'80s Throwback

I grew up at a time when life revolved around caring for your Tamagotchi, Sabrina the Teenage Witch was queen and it was every girl's dream to be the sixth Spice Girl - enter: the '90s.  However, I've got a thing for a certain genre of '80s films - those teen coming-of-age, comedy with a bit of drama, American high school schticks.  Four films written by John Hughes, three starring Molly Ringwald, two featuring Anthony Michael Hall ( hereinafter 'AMH') and one with a young Matthew Broderick cracking out some serious moves.  Here's my top four '80s edit.

4. Sixteen Candles (1984) - Your classic teen romantic comedy about a girl, her birthday and her painfully attractive crush.  Featuring AMH and John Cusack as part of a geeky crew and a Chinese exchange student called 'Long Duck Dong'...what's not to love?

3. Pretty in Pink (1986) - The title comes from the dress old Mols customises after her dad buys it at a thrift shop (cue Macklemore...)  Again, she has a love interest from a different social group but this time, your comedic foil comes in the shape of Duckie, her best friend.  My favourite scene is his rendition of Otis Redding's Try a Little Tenderness - even if you don't want to watch the whole thing, watch that.

2. The Breakfast Club (1985) - This follows five high school students who are forced to spend time together at a weekend detention session and does actually have some serious undertones - stereotypes are questioned, cliques are dispelled and you get a real insight into the characters' struggles.  Reasons why I love this film: the endless quotes ('does Barry Manilow know that you raid his wardrobe?'), Charlie Sheen's brother in general, AMH sticking a pencil up his nose and the use of Simple Minds' Don't You Forget About Me.

1. Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986) - In at number one we have the best film about bunking off school ever made.  It's got it all - laughs, a fancy car and miming to The Beatles at a parade.  Bueller is every teenager's icon - he was actually 24 when it was released but hey, older people playing youngsters is nothing new!  You spend the whole film rooting for him and just hoping he can continue to outsmart everyone else.  If you only watch one of these, watch this one!

So if you fancy dipping your toe into some '80s classics, I highly recommend any of these.  Note: best enjoyed whilst wearing lycra and leg warmers.