2008
There's no point in having me review the three movies that comprise the "High School Flashback Collection" DVD box set: "Sixteen Candles," "The Breakfast Club" and "Weird Science." After all, you know them, you love them, you've no doubt seen them more times than there are words in this review.
If you loved John Hughes then, that love won't change. But what I can talk about are the extra features that appear here, as past releases of these films have been barebones. Although the reclusive Hughes is nowhere to be seen or heard, Universal does its best to make up for the loss.
All three have well-made retrospective documentaries in which critics and admirers comment on the movies' place in and influence on popular culture. Cast members also show up to discuss the shooting and style, including Anthony Michael Hall, Judd Nelson and Ally Sheedy. But where's Molly Ringwald? Emilio Estevez? Hell, Ilan Mitchell-Smith?
Amid the requisite theatrical trailers, "The Breakfast Club" throws in a featurette on the origins of "the Brat Pack," which is quite a kick. "Weird Science" goes one better by including the entire pilot for the cable TV series it spawned, which is underrated, available on DVD, fiercely entertaining and, yes, better than the movie.
If you've bought these flicks before, this set "? complete in a tin shaped like a locker "? is worth the upgrade.
"?Rod Lott
