This past weekend saw the student population descend on dorms, dining halls, and Allston. The yearly migration of students into the Boston city limits both raises the ire of residents and the appearance of the redundant coupon books littered about the edges of Comm. Ave.
Well, not all of Boston is so displeased to see the return of students. Museums around the area offer free college nights, and don’t forget to check out the aquarium! But as for late night entertainment, these specials are a little harder to come by. Hats off to the Coolidge Corner Theatre for extending their student price of $6.75 during the weekday for the month of September. The savings continue in October when students can pull a couple coins together for a two for one membership deal.
Not only that, the Theatre is dedicating their midnight series this month to the forever young-at-heart director, John Hughes. Shermer, Illinois and an entire generation were forever changed in the mid-eighties when a young writer took the director’s chair for Sixteen Candles. Known predominately for movies focusing on young adulthood, Hughes explored the intricacies of growing up and maturity with a comic twist: we’re mortified when his protagonists are humiliated, but since we’re on the outside, we can often see the silliness of petty high school drama. The world within a world, if you will.
Establishing the highpoint of teen comedy and a clique of actors christened the “Brat Pack” were not his only contributions. Always the writer, he continued to develop popular scripts until he mysteriously decided to quit the movie business altogether, leaving behind legions of fans to re-watch his films over and over again. Watching his films has become a sort of rite of passage for high schoolers, and most people have come across most of the films in one way or another. But what’s incredibly remarkable is that unlike the clothes and the music of the time, the movies have become immortal.
Generations today continue to connect with the struggles of identity and sense of self. Suicide, parental abuse, and depression are not usually the subjects of a comedy, but John Hughes spun a tale of triumph for the high school kids who survived through so much and became better because of it. Call it maturity or growing up, if you prefer. Much like in the series’ kick off Weird Science, in which two nerds create a woman who turns out to be more than they can handle, there were always lessons to learn from his movies.
Be sure to visit the Coolidge when Uncle Buck comes to town, or maybe take the day off with Ferris Bueller. Be a proud member of The Breakfast Club and “Don’t You Forget About Me” when the time comes.
To check out the John Hughes tribute and other things that go bump at midnight in Brookline, check out a full listing of Coolidge Corner’s programming.
Watch the first Academy Awards tribute that had me bawling like Molly Ringwald in The Breakfast Club. John Hughes\Tribute at the Oscars.
