Ahoy, squirts! Quint here with some really uncool news. John Hughes brought a lot of joy into my life and I'm a little in shock that he's gone. He died of a heart attack this morning while taking a walk in New York.
Let's look at his legacy. The man either wrote or directed (or did both) some of my all time favorite films, including FERRIS BUELLER'S DAY OFF, THE BREAKFAST CLUB, SIXTEEN CANDLES, WEIRD SCIENCE, PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES, UNCLE BUCK, PRETTY IN PINK, NATIONAL LAMPOON'S VACATION, THE GREAT OUTDOORS, DUTCH and HOME ALONE.
The man was a voice for a generation and one of the funniest writers of the '80s. I mean, pop in SIXTEEN CANDLES and re-experience the absurd, but somehow heartfelt and grounded reality he constructs there.
I've read some snarky comments about his output post-early '90s, but honestly I think that misses the point. John Hughes gave us more great films than most writer/directors in recent memory and when he was on fire the dude was unstoppable. Name me another comedy filmmaker who is chased as much as Hughes is. Every teen comedy these days tries to capture the same magic he delivered time after time and none have come close.
It's appropriate in a weird way that I got word of his death as I drive cross-country with friends. I'm on my way to LA to catch Joe Dante's Movie Orgy at the New Beverly and typing this up on my computer, connected to the internet on a cellular modem.
I can guarantee my friends and I will be quoting VACATION, DUTCH and PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES for the entirety of the 20+ hour trip. That speaks to Hughes' legacy better than anything I could type here.
My thoughts will be with Mr. Hughes' friends, family and fans. He will be missed.
Click here to check out a foreword written by Hughes detailing his family trip that inspired Vacation
-Quint
quint@aintitcool.com
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