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4%% Zero-Context Examples and poorly written examples have been commented out. All of the examples on this page need to fully explain how these tropes apply to these characters.
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8
9Beware of '''spoilers!'''
10----
11[[foldercontrol]]
12
13!!The Breakfast Club
14
15[[folder:General]]
16[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/the_breakfast_club_1.png]]
17[[caption-width-right:350:From left to right: Bender, Andy, Allison, Claire, Brian.]]
18
19A group of five wildly different teens who spend a day in detention together.
20----
21* AbusiveParents: Every one of them has parents who treat them horribly, and [[DysfunctionJunction the ways in which their parents abuse them]] are revealed in a conversation between them towards the end of the film.
22** Bender -- His father is a physically abusive alcoholic who also beats his wife. And from the way Bender talks about his mom, she isn't much better.
23** Claire -- Her parents are psychologically abusive with a side of neglect. Claire comments that her parents use Claire as a weapon to get back at each other, without really caring about Claire herself.
24** Andrew -- His father was once a JerkJock who [[SchoolyardBullyAllGrownUp never grew out of that mindset]], and lives vicariously off of Andy's athletic achievements.
25** Brian -- His parents guilt trip, intimidate, and generally emotionally abuse him to do well in school. Like Andy's dad, it's insinuated that Brian's parents are living through him as well.
26** Allison -- The only thing Allison offers about her parents comes when Andy asks Allison about them, point blank. Allison says a soft but pained "[[ParentalNeglect They ignore me]]" in response.
27* AllStereotypeCast: {{Deconstructed|Trope}}. Each of the students in detention fulfills a high school stereotype of TheEighties: specifically, jocks, brainiacs, princesses, criminals, and basket cases -- and yet is about showing how they're much more than those stereotypes.
28* BrokenBird: All of them are cynical, unhappy with themselves and their lives, and full of angst. And all of them have abusive parents and a horrible home life.
29* CharacterDevelopment: All of them learn to embrace who they really are, as well as accepting other people.
30* ColorCodedCharacters: Each of them wear a different color. Bender is red, Andy is blue, Brian is green, Claire is pink, and Allison is black [[spoiler: and later, white]].
31* DeconstructedCharacterArchetype: This film takes a look at what many of the "stock" characters of teen movies -- the JerkJock, the AlphaBitch, the nerd, the delinquent, and the crazy loner -- would be like if they existed in real life, and what their motivations would be like. Essentially, each one of them has [[AbusiveParents consistent stress and pressure put on them from their parents]], in various ways and degrees. They also, for one reason or another, resent the mold that they've found themselves in, and yearn to break away from it.
32* [[FourTemperamentEnsemble Five-Temperament Ensemble]]:
33** Choleric — Claire
34** Melancholic — Brian
35** Leukine — Allison
36** Sanguine — Bender
37** Phlegmatic — Andy
38* FreudianExcuse: A major theme of the movie is how adults can unintentionally shape their kids, for better or worse. Bender grew up learning how to be tough because his dad beats him, Andy is driven to compete and bullies another kid because his dad is always pushing him and going off on the wild things he did as a teen, Allison acts like she's nuts for attention because her parents ignore her, Brian is a socially-inept nerd because his parents are always forcing him to study, and Claire is a shallow popular girl because she feels empty inside due to her parents using her as a weapon.
39* HiddenDepths: Their outside appearances are totally different from how they feel on the inside.
40* NiceMeanAndInBetween: Out of the boys, we have nerdy harmless Brian (nice), abrasive and spiteful Jerkass Bender (mean), and Andy who is remorseful for his JerkJock actions (in-between).
41* TheThreeFacesOfAdam: Brian is The Hunter (awkward and out of his depth), Andrew is The Lord (a popular, serious-minded athlete) and Bender is The Prophet (a loudmouth who gets everyone to open up).
42* TomboyAndGirlyGirl: Allison, the tomboyish basket case, and Claire, the girly princess.
43* TroubledTeen: The film is about five teens who are various levels and forms of messed-up due to peer pressure and having parents that range from neglectful to physically abusive. The plot is about them bonding over their screwed-up lives while being under detention at school.
44* TwoGirlsToATeam: Allison and Claire are the only girls in the group, and the only ones in the entire film except for a brief cameo from Brian's mom at the beginning of the movie.
45[[/folder]]
46
47[[folder:John Bender]]
48!!John Bender
49[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/john_bender_b.png]]
50!!!'''Played By:''' Creator/JuddNelson
51
52->''"Sweets... you couldn't ignore me if you tried."''
53
54John Bender is the stereotypical reckless out of control "criminal" of the group.
55----
56* EightiesHair: Has shaggy, shoulder-length hair that may have grown out from a mullet.
57* AMFMCharacterization: He's clearly a classic rock fan, as he hums "Sunshine of Your Love" by Music/{{Cream}} and has posters for Music/TheDoors and the Music/{{Scorpions|Band}} in his locker.
58* AntiHero: An UnscrupulousHero at best or a NominalHero at his worst. He is easily the meanest person in detention, though he cools down later in the film.
59* AttentionWhore: He's always insulting somebody (whether it be the principal, the janitor or his peers), and it's obviously for attention. There's also his thorough, speculative impression of Brian's household, and the way he announces it out of nowhere without being asked and just assumes (correctly) they'll all watch.
60* AxCrazy: On display, such as in the "I want to be an Airborne Ranger" scene, and threatening Andy with a knife. Over the course of the film, it becomes clear that [[SubvertedTrope it's only an image he cultivates for himself]].
61* BelligerentSexualTension: With Claire.
62* BoisterousWeakling: Slowly revealed to be this. Bender talks tough but once Andy turns out to be a good deal tougher than him he tries to look tough while backing away from the fight. Later when Vernon challenges him to an outright fist-fight, even offering him a free shot right to the face, Bender is too spooked to do anything.
63* BookDumb: For someone who's made out to have plenty of school trouble, Bender is scarily articulate and intelligent.
64* ByronicHero: Rather street smart instead of book smart, but he's also extremely hostile to everyone.
65* ColorMotif: Red.
