The Shermer High Alumni Association

 Today, we're rewinding to 1986 to revisit a movie that defined teen relationships and gave us a soundtrack that slaps. From thrift store prom dresses to love triangles that still spark debate decades later, this John Hughes classic asked the big questions: Is Ducky actually the best guy? Was Andy's dress iconic or just aggressively pink? And how did Blaine manage to look confused for the entire f...

We can't believe it is the end of 2025 already! In this episode we wrap up the year while we discuss the best and cringiest movies we've reviewed so far. We also give only-real-to-us awards like " Least Offensive 80s Teen Boy Behavior" and " Most Unnecessary Musical Montage". ********************************************* Show outro: As we wrap up this episode and the end of the year, we just want...

What do you get when you mix Greek mythology, a disco roller rink, Gene Kelly, and Olivia Newton-John glowing like a cosmic fairy? Well, apparently... Xanadu . This week, we try to make sense of the gloriously chaotic cult classic that sparkles, spins, and confuses in equal measure. With a plot that feels like it was sketched out on a coke mirror and music that somehow still slaps, Xanadu might be...

Today, we’re tackling the cinematic masterpiece that taught an entire generation two very important lessons: never lick frozen metal… and beware of gifts that could, allegedly, ‘shoot your eye out.’ This week, we’re diving into A Christmas Story ! Join us as we revisit Ralphie Parker’s relentless campaign for the Red Ryder BB gun, a lamp that is somehow both a major award and a fire hazard, and a...

Today, we’re stringing up the lights, overloading the power grid, and bracing for impact, because we’re diving into National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation ! It’s the holiday comedy that gave us Cousin Eddie, exploding turkeys, and the most relatable Christmas meltdown ever put on screen. So grab some eggnog, stay away from any squirrels hiding in your tree, and let’s celebrate the madness of the Gr...

This week's holiday movie is Scrooged , Bill Murray’s 1988 take on A Christmas Carol . None of us watched it growing up (or at least we don't remember), so this rewatch became a first-time watch for all three of us. We dig into the movie’s chaotic production history, including the tension between Bill Murray and director Richard Donner, and how that friction shows up on screen. The shifting script...

This week's movie is 💥 Die Hard💥. We address hard-hitting questions like: Is this a 🎄 Christmas 🎄movie? Do you need to deer-kick a person when they are already dead? Did Die Hard define the future for the action genre of movies? Is Arglye the Neville Longbottom of Die Hard? Other hot takes: Theo the psychotic Hans Gruber is like The Wolf from Pulp Fiction, a project manager 80s office parties...

In this week's episode, we are discussing Gremlins, Chris Columbus's 1984 "black comedy horror film". We talk about its PG rating and if this was the straw that broke the camel's back, leading to PG-13 ratings a month later. Is it a Christmas movie? Horror? Comedy? All of the above? Do you leave cooked chicken uncovered in your fridge? Would you care if your kid fed all of it to his pet? We answer...

This week we rewatch Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, the 1987 classic from John Hughes starring Steve Martin and John Candy. This movie takes us on the misadventures of Neal and Del, two unlikely cohorts on a crusade to make it back to Chicago for Thanksgiving. We pay homage to John Candy who died way too soon and revel in Steve Martin being 80, but doesn't look a day over 70. Join us as we kick...

Say Anything (1989) feels less like an 80s teen movie and more like a snapshot of what it means to be young, uncertain, and hopeful. This week, the Schirmer High crew revisits Cameron Crowe’s beloved coming-of-age film that made us all fall for Lloyd Dobler — the guy with the trench coat, the boombox, and a heart too big for his own good. Kristin, Jeannine, and Carole talk about what makes this mo...

In this episode of The Shermer High Alumni Association , the team rewinds A Nightmare on Elm Street , Wes Craven’s 1984 horror hit that launched Freddy Krueger into slasher legend. None of us had seen it before, and it shows. We unpack why the film was both groundbreaking and baffling, how it defined 80s horror aesthetics, and why it made us so thankful our parents banned scary movies.

This week, we’re rewinding  Teen Wolf , the 1985 movie that proves puberty was bad enough without suddenly growing fur and dunking on your classmates. We talk about Michael J. Fox’s surprisingly chaotic production schedule, the most '80s basketball scenes ever filmed, and why Boof remains the unsung hero of the movie. There’s also a heated debate about whether this is secretly a metaphor for body...

We’re kicking off spooky season with  Friday the 13th  (1980), the movie that convinced a generation of kids they never wanted to go to summer camp. It convinced us, that's for sure. Join us as we dive into: Kevin Bacon’s Speedo. Mrs. Voorhees' sweater/turtleneck fit. Tom Savini’s practical effects magic And whether this cult classic still holds up, or just feels completely ridiculous in 2025 From...

