Pop Culture Happy Hour: We Rewatch The Movies We Loved As Teens

Release Date: July 10, 2025
Host: NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour with Linda Holmes, Glen Weldon, Stephen Thompson, and Aisha Harris

Introduction: Celebrating 15 Years of Pop Culture Happy Hour

As Pop Culture Happy Hour celebrates its 15th anniversary, the hosts reflect on the movies that held a special place in their hearts during their teenage years. This episode delves into nostalgic favorites, exploring how these films resonated with them at age 15 and how their perceptions have evolved over time.

Linda Holmes on The Breakfast Club

Timestamp: [02:58] – [07:46]

Linda Holmes opens the discussion with the quintessential 1985 film, The Breakfast Club. She emphasizes selecting movies that were beloved specifically because of her age at the time, rather than merely personal favorites.

• Plot Overview: Five high school students from different cliques are forced to spend a Saturday in detention, where they confront their stereotypes and personal struggles.

• Critical Analysis: Linda points out the problematic gender politics of the film, particularly the romantic pairings that feel inappropriate in hindsight. She reflects on the actors' ages during filming, highlighting how Judd Nelson's portrayal of Bender becomes unsettling when considering his actual age relative to his character’s.

  Linda Holmes [03:42]: "The gender politics of this movie are legitimately appalling."

• Enduring Themes: Despite its flaws, Linda appreciates the film's core message that everyone harbors their own unhappiness, a revelation that resonates beyond high school years.

  Linda Holmes [07:13]: "The underlying thesis is that everyone is miserable. You think in high school that everyone is happy except you."

• Personal Impact: She admits that she hasn't rewatched The Breakfast Club since her teenage years but acknowledges its lasting influence on her understanding of adolescent struggles.

Aisha Harris on Chicago

Timestamp: [08:01] – [13:58]

Aisha Harris shares her passion for the musical Chicago, tracing her obsession back to her teenage years and her involvement in theater.

• Personal Connection: Aisha discusses how watching the 2002 film adaptation ignited her love for musicals, particularly the works of Bob Fosse. She recounts her experiences relearning choreography at a summer dance camp, highlighting the joy it brought her.

  Aisha Harris [08:39]: "I was obsessed with Fosse. When it was announced that they were making Chicago into a movie musical, I was very, very excited."

• Film Analysis: She praises the film's ensemble cast, including Renee Zellweger and Catherine Zeta-Jones, and its integration of classic songs like "Cell Block Tango."

  Aisha Harris [10:54]: "These characters are loosely inspired by real-life women who were accused of murder."

• Critique: Aisha notes the heavy editing of choreographed sequences, a common critique of director Rob Marshall’s approach, which she feels detracts from the dance performances she treasures.

  Aisha Harris [12:39]: "The numbers are what you come here for."

• Linda’s Perspective: Linda admits she hasn’t seen the film, explaining her indifference toward Fosse’s style, which doesn’t resonate with her personal taste in musicals.

  Linda Holmes [12:55]: "Fosse and Fosse adjacent stuff... has never been what lights me up particularly."

Stephen Thompson on Back to the Future

Timestamp: [14:29] – [18:26]

Stephen Thompson reminisces about Back to the Future, a film that epitomized 1980s nostalgia and time-travel adventures.

• Personal Nostalgia: Stephen reflects on the film's multi-layered nostalgia, appreciating how it captures both the 1980s and the 1950s through its storytelling.

  Stephen Thompson [14:30]: "It's very hard to untangle the nesting doll of nostalgia that is this movie."

• Character Appreciations: He praises Michael J. Fox’s portrayal of Marty McFly and Crispin Glover’s eccentric George McFly, noting their iconic performances.

  Stephen Thompson [16:33]: "Michael J. Fox on that skateboard as the epitome of cool circa 1985."

• Cinematic Elements: The memorable music, including Huey Lewis’s cameo and the "Johnny B. Goode" performance, are highlighted as standout moments that have kept the film entertaining over decades.

  Stephen Thompson [16:31]: "The music is so good. Like Kander and Ebb."

• Legacy and Sequels: Despite the success of Back to the Future, Stephen admits he never pursued the sequels, content with the original film’s closure.

  Stephen Thompson [15:43]: "This film was just perfect as it was."

• Cultural Impact: Aisha mentions the film’s longevity on television and its influence on pop culture, though she humorously confesses not remembering the sequels clearly.

Glen Weldon on The Hunger

Timestamp: [18:53] – [24:23]

Glen Weldon diverges from the other hosts by choosing The Hunger, a 1983 film directed by Tony Scott, as his teenage favorite.

• Film Overview: Glen describes The Hunger as a stylish vampire film featuring Catherine Deneuve and David Bowie, focusing on themes of love and immortality.

  Glen Weldon [19:00]: "Catherine Deneuve plays a sexy vampire. Very heavily mouced 1940s hair and big 1980s shoulder pads."

• Personal Reflection: He candidly shares his teenage motives for watching the film—to appear sophisticated and mature among his peers, despite not genuinely enjoying it at the time.

  Glen Weldon [20:59]: "I so desperately wanted to seem sophisticated, adult worldly."

• Critique and Reassessment: Upon rewatching decades later, Glen criticizes the film’s overemphasis on style over substance, noting the pervasive use of smoke and clichéd Gothic aesthetics that detract from its appeal.

  Glen Weldon [22:23]: "The sex scenes between Sarandon and Deneuve are just pure male gaze."

• Cultural Commentary: He discusses the film’s lack of genuine queer sensibility despite featuring lesbian vampires, attributing it to the execution rather than the premise.

  Glen Weldon [22:25]: "There's nothing going on, Stephen. You'll get me here."

• Final Thoughts: Glen concludes that The Hunger represents a misguided attempt at sophistication, ultimately finding it more tedious than captivating.

Conclusion: Reflecting on Teenage Favorites

The episode wraps up with the hosts acknowledging the diverse tastes and experiences that shaped their teenage movie choices. They celebrate the enduring impact of these films and how revisiting them offers fresh perspectives on personal growth and cultural shifts.

Linda Holmes [24:52]: "Happy 15."

Production Credits:
Produced by Liz Metzger and Hafsa Fathoma, edited by Jessica Reedy and Mike Katzeff.

Note: This summary focuses solely on the content discussions, omitting advertisements, introductions, and outros as per the request.