66* DeadpanSnarker: Often makes snide remarks towards Vernon and the other kids in detention.
67* EstablishingCharacterMoment: When Bender first enters the library for detention, he walks up to Brian and forces him to move seats, which indicates his bullying behaviour.
68* EveryoneHasStandards:
69** Andy's speech about how he regrets bullying a weaker student and how much he resents his dad for pushing him so hard gets to Bender so much he can't even look anyone in the eye during it.
70** He also draws the line at avoiding his friends just to avoid being laughed at by others. Shown when he flips out at Claire.
71* FourTemperamentEnsemble: Sanguine.
72* FreudianExcuse: His violent behavior [[AbusiveParents comes from his dad]], as deep down, he's unhappy about life in general.
73* TheGadfly: Likes to screw with the others for his own entertainment, but which is actually supposed to be entertaining.
74* HeroicComedicSociopath: Straddles the line between this and a SociopathicHero.
75* HeroicSacrifice: Bender draws the attention of Vernon after the Club runs into a dead-end during their hallway jaunt, allowing the other four to get back to the library undetected.
76* IneffectualLoner: In the beginning, he comes off as an antisocial and loudmouthed {{Jerkass}}, but once you understand his backstory, he becomes more sympathetic.
77* JerkassHasAPoint: An asshole he may be, Bender isn't wrong in some of the deductions he makes about the others (see SmarterThanYouLook).
78* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: He spends much of his time verbally taunting the other kids, acts obnoxiously just to get attention, makes heinous sexual comments about Claire, and doesn't cut Vernon a break. Later on, it's revealed that his sympathetic qualities are buried so deeply under so much antisocial behavior and cynicism that it comes off as a HiddenHeartOfGold at times.
79* KarmaHoudini: He never gets punished for outright harassing and bullying Claire into being his girlfriend.
80* LargeHam: He's pretty bombastic.
81* LastNameBasis: Note how the other kids (save for Claire) refer to him simply as "Bender".
82* LovingBully: Possibly the reason why Claire is the main target of his endless insults (even more than everyone else), since he actually has a crush on her.
83* MeaningfulName: His last name is Bender and he bends/breaks rules.
84* MilesGloriosus: He puts out an image of toughness but Andy is able to take him down with ease. Even when Bender pulls a knife and casually talks about killing Andy, he's slowly backing away from the fight.
85* MiseryPoker: Growing up with two physically abusive parents means that Bender doesn't have a lot of sympathy for the other kids complaining about their home lives. This seems to be the main reason he enjoys tormenting Claire and Brian. He seems to grow out of this toward the end of the film, looking sympathetic when Brian admits he's considered suicide due to how his parents treat him and even joking with Andy that their abusive fathers aren't all that different.
86-->"I think your old man and my old man oughta go bowling."
87* MouthyKid: When Vernon attempts to find a solution to keep the door open. Bender's comments are both hilarious and true.
88* PoliticallyIncorrectHero: He makes quite a few sexist comments toward Claire, and casually uses the word "fag."
89* SarcasticClapping: "That was great, Claire. My image of you is totally blown."
90* SmarterThanYouLook: While he isn't book smart, he is able to cleverly deduce things about the others. He was the first to tell that Claire is a virgin before Allison made her admit it and was the first to notice that Andrew didn't like his parents before Andrew tearfully admitted it in the end.
91* SociopathicHero: At first, then he warms up to the four others he's spending detention with.
92* StepfordSnarker: What he really is behind his cruel and sarcastic attitude, due to an abusive home life.
93* TokenEvilTeammate: He is easily the meanest person in detention, though he cools down later in the film.
94* TroubledButCute: An antisocial "bad boy" with numerous girlfriends, or so he claims, though it's possible he was exaggerating.
95* TheUnfettered: No matter how many detentions Vernon threatens him with, Bender completely refuses to drop his tough guy demeanor as he makes it clear to Vernon that he couldn’t care less if he gives so many detentions, not that it stumps Vernon however.
96** Subtly averted. It's obvious that Bender wants to be taken as TheUnfettered, but at the end of multiple-detention earning exchange with Vernon, after Vernon has turned his back, Bender's face falls and he curses under his breath, clearly very unhappy with the outcome. Still, his exchange with Carl at the end shows that he can be philosophical about it.
97* VillainousBSOD:
98** After Andy accuses him of lying, Bender flips out, ape-flings himself up a statue and some railings, and cowers alone in an emotional heap.
99** Later, after Principal Vernon explicitly promises to one day find Bender and beat the shit out of him, Bender is left frozen with fear.
100[[/folder]]
101
102[[folder:Claire Standish]]
103!!Claire Standish
104[[quoteright:244:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/claire_standish_c.PNG]]
105!!!'''Played By:''' Creator/MollyRingwald
106
107->''"Excuse me sir, I think there's been a mistake. I know it's detention, but I don't think I belong in here."''
108
109Claire Standish is the stereotypical rich, popular "princess" of the group.
110----
111* EightiesHair: Played with, her hairdo is a understated wavy bob that better evokes Creator/GraceKelly but is updated with the full bangs of the decade.
112* AllGirlsWantBadBoys: She hooks up with [[ByronicHero Bender]] in the end.
113* AlphaBitch: Deconstructed. She both covets and resents the attention she gets from the other kids in school, and feels extremely burdened by it.
114* AntiHero: Of the PragmaticHero variety. Claire does what she has to do to fit in with the "in" crowd at school, not because she enjoys it but because it's practical for her to do so.
115* AuthorityInNameOnly: Just because she's at the top of the social food chain in her high school hierarchy, that doesn't mean the other popular kids hold her in any regard; on the contrary, Claire is little more than a glorified slave to peer pressure.
116* BelligerentSexualTension: With Bender.
117* BrutalHonesty: Claire doesn't mince words when stating her opinions, like postulating that no one in the Breakfast Club would speak to each other come Monday due to fear of breaking the status quo.
118* ColorMotif: Pink.
119* CondescendingCompassion: Her drama partially stems from the fact that her friends pressure her to be unkind to the unpopular kids.
120* DefrostingIceQueen: Eventually warms up to the others, showing she can be really nice.
