If
John Hughes didn't exist, Chicago would have had to invent him.
His flame didn't burn long — about seven solid years of filmmaking, give or take a moment — but brightly enough to have ignited a generation, of actors and moviegoers alike.
Molly Ringwald and Anthony Michael Hall may have been the messengers. Hughes was the voice.
My favorite movie:
Uncle Buck (1989)
This is the one, mainly because I can relate to the lead character. No, not John Candy.
To me, the star is Jean Louisa Kelly's character, Tia Russell. She's the dagger-eyed, venom-tongued, sour-spirited teen that Candy's slacker character, Uncle Buck Russell, finally bends to reality's will.
Somehow, Hughes directed Tia — a Bug-dating, rule-flaunting teen drama queen — subtly enough that I saw her heart cowering below the surface of her hateful facade.
In many ways, I was that fearful teen. At the time "Uncle Buck" came out, I was in the eighth grade. I was too young to appreciate "simple" things, like the fact that the world didn't revolve around me. Or the fact that it shouldn't. Or the fact that if it didn't, it might actually be a better, more fun place to live. Oy, my poor family.
I probably still have problems accepting that. For example, I just used the word "probably," like I can fool myself. The world is ours. It's not mine, and I'm happier when I can remember to share it openly.
I can laugh, even now that I'm the unwed, weird relative, much like Uncle Buck's character was in the movie. Hmmm ... Especially now that I'm the unwed, weird relative.
— Jennifer Chancellor
Read much more on the impact of Hughes' movies, including "National Lampoon's Vacation," "Mr. Mom," "Sixteen Candles," "The Breakfast Club," "Weird Science" and more at tulsaworld.com, 
here.
