The Class

So a bunch of 20-somethings once again play teenagers and they decide to rip off the Breakfast Club. Sure what could go wrong with such an inspired genesis.

This thing is execrable.

Cringeworthy acting - paper thin characters - two adult leads phoning it in. Oh wait a minute they are actually all adults just about three-quarters of them are playing kids.

And the sad part is - someone with a modest amount of sensitivity and talent could probably update the Breakfast Club - just not this ensemble

I have no idea who wrote it - green lit then decided to actually make it - but let me save you a wasted couple of hours - SKIP IT.

IN A NUTSHELL: This coming-of-age film is about a group of high school seniors forced to spend a Saturday at school, completing an exam they missed taking or previously failed. By the end of the day, they find their own values, betrayals, and love within themselves and their classmates.

The movie was written and directed by Nicholas Celozzi. Based on their last names, it appears that the director's daughter is one of the cast members.

The famous teen movie The Breakfast Club in 1985 was clearly the inspiration for this film. Sadly, it doesn't have the magic or charm of John Hughes movies.

THINGS I LIKED: Debbie Gibson plays an incredibly patient, compassionate high school teacher. Young moviegoers probably won't know that, in real life, she was a hugely popular singer in the 1980s. She's 52 years old and looks fantastic.

Anthony Michael Hall is a fun addition to this teen-angst movie because he was a common face in a bunch of the successful John Hughes movies of the 1980s.

Hannah Kepple is beautiful and has a beautiful singing voice. What a pleasant surprise!

Teenagers nowadays face increasingly difficult issues in a very complicated world. The film addresses today's issues for teens like coming out, abortion, family drama, friendship, preparing for college, popularity, health, drugs, and more. Most teens just want to be seen and understood while they're trying to figure out who they are.

THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE: Such annoying teenagers.

So much hair tossing.

I thought it was hilarious when one of the characters pulled a gigantic pill bottle out of her jacket, as if anyone would want to carry that around. Surely, she could have slipped a few in a baggie.

There's a lot more drama than comedy. Not all of the comedy lands.

All of the characters cry and spill their beans quite easily. Teen drama.

Some bad editing.

It's weird how the teacher kept leaving her class, abandoning her students. Maybe she wanted to give them privacy to work on their assignments; however, it was established in the beginning of the movie that these were flunking students who needed extra guidance and support.

TIPS FOR PARENTS: Profanity, including F-bombs A guy brings a bong to class A guy drinks alcohol at school Teens flip the bird Violence Talk of death and suicide A teenage girl wears a bustier and super short-shorts to school

THEMES: High school Lack of motivation Drama class Abortion Alcoholism Rejection Abandonment Judging others Racism Creating safe spaces How we affect each other Be yourself Supporting one another.

If you love Breakfast Club, and think that this might be a fun little re-telling.... Forget it. This thing is terrible. There are no redeeming qualities.

MAH - "phones it in." DG - hmmmm not so much Rest of the Class - bad high school drama club acting.

Save your money. This movie will not become a cult classic. Even as a bad movie cult classic like Plan 9...

If I was to quantify this movie, it is an attempt to steal money from fans of the Breakfast Club. So, with that said, I did see that The Breakfast Club is available to rent/purchase... absolutely do that instead. You can will thank yourself later.

I read the reviews on line and decided to manage my expectations. I was pleasantly surprise as I watched the story unfold. I definitely got the sense of the 80s Breakfast Club. The filmmakers touched based on many different relevant topics. I alway love watching Anthony Michael Hall. By the time it was over I wanted to see some more. I would give it an 8 out of 10.

It is not often that you get something that give you thought provoking dialogue. The actors were great and would love to see more of them. Possibly a sequel could be in the works. Anyways if you have time it is worth it. I may go back and watch for a second time.

... which is the test first suggested by Roger Ebert: if in the first 20 mins of a feature film, you cannot come up with even one reason to continue to watch, it is a fail. The producers behind this debacle are not the first to attempt to improve on something that was already perfection (THE BREAKFAST CLUB 1985), nor will they be the last. In a script clearly meant to make the audience focus on the kids, the only cast member here who constantly catches the camera's eye is Debbie Gibson -- she fairly bounces from scene to scene. Casting one of the original members of TBC was a smart touch, but Anthony Michael Hall, now in his 50s, looks older than he is, and seems to be on set just for the payday. A swing and a miss. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))