"This is a really volcanic ensemble..."

Eighties Movies: We've all been there, seen that, and obsessed over Molly Ringwald in her various stereotyped teenage roles. The eighties as a decade was a golden age for angsty teens who got to witness "real life" high school problems brought to the big screen. This decade was such a profound time in cinema that it really deserves to be called it's own genre, one that can be described as dramadeys: funny yet serious coming of age stories. Of course we all have our favorites -  Ferris Bueller's Day Off, The Breakfast Club, and Sixteen Candles being the big three that everyone seems to have seen. That being said, there are so many more that really embody the eighties movie genre. So, in order to educate some of you cinemaphiles out there on some of the lesser known movies of the hippest decade of all time, here's a list of five "volcanic" films everyone should see:

Weird Science: (1985) If Molly Ringwald was the queen of the eighties, then Anthony Michael-Hall was her king. No matter if he's brace-faced or semi-suicidal, he always seems to be type cast as the nerd, and Weird Science is no exception. Possibly one of the funniest films of the modern era, Weird Science  tells the story of two nerdy guys who try to make their own girl - and succeed bringing the ever gorgeous,  and in this case super powered Kelly Lebrock into the world to make their high school existence wonderful. Of course, all kinds of highjinx ensue in this "coming of age tale" about to boys who learn to love themselves....and also through the most killer party imaginable. 

St. Elmo's Fire: (1985) The breakfast club grows up, goes to college, and tries to figure out what to do with their lives after graduating Georgetown.  Although technically not about high school, the movie really does capture that teenage feel. St. Elmo's Fire follows a tightly knit group of friends who are trying to find their own paths after their college graduation. I do want to put in the disclaimer that this movie tries really hard to be profound and deep, and it fails almost completely. That being said, if you are looking for a good, kinda brainless movie to watch with some good friends then this is the one for you. This film features high drama, high hilarity, and a majority of the actors from The Breakfast Club. I'm not kidding - they have Emilio Estavez, the freaky goth chick who's name I can never remember, and Judd Nelson. Talk about a reunion...

Back to the Future: (1985) How on earth could you have possibly grown up without seeing this movie?  An adorable Matthew Jay Fox plays Marty McFly - a dreamy high schooler who plays lead guitar and skate boards everywhere. In a bizarre twist, Marty gets sent back to the past in a Delorean by his best friend who just so happens to be an aging mad scientist (just go with it). He's sent back to the 50's where he encounters his parents as teenagers and almost accidentally keeps them from ever getting together. A movie about family, living with no regrets, and the basic fundamentals of time travel, Back to the Future is a classic that really can't be ignored. 

Pretty in Pink: (1986) I had to put up one of Molly's. I just had to. Weirdly, Pretty in Pink is probably her least known piece, but in my mind her best. It's a story about social classes portrayed by a scrambled Romeo and Juliet-esc storyline between a rag-tag Molly Ringwald and a super rich Anthony McCarthy (I actually love him). This movie's story line isn't really the best of all time, but the movie is made memorable by it's attention to little details such as Molly's beautifully pieced outfits, a foot tapping soundtrack, a crazy boss, and a hilarious Jon Cryer (the nerdy guy from 2 and a Half Men) who plays Duckie - possibly his best role of all time. A total "chick-flick" but worth a watch!

and my personal favorite....

Heathers - (1988) THE BEST AND MOST UNDERRATED MOVIE OF ALL TIME. Heathers was a Sundance film originally entitled "Lethal Attraction." It's essentially a parody of any eighties movie that makes high school seem unbearable (which it is). It stars one of my favorite actresses, Winona Ryder, as Veronica who's in the "popular" clique at her high school, a clique that is made up of three other girls all named Heather. The four girls dress in signature colors, play croquet, and are total bitches to everyone - including each other. This all changes when Veronica meets J.D. (totally a play on Holden Caulfield), who becomes her boyfriend and together they embark on a killing spree of all the popular kids at her high school who are jerks. This movie is the most hilarious thing I've ever seen - the writers actually went so far as to make up an entire language of fake eighties slang to make the movie even funnier. I highly recommend it as an insightful, black humor satire that captures the true nature of high school. 

Of course, there are so many other greats like Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, etc. etc. The reason these movies as well as so many others didn't make my top five is because I don't consider them a total embodiment of an 80's movie. The two I just mentioned are more of stoner films than eighties, and other classics like The Goonies totally fit the coming of age part, but not really the whole high school feel. 

What are you favorite eighties movies? What do you think of these? 

Always yours, 

Jess