121* ExpertInUnderwaterBasketWeaving: Claire demonstrates her ability to apply lip color by tucking into her bra and rubbing her mouth against it.
122* FieryRedhead: Has flaming auburn hair and does ham it up a few times during the film.
123* FourTemperamentEnsemble: Choleric.
124* GirlyGirl: The group's "princess".
125* HiddenHeartOfGold: She acts mean towards others because she's afraid of being rejected by her other popular friends. Though underneath it all, she really is a kind person.
126* InnocentlyInsensitive: She tends to be rather insulting towards Brian without meaning to be.
127* JerkassHasAPoint: Snobbish as she is, she has every right to act disgusted toward Bender, who harasses her through the whole movie. She calls him out near the end of the movie for constantly being a complete bully to her.
128* LargeHam: She's played by '''Creator/MollyRingwald'''. ''It's a must.''
129* LovableAlphaBitch: Claire is one deep down. Whilst she is initially rude to Allison, she is fairly kind to Brian right off the bat (sort-of comforting him about being a virgin), and later gives Allison a makeover, being nice to her "because you're letting me".
130* MadonnaWhoreComplex: Discussed. She doesn't want to say whether she's a virgin or not when Allison asks Claire about it. The reason Claire gives is because [[MortonsFork both answers will lead to her being ridiculed]]. As Claire says, if she's a virgin, then she's a prude; if she's not a virgin, then she's a slut. Either way, there's no good way to answer the question.
131* MeaningfulName: As her last name indicates, she's initially standoffish.
132* NominalHero: She only came to detention to protect her reputation, as well as her father's.
133* PetTheDog:
134** Early on, she reassures Brian that there is nothing wrong with being a virgin.
135** Telling Brian that suicide is never the answer.
136** Giving Allison a makeover.
137* PinkMeansFeminine: Wears a pink shirt, which fits her girly "princess" status.
138* PromotionToParent: Implies her older brother to serve this role for her when asked which parent she would choose to live with if her parents finally divorce.
139* ShipperOnDeck: Decides to give Allison a makeover after noticing that she and Andrew are sharing [[LongingLook Longing Looks]] to each other.
140* TheTease: Deconstructed. She doesn't want to admit to neither being a virgin nor not being one, and seems to be subconsciously aware of the "[[MadonnaWhoreComplex trap]]" that as Allison points out lays in that question.
141* UptownGirl: Rich spoiled princess Claire falls for troubled delinquent Bender at the end.
142* WithFriendsLikeThese: It's implied that the other girls she skipped class with weaseled, bribed, or cajoled the powers that be into getting out of detention.
143[[/folder]]
144
145[[folder:Andrew Clark]]
146!!Andrew "Andy" Clark
147[[quoteright:245:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/andy_clark_c.png]]
148!!!'''Played By:''' Creator/EmilioEstevez
149
150->''"We're all pretty bizarre. Some of us are just better at hiding it, that's all."''
151
152Andrew Clark is the stereotypical popular, good-looking "athlete" of the group.
153----
154* AngryDance: He's a ''surprisingly'' good dancer. Oddly enough, it's his reaction to getting stoned.
155* BigEater: His lunch consists of a bag of chips, three sandwiches, an apple, a banana, a bag of cookies, and an entire carton of milk. Being he's on the wrestling team, his diet is probably calculated to help him stay in a specific weight class.
156* TheBigGuy: The physically strongest one in the group.
157* BigManOnCampus: He's a big wrestling star trying to emulate his father who demands that Andy always be at the top. Consequently, he's used to acting this way.
158* BlueIsHeroic: While Andy can be cynical, he stands up for both Brian and Claire when Bender tries to pick on them. He also wears blue; but noticeably becomes ''bluer'' as he takes layers of his clothes off as the film progresses.
159* BrokenAce: A popular talented athlete with daddy issues.
160* ColorMotif: Blue.
161* DeadpanSnarker: Mostly in reaction to Bender's insults.
162* EveryoneHasStandards: One of the reasons he hates his father. He may be a jock, but there are lines he refuses to cross, and he's not a sell-out.
163* FourTemperamentEnsemble: Phlegmatic.
164* HiddenHeartOfGold: As seen below, he clearly doesn't like to be a JerkJock, but he feels like he has to be a bully to the weaker students because his father expects that behavior out of him. When he plays a humiliating and painful prank on another kid, he feels terrible about it afterward.
165* HopelessSuitor: Seems to be this for Claire in the beginning. He seems noticeably annoyed by her interaction with John.
166* HypocriticalHumour: Andrew complains to his fellow students he has a wrestling match coming up and doesn’t want to miss it due to the others talking, when he himself is also making noise.
167* IKnowMaddenKombat: Bender makes fun of Andy for being on the wrestling team, but once pushed into a confrontation, Andy is able to use his wrestling techniques to take him down with ease.
168* JerkJock: Deconstructed. He feels like he has to be an asshole and a bully to the weaker students because his father expects that behavior out of him. When he plays a humiliating and painful prank on another kid, he feels terrible about it afterward, but his dad is only upset that he got caught. Before revealing why he's in detention he is possibly the kindest of the characters, sticking up for Claire and Brian when Bender picks on them, showing real concern for Alison when she is upset, and even regrets accusing John of lying about his abuse and he sees how angry it made him.
169* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Possesses a gruff, sour exterior, but has a big heart.
170* KnightInSourArmor: Second type. He is a natural cynic, but he holds on to a code of conduct, which leads his father and, possibly, his fellow athletes [[VirtueIsWeakness to see him as soft]].
171* LongingLook: One hint about his crush on Allison is that he stares meaningfully at her when she doesn't notice.
172* LovableJock: What he is deep down. He's deeply ashamed of his father's behavior and what he did to earn his said father's love. When he reveals to the others why he got detention for taping another student's butt cheeks together, Brian, who knows the victim as well the details of incident aside from the perpetrator, is shocked that Andy was the one who did it.
173* MeaningfulName: Andrew is [[BilingualBonus Greek]] for "manly and strong."
174* OnlyKnownByTheirNickname: Goes by "Andy" instead of his full name.
