MovieChat Forums > The Breakfast Club (1985) Discussion > This movie's ending pisses me off

This movie's ending pisses me off

posted 9 years ago by captainbacon
23 replies | jump to latest

Now, allow me to get something straight. I really like this movie. I think that the characters are great, the progression of the story is interesting, and that it paints a colorful portrait of high school. The scene where they sit in a circle on the floor is quite possibly my favorite movie scene ever. The reason this film makes me irate is because of the ending. I hate the ending because it betrays all of the amazing scenes that went into the film, and it even throws away the moral of the story.

That moral is this: No matter who you are, you can connect to anyone, even if they're completely different from you. I like that message, but the conclusion of the movie basically forgets that there even is a message, and instead indulges in the manipulative cliches that every other teen movie also indulged in. Why did Allison get a makeover at the end? WHY? It is by far the worst decision John Hughes made while creating this film! What it tells me, is that you have to be pretty to be accepted. If Andrew and Allison got together WITHOUT the makeover taking place, it would have been just fine. It would've actually helped the movie as a whole! But oh well, I guess pandering to studios is more important than pandering to teens, also known as DELIVERING TO THE TARGET AUDIENCE.

Also, let's not forget how Bender and Claire get together at the last minute just like Allison and Andrew. Hey look! Another great lesson for all the gullible teenagers! "Girls reeeeaaaally like *beep* Bender spends the entire movie ridiculing Claire, and just generally acting like a creep around her. If they had ended up being friends at the end, it would have actually made sense.

tl;dr The ending of The Breakfast Club betrays a fresh and original film by injecting it with lame and moronic cliches that would have been easy to avoid.

What do you guys think?

[–] adresher-1 9 years ago

Hmmmmmm, interesting points. I am indifferent on the ending, I thought it was fine however see how it could have been better. But not sure how I would have changed it.

However, to your point that "no matter who you are, you can connect to anyone, even if they are completely different from you," doesn't Allison and Andrew and Claire and Bender getting together give that moral an exclamation point?

One of the big mysteries is what happens on Monday. Are they still friends, or as Claire say do they say hi and then when they walk away make fun of them to their friends.

I think the fact that Allison and Andrew and Claire and Bender get together hints that they all stay friends.

I hear ya on Allison, however lets get real. A popular high school jock, especially in the 80s, is not going to go out with a girl unless he thinks she is attractive.

[–] captainbacon 9 years ago

Yeah, I agree with you on pretty much all of this. I think that Claire and Bender getting together was kind of adding to the message of the film, but what I was saying is that if Allison hadn't gotten the makeover, her and Andrew getting together would have really added to the movie in a good way

[–] adresher-1 9 years ago

Absolutely! That would have been cool if they got together without the makeover. However, that would have been a tough sell in the 80s.

[–] joshf1 9 years ago

I think there are two ways to interpret what happens after the movie (Monday)

1. They go back to the way they were and pretend like most/all of Saturday didn't happen. This is specifically brought up during the circle scene when Brian (I believe) asks what's going to happen on Monday.

2. They fully realize that they're not so much different from each other and end up as friends (or more). This is how the movie seemingly ends.

It's not so hard to imagine a goodie goodie like Claire rebelling and dating the thug, Bender.

It's not hard to imagine Andrew being cordial with Brian and Ally Sheedy (forgot the name).

Whether all of that happened in the world of this film is totally debatable.

[–] audierules 9 years ago

When I saw this flick during the 80's I always felt there was something not right about Alison's makeover and the older I got the more I absolutely hate the Alison makeover scene. Its so freaking not needed at all. Whenever I see the movie now I actually stop watching the movie the second Claire nudges Alison.

[–] heatherfred15-200-189980 9 years ago

Thank you! I thought I was the only one who was annoyed with the ending of the movie.
I think the part that gets me the most is Claires attitude towards Brian. She makes an effort with Allison, which then turns the head of Andrew (cheesy but, whatever.) and she makes-out with Bender. Both actions leave the door open to possible relationships the following Monday.
However, when it comes to Brian, she basically tells him that there's no way she'd even deign to bother with him the following week. Also taking the time to add that Andrew would be the same way. Then, the only positive action she has towards him is when she butters him up to get him to write the paper?
The Princess and the Criminal can end up together, the Athlete and the Basket Case can end up together, but saying hi to a Brain in the hall is completely off limits? That makes no sense to me.

If you were happy every day of your life you wouldn't be a human being. You'd be a game-show host.

[–] audierules 9 years ago

I think Hughes was pressured into putting that Alison ending just like how he changed the pretty in pink ending.

[–] Felixthecat34213 9 years ago

That moral is this: No matter who you are, you can connect to anyone, even if they're completely different from you. I like that message, but the conclusion of the movie basically forgets that there even is a message, and instead indulges in the manipulative cliches that every other teen movie also indulged in. Why did Allison get a makeover at the end? WHY? It is by far the worst decision John Hughes made while creating this film! What it tells me, is that you have to be pretty to be accepted. If Andrew and Allison got together WITHOUT the makeover taking place, it would have been just fine. It would've actually helped the movie as a whole! But oh well, I guess pandering to studios is more important than pandering to teens, also known as DELIVERING TO THE TARGET AUDIENCE.

