I am still on my anti-Judd Apatow rant. I still can’t quite believe how a schlub from Long Island became one of the most powerful men in Hollywood (I guess I shouldn’t be surprised since its been done before…Jerry Seinfeld.) Today’s LA Times has a story about the influence on John Hughes on today’s comedies. Just in case you were wondering, Hughes has virtually disappeared from Hollywood since the early 1990s and has written a couple of movies (Maid in Manhattan) under a pseudonym.
Of course the LA Times writer, Patrick Goldstein, talks only to male filmmakers especially Judd Apatow about how Hughes brilliantly wrote about the outsider boys in our culture completely ignoring his influence regarding young female characters.
“You see Hughes’ influence on all TV comedy, especially the stylized single-camera comedy,” says Apatow. “His great film characters, starting with Anthony Michael Hall in ‘Sixteen Candles,’ were big inspirations. When we were growing up, we were all like Hall — the goofy skinny kid who thinks he’s cool, even if nobody else does. ‘Superbad’ has that same attitude, that mix of total cockiness and insecurity.”
In case you have never seen Sixteen Candles, I just want to state for the record that Sixteen Candles was about Molly Ringwald’s character Samantha and her struggle with being noticed and counted in our crazy world as she is on the brink of becoming a young woman.
In the mid 1980s, John Hughes did something that is lacking from today’s comedies — he made movies that spoke to both boys and girls. The list is mind boggling:
Sixteen Candles – 1984
The Breakfast Club – 1985
Pretty in Pink – 1986
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off -1986
Some Kind of Wonderful- 1987
Hughes characters shaped the values Gen X’s both boys and girls. He wrote young women characters with respect in a way not seen in mainstream Hollywood comedies today.
Molly Ringwald with all her angst and despair was my teenage hero. I even got a ghastly red dye job. Hughes influence can be seen in recent characters like those in in Mean Girls, and The Princess Diaries. Thank you John Hughes, I think the young men making movies today could use your advice.
I’m so glad you posted about this John Hughes/LA Times article today! Like you, I was (and I still am…) a huge Hughes fan. His clever voice and smart and sensitive humor is sadly missed on the screen today.
I’m a 43-year-old female, and Sixteen Candles and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off are 2 of my all-time faves….I rewatch them every time I happen to catch them on the tube. I know I’m not the only one.
Also like you, I’m not a big fan of Judd Apatow (don’t see what’s so special, and I don’t like his take on women…..) so I was somewhat disheartened that the LA Times writer chose to so closely compare Hughes and Apatow, and spoke only to male filmmakers who were Hughes-influenced.
As you so aptly put it — Sixteen Candles…..Hughes’ first big hit and a fond touchstone for many — is about a sixteen-year-old FEMALE. It is authentic, funny, sweet, ornery and at times completely cringe-inducing. Just like life as a sixteen-year-old.
I was 20 at the time it was released, but I could totally relate and remember that I was pleasantly surprised that an adult male got the FEMALE lead characters’ attitude and feelings so right.
Where are the female filmmakers/actresses, etc. that were influenced by this film and his others? I haven’t read this, but I wonder if Diablo Cody is a fan? Juno is definitely original…..but it could be called a little “Hughes-esque.” Hmmm……why didn’t they talk to her?
Oh well…..I am glad that some of today’s “influential” male filmmakers cite Hughes as an influence….unfortunately, I haven’t seen much of that influence transferred to the screen. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for the future.
Thanks again for the great posts!
I agree, I don’t think Judd Apatow’s films are in any way comparable to those made by John Hughes.
Apatow is adept at making gross-out comedies, but I don’t think this qualifies him as a great filmmaker, let alone someone who authentically captures the high school experience.
Granted, there are those who can relate to the characters in Superbad and Knocked Up. But personally, I find a lot more in common with the characters from The Breakfast Club and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.
Thanks so much for your comments! I heard from the writer of the piece that all the directors he spoke with only listed male directors when asked who was influenced by Hughes. Just goes to show that we need more women directors and more films with female leads!
Melissa, sure I’d love to participate in a link exchange! Just added you to my blogroll.
I saw your comment on Slashfilm.com, and I came over to your blog. I haven’t actually read this post yet, but let me tell you, I have had some strong words for Mr. Apatow myself.
Funny People? Self-indulgent crap!!