175* PeerPressuredBully: In a twist its not pressure from his peers, but from his [[AbusiveParents father]]. Andy admits to hating bullying weaker kids and feeling ashamed about what he's done, but feels he has to to live up to his father's vicious expectations.
176* PintSizedPowerhouse: He's the second shortest character in the film as only Allison's shorter than him but he's also a wrestler who easily takes down Bender, who's much taller and bigger than him, during a confrontation.
177* TwoFirstNames: His last name, Clark, can also be used as a first name.
178* WellDoneSonGuy: Andy outright states in an emotional breakdown that all his dad cares about is his son's win-loss ratio.
179[[/folder]]
180
181[[folder:Brian Johnson]]
182!!Brian Johnson
183[[quoteright:244:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/brian_johnson_c.jpg]]
184!!!'''Played By:''' Creator/AnthonyMichaelHall
185
186->''"Your middle name is Ralph, as in puke, your birth date's March 12th, you're 5'9" and a half, you weigh 130 pounds and your social security number is 049380913."''
187-->-- '''Allison Reynolds'''
188
189Brian Johnson is the stereotypical geeky, smart "brain" of the group.
190----
191* AcademicAthlete: While definitely socially awkward, Brian is not the traditional "geek" in that, given that his Shop grade is his first "F," he must also have recieved an "A" in gym class. An extended version of his confession scene confirms this, in which he says he's gotten "A's" in ''everything,'' including gym and the arts. This is a kid who works very, ''very'' hard.
192* AloneAmongTheCouples: He's the only one who is not romantically paired with anyone by the end of the film.
193* AmbiguouslyGay: Displays an 'interest' when Bender gets his dick out.
194* {{Annoying Younger Sibling}}s: Has one in the first scene of the movie.
195* BewareTheNiceOnes: His response to Claire's claim that he and his friends want to be like her and the "cooler kids", and that he doesn't know what pressure feels like, is a direct "[[PrecisionFStrike fuck you!]]" to her.
196* TheBGrade: Gets a low mark in shop class, meaning he can't get the perfect A's he was striving for.
197* BookSmart: Brian is a deconstruction of this trope. While a brainy student, he still doesn't meet the standards of his EducationMama.
198* BreakTheCutie: ''His entire existence.''
199* BungledSuicide: He tried to commit suicide because of the intense pressure his parents put on him.
200* ButtMonkey: ''Mother of God.'' The things he goes through at home and at school would make Creator/FranzKafka proud. He's on the receiving end of KickTheDog throughout much of the film.
201* ClassicalAntiHero: In the truly classical sense. He's a neurotic, shy, but ultimately polite and gifted young man who's cracking under ungodly pressure and generally being trodden on by virtually everyone around.
202* ColorMotif: Green.
203* CovertPervert: Can be seen adjusting his trousers at one point.
204** According to Allison, who steals his wallet at one point, he carries a nudie picture around in his wallet.
205* TheCutie: Behaves the most childlike out of all the kids in detention.
206* DeadpanSnarker: On occasion.
207* EmbarrassingMiddleName: "Ralph" — as in puke, as Allison snarks.
208* FourTemperamentEnsemble: Melancholic.
209* GirlfriendInCanada: Brian claims to have a girlfriend living up in Niagara Falls, in addition to having had sex with several other girls. When pressed, he admits he made the whole thing up because he's embarrassed to admit he's a virgin.
210* TheHeart: Of the Breakfast Club. He is the only one who attempts to keep Bender and Andy from trying to fight each other and also writes the letter voicing the kids' opinions to Vernon in the end.
211* HeroicBSOD: He grows rather cynical late in the film, especially after Claire angers him. But he's better by the end.
212* IntelligenceEqualsIsolation: He's stereotypically unpopular.
213* IronicName: While Brian himself is a nice, polite young man, his name can be interpreted to mean "dickhead".
214* JadedWashout: Of all the kids in detention, Brian is perhaps the one most likely to become this in adulthood. Though undeniably intelligent, he lacks the confidence, willpower, social skills, and possesses a paralyzing fear of imperfection, all of which doom him once he gets out of high school.
215* LiteralMinded: Has his moments. For instance he moves back to his original chair when Vernon Dick threatens that they will not move from their seats. Later on he innocently takes Bender's rheotocal question seriously on how many detentions he got.
216* MeaningfulName: If the letters of his name were switched around, "Brian" would spell "brain". It should be noted that "Johnson" is a slang term for penis, or "dick". He's literally a "brain" in a family of assholes. Unfortunately, that means he's a "dickhead".
217* MinorWithFakeID: has one so he can vote.
218* NiceGuy: The nicest character in the entire film - notably, he's the only character in the film who's nice to the janitor. This being ''Film/TheBreakfastClub'', he gets put through hell for it.
219* ThePollyanna: It takes a lot to put him in a bad mood.
220* SadClown: He's a bit of a goofball (sticking a pen in his nose to pretend he's a walrus), but has a less than stellar life at home.
221* ShrinkingViolet: Brian retains a shy, soft-spoken demeanor.
222* SpeechImpediment: He has a mild lisp, which may or may not contribute to his low social standing.
223* TheSmartGuy: The group's "brain".
224* TeenGenius: Deconstructed. His parents enforce the idea that he has to get straight A's in order to be anything in his life, and as smart as he is, he still doesn't meet their insane standards.
225* TwoFirstNames: His last name, Johnson, can also be used as a first name.
226* WideEyedIdealist: Especially early in film; he is sweet, innocent, and unspoiled.
227[[/folder]]
228
229[[folder:Allison Reynolds]]
230!!Allison Reynolds
231[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/allison_reynolds_b.png]]
232[[caption-width-right:240:[[labelnote:Click here]]\
233https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/allison_reynolds_b_makeover.png[[/labelnote]] to see her [[spoiler:makeover]]]]
234!!!'''Played By:''' Creator/AllySheedy
235
236->''"When you grow up, your heart dies."''
237
238Allison Reynolds is the stereotypical weird, quiet "basket case" of the group.
239----
240* EightiesHair: After her makeover, her full mane is pulled back by a lace scarf with heavy bangs.
