Let me set the scene; it was Sunday afternoon and the rain bounced off my cottage windows like a frog tap dancing when channel 5 declared an 80'S MOVIE MARATHON. I cast aside The Sunday Times, boiled the kettle, fetched the earlier purchased jam doughnuts and huddled down until the sun set.
"They don't make em' like they used to" praised my partner and I repeatedly from Innerspace, Stand by Me to Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. Born in the 80's I missed the first round of all the greatest films belonging to that decade. Only now am I revelling in the line-up that I'm rapidly ticking off. 80's films unlike present day counterparts stand the test of time. I defy my Grandmother or my future children not to love Ghostbusters with the same fervour I do. Modern movies are money orientated and by the time next year rolls around, they will have dissolved from our memory like a novelty yo-yo you win in a Christmas cracker. With that said: I'm a film geek, film enthusiast, film promoter who finds commendable work in almost every movie, but while watching my latest list of 80's greats it's unavoidable to detect humour and style that I no longer see. Effortless story telling that hits the spot. Maybe the folks that viewed movies in the 80's were nonchalant regarding their expectations compared to our present over critical film goers. Either way and in no particular order, here is my take on a few treasured 80's films for all occasions; dismal Sunday afternoons or your average Tuesday night. They are guaranteed to set your watch back to a time when Nike Air tops were fresh on the scene, boom boxes supplied the music (Apple iPods were but a future marvel) and Tom Cruise was a tender 23 year old.
1. Top Gun (1986)
Tom Cruise in his heyday wears style well while plugging to become the crème de la crème of prestigious Navy fighter pilots. Dramatic action, love and an iconic soundtrack will wash away any blues, and make you want to relive 80's fashion. Yes please to aviator sunglasses and pilot jackets.
2. Trading Places (1983)
Trading Places sees a wall street businessmen and street con artist flip lives after a bet taken by two heartless millionaires. Watch the descent of one and the resurrection of the other. Murphy and Aykroyd; two Saturday Night Live pros fill the film with hilarious and down right slapstick moments. No Adam Sandler comedy could match this 80's rival.
3. Ghostbusters (1984)
Bill Murray in anything and everything. Three professors remove ghosts from New York homes and buildings while setting up shop in a historic fire station down town. If that's not enough adventure for one movie alone, the boiling relationship between Murray and Sigourney Weaver can be added for thrills. Aykroyd's writing holds genius qualities that welcomes a very plausible Ghostbusters 2.
4. Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)
The other half of Sarah Jessica Parker was quite the flame in the 80's; Matthew Broderick is a high school know it all who bunks off school for the day to frolic around with his girlfriend in Chicago. Ferris Bueller's Day Off is Hughes' love letter to Chicago, featuring many of the city's top attractions. Broderick talks directly to the camera throughout the film, explaining his confident thoughts. From the get go, you back Ferris' actions because they are done in such a disapproving and brash manner.
5. Uncle Buck (1989)
John Candy and Macaulay Culkin in all their glory. A bachelor who eventually wins the affection of his teenage niece and her adorable younger siblings after a string of comedic mishaps. A get your-own-back movie with a mellow family message. You can't help but root for John Candy's accident prone persona to triumph against all odds. John Hughes' ability to bring tears through laughter is part of Uncle Bucks allure.
If you are not quite sold on viewing these irreplaceable 80's films yet then let me put one last equation to you. All five movies can be found at high street entertainment stores for £3 to £5 while the cost of a current cinema ticket escalates from £8 to £14 (in central London.) By now...I hope you're winging your way to the nearest bakery for those accompanying jam doughnuts?