It also encourages us to look at others and ourselves beyond surface-level appearances. But what makes it so enjoyable is that applies a variety of themes to its context: prejudice/discrimination, acceptance/tolerance, diversity, class/status differences, family matters, group dynamics, etc. Can the emotional bonding they share in detention hold true beyond the library, and can stereotypes be broken? "The Breakfast Club" presents no-doubt stereotypical characters, and every member represents countless real-life examples. Loner Allison (Ally Sheedy) has few if any friends, wears all black, and has similar problems at home. Prom queen Claire(Molly Ringwald) has pressure to conform from her friends, as well as issues with her parental unit. Delinquent John Bender (Judd Nelson), while tough on the exterior, masks a difficult home life. Neither he nor his family can accept an F. Nerd Brian Johnson (Anthony Michael Hall) excels academically, but is failing shop class. Clark believes will add to his (dad's) lost youth. Jock Andrew Clark (Emilio Estevez) is under pressure from his father to perform up to high standards, which Mr. What makes the film unique is that each character tells his or her own story with credibility and persistence. As the day progresses, each member tells the story of why they are in detention, and by day's end they realize they have more in common than they ever imagined. Detention is supervised by the gruff and demeaning principal Richard Vernon, believably portrayed by Paul Gleason. Hence the familiar plot: Five high school students from different crowds in school (a nerd, a jock, a prom queen, a delinquent, and a loner) are thrown together for a Saturday detention in their school library for various reasons. However, it stands out as doing the best job of the above films at portraying 80s teen life (and perhaps even teen life today) as it really was (is). By the same token, "The Breakfast Club" is no exception. John Hughes is in my opinions the "king of teens." Each of his teen films is great, from "Sixteen Candles", "Pretty in Pink" (which he co-wrote and produced), and "Ferris Bueller's Day Off." They all have funny and serious moments and are classics. But based on their adventures during that nine hours, they may come to a different opinion of themselves and the other four. At the beginning of those nine hours, each, if they were indeed planning on writing that essay, would probably write something close to what the world sees of them, and what they have been brainwashed into believing of themselves. Each is required to write a minimum one thousand word essay during that time about who they think they are. Vernon, supervising from his office across the hall. But one other thing they do have in common is a nine hour detention in the school library together on Saturday, March 24, 1984, under the direction of Mr. In the simplest and in their own terms, Claire is a princess, Andrew an athlete, John a criminal, Brian a brain, and Allison a basket case. Beyond being in the same class at Shermer High School in Shermer, Illinois, Claire Standish, Andrew Clark, John Bender, Brian Johnson and Allison Reynolds have little in common, and with the exception of Claire and Andrew, do not associate with each other in school.