Who can forget the 1980’s group of actors known as The Brat Pack? And who can forget their movies, which practically defined the 80’s? The primary members of the Brat pack included Rob Lowe, Emilio Estevez, Andrew McCarthy, Demi Moore, Molly Ringwald, Judd Nelson, Ally Sheedy, and Anthony Michael Hall. While a few other actors were sometimes mentioned as part of the Brat Pack (because let’s face it, in the 80’s it was lucrative to be known as a Brat Packer even if it wasn’t cool), the movies that were most widely recognized as Brat Pack flicks starred two or more actors who also starred in either The Breakfast Club or St. Elmo’s Fire.
Class (1983). Okay, so maybe this isn’t the most memorable movie on the list. But before the term “Brat Pack” was even coined, this 1983 film was the debut movie for actor Andrew McCarthy. But because he starred with Rob Lowe, it’s considered a Brat Pack movie. When McCarthy’s character, Jonathan Ogner, goes off to prep school he meets his wild and crazy roommate, Skip (played by Lowe). The usual teen pratfalls and hijinks occur. When Jonathan has an affair with a beautiful older woman (Jacqueline Bissett) he later finds out that she is Skip’s mother. Oops!
Oxford Blues (1984). This film starred Rob Lowe as a conniving casino worker who is determined to get the attention of the woman of his dreams (Amanda Pays). His plan to impress her is to attend Oxford University and join the rowing team. When he meets Rona (played by Ally Sheedy), another American member of the rowing team, he learns a few lessons about himself. Oxford Blues is a remake of the 1938 movie, A Yank at Oxford.
Wisdom (1987). Brat Packer Emilio Estevez wrote and starred in this film about a college dropout named John Wisdom who can’t find a job. He takes to becoming a modern day Robin Hood with his girlfriend (Demi Moore) and the duo begins to rob banks in order to help the poor. But tragedy occurs and Wisdom has a major wake up call.
Fresh Horses (1988). Andrew McCarthy plays Matt Larkin, a privileged college student who breaks off his engagement to a wealthy debutante after he falls for an underage girl from the other side of the tracks (Molly Ringwald). But Larkin is in for a real surprise when he finds out more about the personal life of his new lady.
About Last Night (1986). Demi Moore and Rob Lowe star as Debbie and Danny, two twenty something’s who attempt to make a relationship together after they have a one night stand. When the couple encounters interference from their friends, they have a hard time making things work and the relationship ultimately ends. About Last Night is based on the David Mamet play, Sexual Perversity in Chicago.
Pretty in Pink (1986). This John Hughes directed film stars Molly Ringwald as Andie, a poor, punk rocker who falls for a preppie named Blane (Andrew McCarthy). When Blane asks her to the prom, Andie’s father surprises her with a pink dress that he obviously couldn’t afford to buy. After Blane is pressured by his friends, he avoids Andie and ultimately blows her off for the prom. She decides to brave the prom with her friend Duckie anyway, and prom night ends in a surprising way.
The Outsiders (1983). Emilio Estevez stars as Two-Bit Matthews and Rob Lowe stars as Sodapop Curtis in this 1983 movie based on the famous S.E.Hinton novel, The Outsiders. The movie is about rivaling teen gangs, The Socs and The Greasers, and featured a star studded cast. In addition to Brat Packers Estevez and Lowe, Matt Dillon, Patrick Swayze, Tom Cruise, Ralph Macchio, Leif Garrett and Diane Lane starred in this film. Francis Ford Coppola directed The Outsiders.
16 Candles (1984). This coming of age movie stared Molly Ringwald as Samantha and Anthony Michael Hall as her geeky friend and wannabe paramour, Ted. Sam has a crush on the most popular boy at school, Jake Ryan, but he’s already taken. When her older sister’s wedding coincides with her sixteenth birthday, it seems the whole family forgets about Sam. After a series of events, Samantha does indeed get Jake’s attention, just in time to share her 16th birthday cake and a first kiss.
The Breakfast Club (1985). This John Hughes movie featured many of the Brat Packers, including Molly Ringwald, Judd Nelson, Emilio Estevez, Anthony Michael Hall and Ally Sheedy. Five high schoolers from completely different cliques are forced to spend the day together in Saturday detention at their school. The characters descriptions are infamously described as “the athlete” (Estevez), the “basket case” (Sheedy), the “princess” (Ringwald), the “criminal” (Nelson) and the “brain’ (Hall). After the group reluctantly get to know each other, they realize they may have more in common than they originally thought.
St. Elmo’s Fire (1985). This movie, along with The Breakfast Club, are often said to be defining movies of the Brat Pack. Starring Emilio Estevez, Rob Lowe, Demi Moore, Andrew McCarthy, Ally Sheedy and Judd Nelson, St. Elmo’s Fire chronicles the lives of self-absorbed post-graduate Georgetown University students as they adjust to the struggles and disappointments of the real world and adulthood.
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special%3ASearch&search;=class+movie
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087866/
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092225/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fresh_Horses
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/About_Last_Night…
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091790/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Outsiders_(film)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088128/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breakfast_Club
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090060/