This week we’re firing up the flux capacitor and heading back to 1985 with  Back to the Future . We talk Marty McFly, Doc Brown, and whether the time travel rules in this movie make any sense at all. Plus: Lorraine’s crush on her own son (yikes), Crispin Glover’s wonderfully weird George McFly, and why the Enchantment Under the Sea dance might be one of the best teen movie set pieces ever. Along t...

We’re back with the second half of  Sixteen Candles , picking up as the evening at Jake's comes to a close.. In this episode, we dive into: The wreckage of Jake’s house and what we would do to our own kids if this happened Long Duk Dong and the parts of this movie that really don’t sit right anymore Whether Jake is actually boyfriend material—or just a glamour shot daydream That big romantic final...

We’re kicking off a two-part rewatch of  Sixteen Candles , the movie that made Molly Ringwald an icon and taught us that apparently, everyone in your family can forget your birthday. In Part 1, we walk through the first half of the film: school bus rides, Farmer Ted’s antics, and the start of Jake Ryan’s “dreamboat” status (which… maybe doesn’t hold up quite the way we remembered). It all leads up...

Personal ads, mistaken identities, and one seriously iconic jacket — welcome to  Desperately Seeking Susan  (1985). This week, we rewind the cult classic that launched Madonna as a movie star and turned downtown New York style into a fashion revolution. We’re talking Rosanna Arquette’s suburban boredom, Aidan Quinn’s sensitive projectionist vibes, Laurie Metcalf stealing every scene, and why this...

In this episode of  The Shermer High Alumni Association , we fire up our computers, channel some questionable 80s movie logic, and revisit  Weird Science  (1985). We talk about Anthony Michael Hall at the height of his teen comedy powers, Ilan Mitchell-Smith’s short-lived Hollywood career, and Kelly LeBrock as the ultimate 80s fantasy creation. We unpack the movie’s wild mix of teen hormones, comp...

In this episode of  The Shermer High Alumni Association , we’re pouring ourselves into the neon-soaked, flair-bartending mess that is  Cocktail  (1988). From Tom Cruise’s Bryan Flanagan chasing big dreams in New York, to Bryan Brown as the charmingly cynical mentor, to Elisabeth Shue as the grounded love interest, this movie delivers high drama, questionable career choices, and enough Blue Hawaiia...

The journey continues as Pee-Wee’s wild cross-country search for his beloved bike reaches peak campiness. We break down the Alamo tour (spoiler: no basement), the biker gang showdown, and the gloriously meta movie-within-a-movie ending. Along the way, we celebrate Paul Reubens’ comedic genius, explore the film’s lasting cult appeal, and revel in the strange, wonderful world Tim Burton built. Wheth...

Grab your bowtie and hop on your bike: this week, we dive into Tim Burton’s delightfully bizarre 1985 classic,  Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure . From Pee-Wee’s legendary breakfast contraption to his epic quest for a stolen bike, we revisit the film’s offbeat humor, surreal set pieces, and the iconic characters that made it unforgettable. We’ll gush over Paul Reubens’ pure commitment to the role, Dottie’s...

We locked ourselves in the attic to rewatch the 1987 adaptation of  Flowers in the Attic , and honestly? We’re still recovering. This week, we take on V.C. Andrews’ gothic cult classic, where a grieving mother hides her children in a mansion attic, a villainous grandmother weaponizes religion, and a bridal veil becomes a murder weapon. From powdered donuts to plot holes, we’re unpacking all the tr...

What do you get when you mix Greek mythology, a disco roller rink, Gene Kelly, and Olivia Newton-John glowing like a cosmic fairy? Well, apparently...  Xanadu . This week, we try to make sense of the gloriously chaotic cult classic that sparkles, spins, and confuses in equal measure. With a plot that feels like it was sketched out on a coke mirror and music that somehow still slaps,  Xanadu  might...

In 1982,  Tootsie  earned 10 Oscar nominations, making Dustin Hoffman a household name (again). This week, we rewind to the chaotic charm of  Tootsie —a film where one man’s desperation turns into daytime TV stardom, unintentional social commentary, and a baby named Amy. We break down: Hoffman's method acting… as a woman Jessica Lange's luminous (and slightly confused) performance Sandy.....oh San...

A flat tire, a Playboy magazine, a stolen car, and an impromptu blues performance—just another normal night of babysitting in 1987… right? This week, we’re revisiting  Adventures in Babysitting , the chaotic cult favorite that gave us Elisabeth Shue, Thor worship, and a truly absurd tour of late-80s Chicago. But between the nostalgia and the neon, this movie also serves up some major cringe—especi...