I do agree that these are cliches, but I think Andy clearly had interest in her before she had the makeover.

The makeover was really supposed to be about female bonding. Claire and Allison had so few scenes together as it was.

It's kind of like Allison is blowing the cobwebs away and opening herself up to people. She's actually wearing less makeup than she was at the start.

That being said, Allison pre makeover was definitely cuter.

Also, let's not forget how Bender and Claire get together at the last minute just like Allison and Andrew. Hey look! Another great lesson for all the gullible teenagers! "Girls reeeeaaaally like *beep* Bender spends the entire movie ridiculing Claire, and just generally acting like a creep around her. If they had ended up being friends at the end, it would have actually made sense.

Phhht, last minute?? If you really think the Claire/Bender pairing was a last minute thing I have to scratch my head. I think the first line Bender says to Claire in the film is him trying to tease her. It was pretty obvious throughout the entire film that it was heading in that direction.

[–] missLazuly 9 years ago

I'm writhing this post to answer captainbacon, without reading the rest of the posts. I might say things that people already said.

First of all, I loved that movie. It's one of my favorite movie ever. Also, I can see why the ending is lacking in your eyes. But, it is still believable and not much of a regular teen movie ending.

First, I think all the sharing moments in the movies are impossible to begin with. It's really hard to have a teenager who is self aware enough to understand the deep meaning behind their action (in their chaos of discovering themselves and hormones) it is even less likely to find a room full of them. Don't forget, a room full of them AND ok to speake about it with other teenager that they don't really respect (because they are different),

Bender was a very important character because he was there to help the ''sharing of information'' between them. He did that by provocation and humiliating the others. Forcing them to defend themselves and share.

What I want to say it's that they never really acted like teenager to begin with. The ending was a moment were they was more of teenager.

Claire like playing with her make up and it's a big part a girl in their teenage years to discover their womanhood. I think she wanted to explore that and transfer that to Allison who is a recluse. It's was her way of helping her. As she said she did it because Allison was letting her do it. It wasn't unwelcome. Allison was ignored by her family so much that she went to detention without having too. It's a nice bonding moment.

Also about Claire getting a crush on Bender at the end. It's also a teenage thing to do, to crush on the bad boy with a heart of gold (remember how he sacrifice himself to save them all to be discovered by the principal. even if it was Adrews fault they took that way). He was showing interest in her from the start it probably helped to the situation. At her age it's very hard to see the difference between attraction and real feeling. It was totally normal for a girl of her age to react like that. At the same time I think it did good for both of them (for they grow).

Allison and Andrews now. It's true that it's hard to believe that they had anyting in commun that would lead to that ending. But, the things that I find that would give some sens about it is that Andrews is a protector. He was ready to listen to her troubles even if they sounded unimportant to him. He wanted to help by listening to her and give her support. He didn't see her as unimportant or as a loser. He is also a teenage boy who saw a pretty girl that he learned to respect trough the day.

It's for Allison that it's harder to believe. I think she was just happy to be seen for once and it overwhelmed her. She didn't show any romantic interest toward anyone. I think she just wanted to stay in the light for once and be appreciated. And most of all seen. She probably know that monday, she won't be able to archived that apparence by herself. Since Claire did it for her.

So, I think it's at the end that they show us that they are still teenager inside and give us a glimpse of what it could be like in high school if we were accepting each other instead of having group and prejudice. The princess could be with the rebel, the jock could be with a recluse, the big head could help them with harder assigment. It's a big ''helping each other'' circle. They could all interact with each other normaly and even help each other with the thing they are not good with.

Like how Claire, the rich girl, helps Bender by giving him one of her diamond earring. How Andrews helps Allison feel important. And Brian help them all out by sharing his academic knowledge. And they all told Brian how being imperfect was ok.

Morals: learn to understand and respect differences. We are all the same, we just have different troubles (that still make us the same). Also teenager will be teenager.

[–] captainbacon 9 years ago

I can see all that. I think maybe we're just seeing the same things in different ways, which is A-Okay. Glad you can enjoy it more than I can!

[–] missLazuly 9 years ago

lol thanks and you are right. We are seeing things in a different ways, which is good. It help questions the meaning of the action. If you didn't post your comment, I would have never thought about the make over or the other moments.

[–] audierules 9 years ago

alison showed interest in Andrew right away.

[–] fedrulez 9 years ago

Today was the first time I saw the film. Hard to avoid it in pop-culture I even recognised the end scene from Psych!

I really liked the film but agree with all the points on the ending. When the makeup was being applied and statements on beauty came up I started rolling my eyes.

Great film apart from the ending.

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Bauer vs. Bourne, that is the question.

[–] 9 years ago

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[–] TeenGangDeb 8 years ago

I don't think Claire and Bender get together; I think she just gives him the diamond earring as a gesture. They may never speak again.

And the Alison/makeover thing is dumb because even though she looks more "acceptable" she's still the same weirdo who ate a Captain Crunch sandwich. I don't think they "got together" either, since she took his wrestling patch as a memento.

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Love means never having to say you're ugly. - The Abominable Dr. Phibes