Most 80s movies seem cheesy by today's standards. The teens seem cheesy. This had a different mood to it. More bitter/sweet. Melancholy themes. Dark edgy teenage parties. The mood was before its time. Take away some of the 80s sounding score and this could pass as a movie made in 1994.
I agree this movie has more of an early 90's feel to it despite it being filmed and released in 1989, it doesn't look as dated as many films that came out that year.
sharewhereas the 1989 'Christmas Vacation' feels very much 1980s :)
shareReally? I always thought Christmas Vacation felt more 1990s to me. It's hard to believe Vacation and Christmas Vacation were only released 6 years apart.
shareUm no? The neighbors have the quintessential 1980s "cool" decor. The son and daughter have 80s hair. The mother has 80s hair. Their car is an 80s sedan.
shareI guess it's the Christmas atmosphere that makes it feel timeless, to me. But if I had to guess when it was filmed, I would say early 90's. Same with Uncle Buck and Home Alone (which DID come out in 1990).
Now Planes, Trains and Automobiles feels very 1980's. But it still has that holiday atmosphere, as well.
Home Alone feels 90s to me, just because Mac was a big star of the early 90s so I instantly associate him to that era.
shareThose things didn't disappear on the stroke of midnight when 1989 became 1990. Having said that, Uncle Buck has that John Hughes feel that Planes, Trains & Automobiles and The Breakfast Club had, and I associate that with the '80s.
shareUncle Buck feels a little closer to the '90s compared to most of the other John Hughes' '80s movies.
I thought the opposite -- it looked very much what one would associate with the '80's to me. Maybe I need to watch it again. Not a John Hughes movie, but a movie that I feel was EXTREMELY ahead of its time in theme, style, fashions, and, well, everything, is PARENTHOOD, also from 1989, in fact released even before UNCLE BUCK, in the summer of 1989 -- that one looks modern today!
I thought I was the only one who saw Christmas Vacation as a 90s feel movie. I think it feels way more early 90s than 80s.
shareGood point op and I agree. I am watching it on tv now and it does have a timeless feel to it. Unlike some movies, the time period doesn't intrude on or distract from the story, you don't even really think about it actually. It's really a great movie! :) John Hughes' writing with John Candy's acting, a great tandem.
"If it doesn't make sense, it's not true." -- Judge Judy
Probably the most 80s looking people in it are the parents, and thankfully they leave early in the piece.
shareYeah, there was more to this slapstick than endless gags & a mild payoff towards the ending.
90's seemed to grow up a bit if you will & allow more appreciation for flaws & redemptions.
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Yes, 1989 did have more of a 90's feel and look IRL so I guess the movie picked that up too. Things changed a lot that year.
Like Ice Ice Baby is a 1989 song, but I think of the 90's when I hear it.
Attn All Units!
I see what you mean with this movie having an early 90s feel to it. 1989-1991, stylistically had that pre cursor to the 90s feel to it. It was quite 80s anymore, not quite 90s yet.
shareI actually remember in 1989 feeling that the magic was sort of gone, like an era had passed.
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I was still young, but I do remember that when the early 90s came along, the 80s seemed so dated and in the past.
Advertising in print and other media played a bit. Movies, music, cars and haircuts changed a bit by 1991 too.
Yes, fashions and styles, and attitudes, seemed to move fast. Only now am I starting to perceive a difference with 2000s movies, yet for a long time I couldn't really see the difference. I think changes are less abrupt these days.
shareI remember certain 90s style trends starting to appear in 1989 so it wasn't uncommon but I totally agree, the depiction of teenagers in this film was extremely grungy and 90s. It reminded me of the 1994 TV show 'My So Called Life'.
shareNow fashion for those in their 20s is sort of a more classy grungy with tattoos and piercings thrown into the mix. Everything seems to repeat itself.
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