MovieChat Forums > John Hughes Discussion > Insanely overrated

Insanely overrated

posted 5 years ago by BurningSun (717)
15 replies | jump to latest

This guy is supposed to be a huge landmark of 80’s cinema but most of his films just aren’t funny. They’re too cartoony and over the top to be taken seriously, especially as “relatable” portrayals of teenage life. People wonder why Hughes’s 90’s movies all sucked but literally everything bad about 90’s Hughes can be found in 80’s Hughes.

His only movies that really work for me are Weird Science (because the bizzare universe it’s set in allows his wacky style to be fitting), Home Alone (because it’s a bit more grounded that usual) and Christmas Vacation (still a bit overrated).

[–] [deleted] 3 years ago

He's pretty hit and miss but when he hit it was amazing.

His hits being Christmas Vacation, Home Alone, Planes Trains and Automobiles, Uncle Buck, Ferris Bullers Day Off and for the kids genre, Beethoven.

[–] chilidoggg (14264) 3 years ago

Also the first "Vacation." "Only The Lonely" is also underrated IMO.

[–] [deleted] 3 years ago

Oh I loved Only The Lonely as a child, I'd quote it a lot. Wasn't it based on a play?

[–] DarkHorse (297) 3 years ago

A lot of 80's films were vacuous even when dealing with heavier topics. He represented his era well but many of his films just don't stand up.

[–] Kowalski (75523) 3 years ago

NOPE.

[–] mirelurk (884) 2 years ago

His only good movie was Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. I'm only counting his directing credits

It's bullshit to attribute production credits to him when other artists busted their asses off actually making the movies real

[–] NitroHangover (1142) 2 years ago

I'd call him insanely underrated. The man never really got the recognition he deserved until he was gone.

[–] mirelurk (884) 2 years ago

Not Another Teen Movie was released in 2001. He got plenty of recognition before 2009

He didn't get more recognition after that, what really happened was that 80s nostalgia became heavily commodified and thus so did some of his movies. But references aren't the same thing as real shows of respect

[–] [deleted] 2 years ago

What on earth are you guys babbling about? John Hughes was beloved throughout his entire career. Are you guys from the United States or just young and just guesstimating about his career?

[–] [deleted] 5 months ago

He's 0-3 with me so far.

[–] mergaqui (112) 5 months ago

Just for Planes, Trains, and Automobiles and Ferris Bueller he is one of the great comedic screenwriters of all time.

[–] david80848688 (290) 5 months ago

Meh, I thought Weird Science is funny. Ferris Bueller and Sixteen Candles are fun.