241* AMFMCharacterization:
242** She's a fan of Music/{{Prince}} judging by the ''Music/PurpleRain'' lunchbox. There was a deleted scene where she breaks into the teachers' lockers using a switchblade and finds a copy of ''Music/NineteenNinetyNineAlbum'', remarking "You know what this means? They're human."
243** Another deleted scene had her singing "My Life" by Music/BillyJoel.
244** Sheedy also suggested the Music/DavidBowie quote that opens the film.
245** In another deleted scene, while the others are getting high, she locks herself in a booth and hums "My Life" by Music/PhilOchs to herself.
246* AttentionWhore: Invoked with Allison, who never specifically states as such, but explains at one point that her parents ignore her, making her attention-seeking behaviour increasingly understandable when she's basically locked in for the morning with people who ''have'' to keep her company. At one point, she actively reveals that she didn't even have to come in to detention - she simply ''chose'' to. The principal never even questions this. This, along with her designation as the 'basket case' of the group, suggests something of a darker slant on the trope and her loneliness. When it doesn't prove to be effective, she slowly begins dropping the act.
247* BewareTheQuietOnes: She sits the furthest away from the other students in detention, but like Bender, she is smarter than she looks. Allison quickly debunks Andy's false reason for being in detention early in the film. It's also shown when she tricks Claire into admitting she's a virgin with a phony nymphomaniac story.
248* CharacterTic: It's subtle, but Allison squeaks when she's nervous or surprised.
249-->'''Bender:''' She doesn't talk, sir.
250* {{Cloudcuckoolander}}: Exhibits a lot of strange behavior, as one may think she's mentally ill.
251* ColorMotif: Black. Also, in the end, white.
252* CompulsiveLiar: After tricking Claire into revealing her virgin status, Allison admits that she's a virgin too, coupled with describing herself as this.
253* CrazyConsumption: Allison lets her soda spill out, and licks it off the table. Then she throws away the olive loaf from her sandwich, and replaces it with Pixy Stix (powdered candy) and Cap'n Crunch cereal.
254* {{Dark Is Not Evil}}: At least before she bonds with the other students and before [[spoiler:her makeover at the end]].
255* EveryoneHasStandards: She's the first to cuss out Bender for going back on his promise not to laugh at Claire's talent.
256* ExpertInUnderwaterBasketWeaving: Without ever demonstrating it, Allison claims that she can write, eat, brush her teeth, and play "Heart and Soul" on the piano with her toes.
257* TheFatalist: Allison believes and fully accepts that when the kids grow up, they'll become abusive and uncaring just like their parents no matter how hard they try not to. She seems to have become more optimistic near the end of the film though.
258* FourTemperamentEnsemble: Leukine.
259* FriendlessBackground: Reveals that she doesn't have any friends.
260* GirlinessUpgrade: Following her makeover.
261* HiddenDepths: She is quite an accomplished pickpocket, and is quite talented at drawing. A deleted scene from the now-lost uncut version reveals that she can play the piano with her feet.
262* HandyFeet: She claims she has them. In the uncut version of the movie, the only copy of which was on a VHS tape lost after John Hughes' death, this claim was followed with her actually writing with her toes, completely filmed.
263* ItAmusedMe: Towards the end of the film, she reveals that she came to detention just because she had nothing better to do.
264* LonersAreFreaks: She's often ignored by everyone, including her own parents, causing her to do bizarre things.
265* MessyHair: She starts out with this, and even shakes dandruff out of it to use as snow on a landscape drawing.
266* MisunderstoodLonerWithAHeartOfGold: Yes, she can come off as aloof and catty, but it's shown that [[IJustWantToHaveFriends she's just really lonely]] and [[NoSocialSkills socially inept]]. Allison is usually harmless and actually somewhat noble when interacting with the others. She waits for Bender when the kids are running through the halls, stands up for Claire when Bender dismisses her talent, kindly thanks Brian after he silently compliments her makeover, and finally, there's her [[OfficialCouple relationship]] with Andy.
267* NervesOfSteel: When the kids are running around the school to avoid Vernon catching them, a [[FunnyBackgroundEvent single shot of Allison is shown leaning against a locker looking hilariously composed]].
268* NoSocialSkills: She doesn't seem to be particularly good at making conversation, like when she tries to chime in on Brian and Andy's chat session - by revealing that she stole Brian's wallet earlier.
269* ObfuscatingInsanity: She's perfectly able to act like a normal person, so her "basket case" behavior early in the movie was definitely just an act.
270* ParentalNeglect: The only information she ever volunteers about her parents is when Andy asks her what her parents did to her. She replies with a simple but pained "they ignore me".
271* TheQuietOne: Being the outcast/loner, in the first half of the movie she is just a quiet observer and doesn't talk or interact with the others.
272* RavenHairIvorySkin: Her hair is chestnut and she has creamy skin. It's enough to make [[spoiler:Andy]] fall for her, even before she gets a restyling.
273* ReallyGetsAround: She proclaims that she's a nypmhomaniac who will do anything sexual, and not even for money; when she told her shrink, he slept with her right there. [[SubvertedTrope Then she admits]] that she made the whole thing up and is still a virgin.
274* SelfProclaimedLiar: According to her, she's in detention because she had nothing better to do. She also admits she lies and makes things up for fun.
275* SheCleansUpNicely: After Claire gives her a makeover. Andy and Brian's expressions say it all.
276* ShrinkingViolet: She sits there quietly for the first half-hour, not interacting with the other students.
277* SilentSnarker: She is responsible for more than one FunnyBackgroundEvent. A straightforward example is when she's eating her [[CrazyConsumption powdered sugar and cereal sandwich]], and everyone turns to look at her. She pauses, begins chewing louder, and gives them a quick wink.
278* StickyFingers: Steals the lock to Bender's locker, his knife, Brian's wallet and a patch from Andrew's jacket. Her bag is full of things she's taken in the past. It turns out she does this in case she ever decides to run away from home.
279* SweetTooth: See CrazyConsumption above for elaboration.
