STACK June 2017 Issue 152

30 / 93

COMEDY
WAS KING
The ‘80s were a golden age
for comedy blockbusters.
Saturday Night Live alumni
Chevy Chase, Bill Murray
and Dan Aykroyd graduated
to the big screen and
became marquee names,
and spoof movies were actually funny. The great Mel Brooks took the
mickey out of Star Wars in the beloved Spaceballs (1987), and rewrote
the past in History of theWorld: Part I (1981 – note: there’s no Part 2).
The dancing gopher and floating chocolate bar in Caddyshack (1980)
left an indelible impression on amused Gen X-ers, as did the original
Ghostbusters (1984), which pretty much set the template for the
modern blockbuster comedy with its snappy logo, catchy theme song,
and all-star ensemble.
KIDS ON
BIKES
Adventurous youngsters
investigating strange
things – usually while
on their bikes – became
a staple of ‘80s flicks,
thanks largely to the
success of Steven
Spielberg’s E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982). Rob Reiner’s Stand by Me
(1986), a poignant adaptation of a Stephen King novella, further raised the
bar when it came to exploring the bonds of friendship and things best
left undiscovered. And let’s not forget The Goonies (1985) – how could
we? It didn’t feature a lot of bikes but it did have pirate treasure, Corey
Feldman and Cyndi Lauper, and that’s “good enough”.
TEENAGE
RAMPAGE
The father of the modern
teen film, the late John
Hughes ruled the roost in
the ‘80s with a succession
of hits – Sixteen Candles
(1984), The Breakfast
Club (1985), Pretty in
Pink (1986) and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986). Hughes launched
the careers of stars like Molly Ringwald, Andrew McCarthy, Matthew
Broderick and Emilio Estevez – some made it out of the ‘80s and on to
superstardom, while others got stuck there. Synonymous with bringing
high school hijinks and adolescent angst to the masses, one of Hughes’s
best films is also one of his most overlooked when discussing his body
of work. It doesn't have Molly Ringwald, but Weird Science (1985) is a
cleverly scripted teen nerd take on The Bride of Frankenstein, in which
the ultimate woman turns out to be perm queen Kelly LeBrock!
Words Scott Hocking
The eighties gave us leg warmers, big hair,
Live Aid, New Romantic tunes, the return of
Halley’s Comet, and the introduction of the
PG rating. It was also the decade of the teen
film and the blockbuster comedy, and saw
fledgling stars embarking on their journey
towards the Hollywood A-list.This month
at JB Hi-Fi you’ll find a specially curated
selection of films on DVD and Blu-ray that
collectively defined the era – some of which
we’ve assembled here according to theme, for
your shopping convenience…
30 JUNE 2017
visit DVD&BD FEATURE
THE RISE OF
THE CRUISER
Tom Cruise that is, not the
Alcopop variety (although
Coolers were a thing
back then.) The guy who
would become one of the
biggest movie stars on
the planet was introduced
lip-synching to Bob Seger’s ‘Old Time Rock n Roll’
in his white undies in Risky Business (1983). But the real runway to
superstardom came when he felt the need for speed as pilot Maverick
in Top Gun (1986), while taking Kelly McGillis’s breath away. Whether
confidently perched atop his motorcycle at sunset, playing beach
volleyball shirtless, or engaging enemy fighters at high altitude, Cruise
personified the romantic hero on the edge.
DANCE AND
ROMANCE
Let’s hear it for the boy!
Before there was six
degrees of Kevin Bacon,
the rising star was cutting
loose to the tunes of Kenny
Loggins and Bonnie Tyler in
Footloose (1984), as a city
slicker who flaunts a small town dance ban. Elsewhere, action man
Patrick Swayze discovered his tender side – and had the time of his life
– with Jennifer Grey in Dirty Dancing (1987). A box office smash that
also broke videotape sales records and spawned a stage production,
Dirty Dancing is one ‘80s classic that will never be put in a corner!
• Check out the other awesome titles in the
'80s range at
THE
ESSENTIAL
‘80s