What Are Teen Movies and What Do They Say About Teenagers?

Recent teen movies have lost the professionalism and intellectual aspect that was once present in the film industry. How can two movies with the same foundation become completely obscure? Teen movies are meant to capture the ideals and aspirations of the teenage generation. Two extraordinary examples of teen movies are The Breakfast Club and American Pie. The Breakfast Club was produced in 1956, as soon as it hit the box office it became a revolutionary film of its time. It would forever be known for it's timeless use of high school cliques overcoming their difference. American Pie was created much later in 1999, capturing the lives of four high school friends on their quest to loss their virginity. Despite the commonalities present in these two films, American Pie lacks the educational value and life lessons that are present in The Breakfast Club.

The Breakfast Club's the story of five high school students from different cliques attending Saturday detention. The characters play the role of classic high school stereotypes; the princess, the jock, the brain, the criminal, and the basket case. They start the day off with nothing in common and no ambition to overcome their differences. The principle restricts their privileges while leaving with an assignment; to write how they perceive themselves. As the day proceeds friendships are formed, relationships blossom, and various ways are found to pass the time. At the end of the movie, they have created a bond that will last forever and friendships they will never forget. The movie ends with the classic essay written by Brian (the brain) stating exactly how everyone else perceived them as a brain, a basket case, a criminal, a jock and a princess.
American Pie's plot revolves around four high school senior boys that make a pact to loss their virginities before college. In the beginning of the movie they will attempt to rekindle old flames, coercing new partners, and relationships at band camp. As they realize there nothing but comical mistakes on their journey, they also grow from them. By prom night they are determined to fulfill their goal and by the end it seems they have all accomplished what they set out to do. In the end, they all have their own humorous scenarios of their first time.

The Breakfast Club and American Pie have the same basic building blocks; teen interests. They both encompass teen issues such as a high school setting, losing virginity, cliques, and drug and alcohol use. While these are the building blocks, this should not be the main focus of the movies. The Breakfast Club focuses on five high school students all from different cliques. When the whole hour and thirty-seven minutes are up, the viewer walks away with a rude awakening. As the movie began with five complete strangers and it ends with new friendships growing. There are several messages hidden inside this infamous film. For example that everyone deserves fair treatment and respect. Or simply not to judge a book by it's cover. Compared to The Breakfast Club, American Pie is nothing more than a hollow shell of a film. American Pie is solely based upon these teen interests. It offers nothing more than the simple idea of how to loss your virginity, or simply what not to do. There is absolutely no educational value to this movie but a good laugh for an hour and thirty-five minutes.

In both movies the characters are based on different high school cliques. The Breakfast Club takes the stereotypes a step further. Stereotypes are the foundation for the characters and how they perceive each other. As they spend more time together they realize they all have the same problems helping them broaden their comfort zone. They take the time to get to know each other through friendships and relationships. They cross the line that society has confided them to for so long. Whereas in American Pie, one person finds love outside of his comfort zone by exploring the other cliques. The only other way the other characters choose to broaden their horizon would be when they possess jealousy of the "nerd" who lost his virginity before these boys. These characters are driven by sex, and there is nothing more to them.

The Breakfast Club and American Pie represent two distinct eras of teen movies. As time passes, the perception's of the teenage generation changes rapidly and these movies reflect the changes. The Breakfast Club represented a growing youth facing the obstacles of the journey to adulthood. This movie represented teens learning the difference between right and wrong with the aspiration to obtain knowledge. It portrayed a generation with growing desires, wishful thinking, and the ambition to broaden their minds. This was a generation looked to hold the key to success in the palm of their hands. Although in just forty years, the view of this teenage generation has become quite pessimistic and simple. American Pie portrays a generation that is self-absorbed, sex-crazed, drug-addicted waste of life. These teen movies have a tendency to over-simplify the role and the problems presented to the characters. The teenage generation is represented as a shallow hollow-shell of a human being lacking all intellect. In fact, this should be an insult to the teenage generation not a form of entertainment. The teenager in the world as we know it, is an individual with goals, dreams and desires, possessing the ability to make a difference in the world. Teen movies have helped to devise the negative image that's associated with the teenage generation as a whole.