280[[/folder]]
281
282!!Shermer High Faculty and Staff
283
284[[folder:Richard Vernon]]
285!!Richard "Dick" Vernon
286[[quoteright:244:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/paul_gleason2.jpg]]
287!!!'''Played By:''' Creator/PaulGleason
288
289The vice principal of the school and the one who is in charge of supervising the main characters during their detention.
290----
291* AngryWhiteMan: He definitely has shades of this.
292* AntiVillain: He's a jerk to the main characters and tried to start a fight with Bender, but he ''is'' a stressed principal.
293* ApatheticTeacher: Of the principal variety.
294* BigBad: His consistent antagonism and dismissal of the students' opinions makes Vernon into the central opposing force. Making the students write who they are also forms the framework of the narrative.
295* DeanBitterman: As Carl points out, he wanted an easy job where children respected him, but couldn't handle the reality and lashed out against the children. At the same time, his mannerisms and facial expressions in many of his individual scenes indicate that he himself doesn't like co-ordinating the gang's Saturday detention. Deconstructed somewhat in his conversation with Carl.
296-->'''Vernon:''' Carl, I've been teaching for twenty-two years. And, each year, these kids get more and more arrogant.\
297'''Carl:''' Aw, bullshit, man. Come on, Vern, the kids haven't changed; ''you'' have. You took a teaching position because you thought it'd be fun, right? Thought you'd have summer vacations off. And then you found out it was actually work, and that really bummed you out.\
298'''Vernon:''' These kids turned on me. They think I'm a big fucking joke.\
299'''Carl:''' C'mon… listen, Vern, if you were sixteen, what would you think of you, huh?\
300'''Vernon:''' Hey, Carl. You think I give one rat's ass what these kids think of me?\
301'''Carl''': Yes, I do.
302* ADickInName: His name is Dick, and he's not a very pleasant guy.
303* FreudianExcuse: It is partially revealed that the very least of the real reason why Mr. Vernon is mean, hates everyone, and is always in the terrible mood is most likely because in the past, he personally wanted a job with some nice benefits, but not with the ending he expected, as lampshaded by Carl.
304* HobbesWasRight: His philosophy towards his treatment of the kids is that he needs to be an authoritarian taskmaster who doesn't care at all about what they think of him. Vernon reaps what he sows, as the students consistently either ignore Vernon's commands or disrespect him.
305* IneffectualSympatheticVillain: He is frustrated that his students (especially Bender) don't show him any respect whatsoever, and as a result he comes down pretty hard on them.
306** Vernon actually appears shaken after the exchange in which he gives Bender multiple detentions. After he leaves the library he needs to take a minute to collect himself.
307* JadedWashout: It's implied that Vernon had higher expectations for his life, but years of being underpaid and disrespected by the youth in his charge seems to have finally gotten to him. At this point, he just doesn't care about the job, his reputation, or what the students say about him.
308* {{Jerkass}}: Vernon just seems to be in a perpetually foul mood. He treats the kids like dirt throughout the film, especially Bender. An attempt by janitor Carl to dig beneath the surface shows that Vernon is just as petty and vindictive as he appears to be on the surface, complaining about the kids treating him like "a big fucking joke" and that he's upset he has to put in effort for his job.
309* JerkassHasAPoint: Richard telling Bender that he'd do well to spend more time focusing on himself and less time trying to impress his friends certainly rings true. To a lesser extent, his cruel commentary on how Bender, if he carries on like this, is fated to become a loser in life certainly strikes a nerve with Bender.
310* KickTheDog: When he intimidates Bender (a physically abused minor) with a beatdown when the two of them are alone behind closed doors, and then rubs it in his face he can just say Bender attacked ''him'' and nobody will question it. Vernon is a grown-ass man, and yet here he behaves like little more than the childish schoolyard bully that he would have Bender think ''he'' is.
311* KnightTemplar: He might have good intentions with why he wants the students to write an essay, or to set them on the right path in life. But, he goes so far in his pursuits, and acts like such a colossal jerk to everyone, it's impossible to sympathize with him.
312* LastNameBasis: He's more consistently referred to by his last name of Vernon instead of his first name. Even Carl, the janitor and a fellow adult, calls him "Vern" instead of by Vernon's first name or any variation of it.
313* MeaningfulName: There's a reason why his name is Dick. Have a guess.
314* NeverMyFault: After Bender steals the screw that is holding the library door open, Vernon orders Andrew to help him move a magazine rack in front of the door to hold it open, only for Bender to point out that it's a potential fire hazard. Then Vernon turns around and gets mad at ''Andrew'' for engaging in such an embarrassing, risky idea, in spite of the fact that it was actually his own idea and which the boy only did since he commanded him to do it in the first place.
315* NonGivingUpSchoolGuy: He'll do whatever it takes to make sure the students have a good education. Though it's implied in the conversation with Carl that he hates his job, and only goes so far because it's the only way he can exert any control.
316* NotSoAboveItAll: After Carl catches him going through confidential files on the teachers and blackmails him, the two share some beers in the basement.
317* PyrrhicVictory: Vernon manage to get the teenagers to write the essay; however, they wrote a different essay and give him the TheReasonYouSuckSpeech to him. Vernon was unable to break the teenagers.
318* TeenHater: Vernon hates teenagers in general and Bender in particular. Made worse by the fact that he works at a high school.
319* TruthInTelevision: Assistant or Vice Principals are the second line in discipline. Teachers handle the minor infractions, but the more serious things get bumped to guys like Vernon. Having your career transform from being an ambitious and dedicated teacher to only dealing with hard cases like Bender could seriously sour you after a few years.
320* TwoFirstNames: His last name, Vernon, can also be used as a first name.
321[[/folder]]
322
323[[folder:Carl Reed]]
324!!Carl Reed
325[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/johnkapelos2.jpg]]
326!!!'''Played By:''' Creator/JohnKapelos
327
328The janitor of the school.
329----
330* AlmightyJanitor:
331** He catches Vernon snooping through Bender's personal files, and blackmails Vernon for it.
332** Carl notices that the hands on the library clock have been moved twenty minutes ahead. Carl speculates that it was done by the students to try and make detention end faster.
333** In the beginning of the movie, different shots of the school hallways and classrooms are shown. There is a picture of a former Shermer High School student "Man of the Year". The guy in the picture is Carl Reed.
