaches son the fine art of arm wrestling and truck driving.

Will they ever be a family again?

Will Lincoln win the big match?

Will Jason mind his own business?

Find out in Over the Top

Quotes include:

"The world meets nobody halfway. When you want something, you gotta take it. ."

Soundtrack includes:

"Meet Me Halfway" by Kenny Loggins

“Winner Takes it All” by Sammy Hagar

Running Scared-1986

Running Scared stars Billy Crystal (Throw Mamma From the Train, The Princess Bride) as Danny Costanzo and Gregory Hines (The Cotton Club, White Nights) as Ray Hughes. Both are Chicago cops heading toward retirement.

However, retirement comes a little early as their boss forces them to go on vacation. Unfortunately for the boss, Costanzo and Hughes want to pool their money to open a bar and retire from the rat race.

With plans in hand, they go back to Chicago. However, those plans are quickly put on hold as one of their purps is released. With a reason to go to work, the duo vows to get one last bad guy off the streets.

Remember the Asian bad guy from all the 80s movies like Big Trouble in Little China? He's here too.

So, why doesn’t crime pay and why can’t these two just leave the work to less tenured colleagues?

Find out in Running Scared

Quotes include:

"How come bad guys always have the good cars."

“You are the detectives. Go and detect.”

Soundtrack includes summer blockbuster: "Sweet Freedom" by Michael McDonald

“Man Size Love” by Klimaxx

The Karate Kid

The Karate Kid stars Ralph Macchio (The Outsiders, Teachers, Karate Kid II) as Daniel LaRuso, a boy who moves to California with his mother. It doesn't take long for the smart mouthed but likable kid to get in trouble with the local hoods.    
                                                                                                            Cobra Kai is a dojo run by a violent and unfair sensei. He teaches his boys that surrender is for the weak and winning is everything. The students maintain a gang mentality at school and incessantly dog the new LaRusso, giving him the beat down on many occasions.

Fortunately his apartment handyman Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita-Happy Days, Karate Kid II) is a Karate master. He agrees to help LaRuso, teaching him that Karate is more than just self defense. 


Soon it all comes to a head as Cobra Kai baits Daniel and Miyagi into a Karate contest. Can Miyagi train LaRuso in enough time?


What exactly can one learn about karate from painting fences and waxing cars?


Find out in The Karate Kid

Quotes include:
"Wax on...wax off. Wax on...wax off."
"Sweep the leg."


Soundtrack includes summer blockbuster: "Cruel Summer" by Bananarama

Exit Speed-2008

Fred Ward (Tremors, Adventures of Remo Williams, All the Right Stuff) is Archie Sparks an Army AWOL apprehension sergeant on the trail of beautiful Iraqi Veteran and deserter Corporal Merideth Cole (Julie Mond). Cole escapes form Sparks and joins nine passengers on a psychotic bus trip through Texas. Along the way they are hunted down by a depraved motorcycle gang.

Plays like a post apocolyptic 80's movie. Exit Speed is a fun movie full of deranged bikers and heroes in the making. We don't know what motivates the bikers other than deranged minds from excessive meth use. What we do see is corageous passengers pulling together to defeat the evil that is stalking them.

Look for great performances by Lea Thompson,Gregory Jbara, Desmond Harrington and many more as the hack and blast their way with improvised weapons. James Bond's Q has nothing on the inventive handyman nor does Robinhood on the spritelike archer who both give great performances.

The Wedding Singer

The Wedding Singer is a great 80's Movie. Not quite made in the 80's, but about the 80's. It's 1985 and Adam Sandler is a wedding singer. Kinda of "always a bridesmaid" situation. He sings at weddings but just can't find love. Can Drew Barrymore help him find love?

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Back to the Future

Back to the Future is a classic 80s teen movie that has gone superstar status. Like other movies starring Michael J. Fox (Secret of My Success, Teen Wolf, Light of Day, Back to the Future II and Back to the Future III) it was bound to draw huge audiences for years to come. What else would you expect of a Fox movie.