334* BadassBoast: He makes one when Bender makes a crack at his job.
335-->'''Carl:''' You guys think I'm just some untouchable peasant? Serf? Peon? Well, maybe so. But following a broom around after shitheads like you for the last 8 years, I've learned a couple of things. I look through your letters. I look through your lockers. I listen to your conversations, you don't know that but I do. I am the eyes and ears of this institution, my friends.
336* DeadpanSnarker: Has a dry, sardonic sense of humor.
337* {{Foil}}: To Vernon; they're both incredibly jaded and cynical, but whereas Vernon is self-important and lords his power over the students, Carl is humble and at least wants to do the right thing.
338* HeroOfAnotherStory: How the BigManOnCampus of 1969 ended up being a janitor in the same school he graduated surely is not a dull story (maybe depressing, but definitely not dull).
339* ICouldaBeenAContender: Carl was Man of the Year in 1969, and in his own words, aspired to be like Music/JohnLennon, implying he wanted to go become a musician. Now, for whatever reason, he's working a wage-slave job as a custodian at the same school he graduated from, and it's clear he isn't a happy man.
340* JadedWashout: He's a former Man of the Year turned destitute janitor, though unlike Vernon, he displays a stronger work ethic.
341* KnightInSourArmor: In spite of his cynical attitude, he's quite possibly the only adult in the film that wants to do the right thing.
342* TheLastDJ: Seems to favor his job as a janitor over advancement.
343* OnlySaneMan: When compared to the rest of the characters, Carl is probably the character with the least emotional baggage. He's certainly the only adult in the movie that is portrayed with any kind of sympathy, and the one that the kids are the most likely to listen to. Even his harsh criticisms of Bender seem to strike a nerve with Bender himself.
344* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech:
345** His "eyes and ears of this institution" speech can be considered as one of these, calling them out for thinking he's inferior to them just because of his low-class job.
346** One of the deleted scenes in the Criterion release shows a much longer version of the scene, where he predicts each of their futures rather flippantly and bluntly while taunting them with names like "Twat Lips" (Bender) and "Miss Sensitive" (Allison).
347** He also gives a short but poignant one to Vernon, eloquently pointing out how he's unreasonably taking his anger and dissatisfaction with life out on the students when he has only himself to blame for losing touch with the person he used to be. Also, Venon's mistreatment towards the teenagers and his bad behavior, Richard tells him that no one is going to help him when he gets older and no one will care when Venon dies.
348* TokenGoodTeammate: He's the only adult that treats the kids with some degree of kindness, even if he takes some shots at them.
349* TwoFirstNames: Reed can also be utilized as a given name.
350[[/folder]]
351
352!!The Parents
353
354[[folder:As a whole]]
355* AbusiveParents: [[CrapsackWorld Depressingly common]]. Bender's father is the "traditionally" abusive dad who beats his wife and son, [[EducationMama Brian's parents set such high standards]] that it drives him [[spoiler: to potentially [[DrivenToSuicide attempt suicide]] (or [[AxesAtSchool whatever else he had planned]]) with the FlareGun]], [[ParentalNeglect Allison's]] completely ignore her, [[ParentalNeglect Claire's]] are on the verge of divorce and use her to get back at each other, and [[SportsDad Andy's father tells him that winning is everything]] and that if he doesn't win, he's nothing.
356* AdultsAreUseless: None of them seem to have the slightest clue how to properly raise their children, nor do they even pretend to care about them at all.
357* DysfunctionJunction: To call them abysmal parents would be like calling the sun a bit warm. They are all responsible for the biggest problems their children face in their lives.
358* TheGhost: Most of the parents don't appear or are only minimally visible through a windshield. We don't meet Andy's mother, Claire's mother, or Brian's father; Allison's parents are in the car picking her up and dropping her off, but never say a word and are hard to see; and Bender has to walk himself to school.
359* GreaterScopeVillain: Though Vernon is the main antagonist of the film, they cast a pall over the story by being the authors of many of their kids problems.
360* HateSink: [[JustifiedTrope Justified]] and possibly [[DeconstructedTrope deconstructed]]. A majority of their children's issues can be attributed to them, so it makes sense to show how self-centered, irresponsible, and abusive they are in their limited time on screen.
361* {{Jerkass}}: With the possible exception of Claire's father, who seems mostly negligent, the ones we see are very, very selfish people who couldn't care less what they do to their own kids in pursuit of their wants.
362* LowerClassLout: Most of them appear to be this, except [[RichBastard Claire's dad]].
363* ParentalNeglect: Allison's parents completely ignore her.
364* SmallRoleBigImpact: See how detailed their folders are? ''They only appear in the opening scene.''
365[[/folder]]
366
367[[folder:George Standish]]
368!!George Standish
369[[quoteright:127:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/80462_1224990070783_400_200.jpg]]
370!!!'''Played By:''' Creator/TimGamble
371
372Claire's father, a slippery rich guy butting heads with his wife.
373----
374* AbusiveParent: Psychologically. He uses Claire to get payback on his wife, who is no saint either.
375* AllThereInTheManual: His first name is revealed by Claire in a deleted scene on the Criterion release.
376* BitchInSheepsClothing: To the public, he portrays himself as loving husband and all-around family man. In truth, he's a conniver and backstabber who gladly throw his own daughter under the bus just to spite his wife.
377* DirtyCoward: He's okay with using Claire as a shield in his constant quarrels with his wife rather than owning up to his faults.
378* EvilRedhead: While "evil" is perhaps too strong a word, he's definitely a jackass and a terrible father, and his hair is a blinding shade of red.
379* RichBastard: Financially well-off and a sleaze.
380* SlaveToPR: He drops Claire off at detention not because it's the right thing to do, but because he has a reputation to uphold.
381* {{Slimeball}}: His attempts at fatherly charm are forced and transparent. You can practically see the slime oozing from his pores when he hands Claire her lunch.
382* SmugSnake: Has a reptilian, two-faced demeanor.
383* VillainWithGoodPublicity: He's implied to be a man of some importance in Shermer.
384[[/folder]]
385
386[[folder:Mrs. Johnson]]
387!!Mrs. Johnson
388[[quoteright:203:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/screen_shot_2014_03_28_at_101450_am.png]]
389!!!'''Played By:''' Creator/MercedesHall
390
391Brian's mother, an EducationMama who's impossible to please.
392----
393* EightiesHair: Just look at the pic.
394* AbusiveParent: Probably the nastiest parent we see in the film. In addition to putting a metric ton of pressure on her son to get straight A's, she verbally abuses him as she's dropping him off at detention. ''In front of her younger daughter.''
395* AxCrazy: Had Brian not gotten out of her car quicker, she'd have probably castrated him.
396* BecauseISaidSo: When Brian rightly points out that they're not allowed to study in detention, she barks at him "figure out a way".
397* BitchAlert: Doesn't attempt to hide her nastiness one bit.
398* CosmeticHorror: John Hughes seems to have gone out of his way to give Mercedes Hall the most unflattering appearance possible.
399* DeathGlare: She scares Brian off with a nasty glare.
400* EducationMama: A particularly nasty variant, and quite possibly one of the earliest deconstructions of this trope. It's strongly implied that, like Andy's dad, she's just living vicariously through Brian.
401* EntitledBitch: She treats Brian little better than pond scum, yet still expects him to do her bidding.
402* EvilMatriarch: Just look at the other entries in this folder.
403* HairTriggerTemper: Easily enraged and very volatile.
404* HateSink: Everything about her character is designed to be hate-able.
405* {{Jerkass}}: She's rude, snippy, short-tempered, and has effectively destroyed Brian's life by forcing him to conform to her damn-near impossible standards of perfection, all in the name of a selfish desire to live vicariously through a successful child.
406* LackOfEmpathy: It's strongly implied she knows about Brian's suicidal tendencies, but doesn't give a rat's ass.
407* MiseryBuildsCharacter: This appears to be her whole philosophy towards parenting and education.
408* NotSoWellIntentionedExtremist: Wanting your child to be successful in school is a reasonable enough goal. Too bad Mrs. Johnson takes this idea much too far, setting nigh-impossible expectations on her son and blaming him for failing to meet them -- and it's obvious she's doing this not out of concern for Brian's future, but so she can live vicariously through him.
409* UngratefulBitch: If she had any gratitude or pride for Brian's efforts, she definitely doesn't show it.
410* VanityLicensePlate: The front license plate on her car has Einstein's theory of relativity.
411[[/folder]]
412
413[[folder:Mr. Clark]]
414!!Mr. Clark
415[[quoteright:160:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/tbc_andy_dad.gif]]
416!!!'''Played By:''' Creator/RonDean
417
418Andy's father, a former JerkJock trying to relive his GloryDays through his son.
419----
420* AbusiveParent: Psychologically (and verbally).
421* BaldOfEvil: Well, balding, to be precise.
422* TheBully: Heavily implied to have been a school bully in his past, and proud of it.
423* TheCorrupter: He just seems to like bringing out the worst in Andy.
424* CovertPervert: Eyes up Allison as he pulls out of the parking lot at the end with Andy.
425* DoWrongRight: He chastises Andy not because he taped Larry Lester's buttocks, but because he was caught doing it.
426* EvilCounterpart: In many ways, to his own son.
427* FauxAffablyEvil: He seems cool and understanding at first, but it's all a façade.
428* FatBastard: For a guy who's big on athletics, he doesn't appear in the best physical shape.
429* {{Fratbro}}: Of the grown-up, JadedWashout variety. It's very unlikely he's ever been to college, either.
430* {{Hypocrite}}: For starters, he calls Andrew a "discipline case" despite encouraging him into being a JerkJock in the first place.
431* JadedWashout: It's strongly implied that he's a former JerkJock that didn't get anywhere in life, and seems stuck in a nostalgia bubble of his own making. It's clear to both Andy and the viewers that his GloryDays weren't as significant as he remembers.
432* {{Jerkass}}: He wears his JerkJock status on his sleeve.
433* JerkJock: He was most likely this in his past, and probably still thinks he is.
434* LowerClassLout: A coarse blue-collar thug.
435* MilesGloriosus: One gets this vibe from him; he's noticeably {{fat|bastard}} despite claiming to have high athletic standards, and his encouragement of Andy to pick on "weaker" kids imply that he only picked on kids too small to fight back when he was a school bully.
436* ParentsAsPeople: He's given a teeny bit of characterization such as "failed JerkJock" and "stuck in the past" to give him some depth. It still doesn't excuse him, though.
437** It's also important to note that, while it excuses none of his behavior, Mr.Clark's overriding concern in regards to Andy is that he go to college. When dressing Andy down, the primary potential consequence he brings up is that Andy might "blow his ride" and that "no school is going to take a discipline case." One imagines that Mr.Clark feels that the only way Andy is going to go to college is on a wrestling scholarship, as he is likely unable to pay for it. This may be more out of a desire to live vicariously through his son, to have Andy make up for what he perceives as his own failures, rather than out of a desire that his son have a better life than he's had, but it does inform his actions somewhat.
438* ParentalNeglect: On top of being a dick to Andy, he's also pretty lazy and irresponsible.
439* PoliticallyIncorrectVillain: A line cut from the film implies he's a racist.
440* RetiredMonster: It's strongly implied that he's done much worse things than taping nerd's buns together.
441* SchoolyardBullyAllGrownUp: Imagine a JerkJock who never matured beyond high school, and you'll get the idea.
442* SmallNameBigEgo: Mr. Clark considers himself a legendary "winner" in his own mind. It's obvious that he's full of shit.
443* TheSocialDarwinist: Despises any form of weakness and espouses a "winner takes all" philosophy.
444* StageDad: He relives his so-called glory days vicariously through his son.
445--> '''Andrew:''' (imitating his dad): "Andrew, [[SecondPlaceIsForLosers you've got to be NUMBER ONE!]] I won't tolerate any losers in this family! WIN, WIN, WIN!" (cries)
446* TestosteronePoisoning: His ideas of what constitutes masculinity are comically immature and hopelessly out of touch with reality.
447[[/folder]]

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