Fox plays Marty McFly, a street wise kid who takes no flak from anyone. In fact, just call him chicken and see what happens. Unfortunately, his family is just a little too uncool and suffer at the mercy of Biff Tannen (Thomas F. Wilson, Back to the Future II and Back to the Future III), a lifelong bully going back to 1955. Up to this point, Biff picks on McFly’s father George (Crispin Glover, Back to the Future II and Back to the Future III) and his mother Lorraine (Lea Thompson,  Red Dawn, All the Right Movies, The Wild Life, Some Kind of Wonderful).  

McFly gets a call from his scientist buddy Dr. Emmit Brown (Christopher Lloyd Taxi, Addams Family, Back to the Future II and Back to the Future III) who needs a huge favor. He’s got to bring something to him at midnight.

When Marty arrives, Dr. Brown is in trouble with a Libyan terrorist organization and in the middle of a time travel experiment. Unfortunately the hit squad tracks Dr. Brown and chaos ensues. To escape, McFly hops into the time machine and high tails it back to 1955 where he confronts his future parents and an unruly gang of bullies. He also has to try to figure out a way back home without changing history or he may destroy himself.


Great lines include: "Hello, McFly"


Great songs include: "Back in Time" and "Power of Love" by Huey Lewis and the News.

This movie is rated PG for language and adult situations.

My Bodyguard

Great 80's feel good movie featuring Chris Makepeace, Matt Dillon, Adam Baldwin and fresh appearance by Jennifer Beals.

License to Drive

Fun 80's cutup movie featuring the Coreys. Look for a young Heather Graham as well.

Oxford Blues

Oxford Blues is a classic 80’s sleeper and an outstanding 80’s movie. It’s not one you will soon see on late night TV or on the syndication circuits. This movie deserves a better showing and a broader audience.

Oxford Blues stars Rob Lowe (St. Elmo’s Fire, Class, Youngblood) as Nick De Angelo, Ally Sheedy (Breakfast Club) as Rona, Amanda Pays as Lady Victoria Wingate, Julian Sands and Colin Firth.

Vegas parking attendant De Angelo hits the jackpot. But is his luck enough to win him the love of his dream girl Lady Victoria Wingate. With only enough dough to pay for one year of Oxford tuition he flies across the pond. There, he single mindedly pursues the Lady and threatens his enrollment and status among the many students who try to befriend him.

Like many 80’s movies this has a back story involving a sport and De Angelo comes in as a last hope and instant celebrity. But will he risk a rowing championship, friends, and Oxford tuition for just a few hours with his dream girl?

Oxford Blues is rated PG-13

The Wild Life

The Wild Life is a fantastic teen movie from 1984. I thought of the movie shortly after reviewing Weird Science and remembering Mitchell Smith, who plays the raspy voiced Wyatt. In The Wild Life, Smith portrays Jim Conrad a teen loner who easily identifies with a misunderstood Vietnam Veteran (Randy Quaid). In 1984, I was a teenager myself and remembered how cool Conrad’s character had seemed. He smoked, drank and cussed, all before his 16^th birthday and wasn’t accountable to anyone.

Eric Stolz (Mask, Some Kind of Wonderful) plays Bill Conrad a high school grad on the way to college man. As he transitions to the collegiate life, he breaks of with his girlfriend Anita (Leah Thomson of Back to the Future, Red Dawn), gets a new apartment, and becomes interested in his younger brother Jim’s well being; all in the name of responsibility.

However, he just can’t quit best friend Tom Drake (Chris Penn of Footloose, All the Right Moves). When they rent an apartment together, it’s anything but responsible.

After remembering the movie, I tried hard to find it online, in video stores and among friends. The Wild Life is available in VHS, Laser Disk and Beta from some online sources. I found a copy to review and discovered an enjoyable flick. The reason that it is not widely available on DVD is the similar reason facing many movies being converted to DVD; licensing. So, in the name of awesomeness, Eddie Van Halen, composer of the soundtrack, please release the rights and make this movie available. If not… “it’s casual”.


Great lines include: 


"It's casual"


"As soon as they see you're afraid, you're dead."


Warning: This movie may lead to more headbutting. Many learned to do so the first time it came out.


This movie is rated R for everything.