Name the greatest bro-mances of the '80s
Don't let the hype fool you. Just because I Love You Man and The Hangover were box office treasure booty, and a new season of HBO's Entourage is premiering tonight, remember this: The bro-mance was perfected many moons ago in a magical land called "Eighties-ville."
It was a time when men were men, women were women, and if the two were mixing, there better be a Spandau Ballet song playing in the background.
So what I want to know is: What are your favorite bro-mances of the '80s? You can pick from movies or TV for this list. Here are some that need consideration:
FERRIS AND CAMERON (Ferris Bueller's Day Off): There would have been no "Day Off" without both Matthew Broderick and Alan Ruck teaming up. Is it the best John Hughes bro-mance or would that be ...
GARY AND WYATT (Weird Science):Not even Kelly LeBrock could separate Anthony Michael Hall and Ilan Mitchell-Smith -- from their jeans or each other.
RAY HUGHES AND DANNY COSTANZO (Running Scared): So good together, nobody really remembers their character names. Just say Gregory Hines and Billy Crystal. And cue up Sweet Freedom by Michael McDonald.
JACK CATES AND REGGIE HAMMOND (48 Hours): Okay, so it was more of a love-hate relationship. But it's just fun to look way back in time to when Eddie Murphy was ... funny.
RIGGS AND MURTAUGH (Lethal Weapon): Given the current state of the careers of Mel Gibson and Danny Glover, you know they're rooting for a rekindling of their bro-mance. Big time.
What other bro-mances need to be on the list?
Relive the music, movies and culture of the greatest decade ever with Times online editor Steve Spears. A teen during the decade, Steve is obsessed with everything from Duran Duran to Journey, John Hughes to John Cusack, and parachute pants to Reaganomics.
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Real Genius:
Chris Knight and Mitch Taylor
On a side note, I think this is the first time I've heard the entire spandau ballet true.
Posted by: James | July 17, 2009 at 03:08 PM
Chris Knight and Mitch Taylor (Real Genius)
Skip and Jonathan (Class)
Chuck and Bill (Night Shift)
David and Joshua (WarGames)
Rocky and Apollo Creed (Rocky III)
Axel, Rosewood and Taggert (Beverly Hills Cop)
Youngblood and Derek (Youngblood)
Ratner and Damone (Fast Times at Ridgemont High)
Posted by: TD | July 15, 2009 at 02:44 PM
Paul Newman and Robert Redford!!!
Posted by: Kathie | July 13, 2009 at 02:44 PM
"The bro-mance was perfected many moons ago in a magical land called 'Eighties-ville.'"
I would say it was perfected forty years before that with the Bing Crosby/Bob Hope "Road to ..." movies.
Posted by: Bob H | July 13, 2009 at 02:36 PM
Louis Winthorpe the III & Billy Ray Valentine (Dan Aykroyd & Eddie Murphy) in Trading Places
Posted by: CC | July 13, 2009 at 10:45 AM
My vote goes to Jimmy and Kristy McNichol.
Posted by: Banglijk | July 13, 2009 at 10:11 AM
Not sure if 3's Company was late 70's or early 80's (both)? but Jack and Larry.
Posted by: tbird | July 13, 2009 at 08:36 AM
Tom Hanks and Peter Scolari on Bosom Buddies. Nothin' says bromance like two men in drag....
Posted by: Userblue | July 13, 2009 at 08:21 AM
What about Gib and Lance from The Sure Thing??
Posted by: Beth | July 13, 2009 at 07:09 AM
What makes the Neal Page/Del Griffith relationship great, and the best of the John Hughes bro-mances, is we see it blossom from first meeting to bro-mantic climax over the course of the movie. What has brought the two bros so close is played out, hilarious scene by hilarious scene, before our eyes. Neal + Del forever.
Posted by: Kevy Metal | July 13, 2009 at 02:05 AM
Daniel and Mr. Miyagi!
Marty McFly and Doc!
Teen Wolf and Styles!
Posted by: John Hays | July 13, 2009 at 12:11 AM
I will second Grodin and DeNiro from Midnight Run. Nice call Chase. One of my favorite flicks of all time. (I almost submitted with typo Midnight Rub - good p. flick title!)
Glad to see you surfaced Spears.
Posted by: GAGirl | July 12, 2009 at 10:47 PM
what about Gordie Lachance and Chris Chambers, from Stand By Me (1986)
loved that flick.
Also, going to say someone from the Lost Boys gotta be in there.
(shame Tremors was 1990)
Grodin and DeNiro in Midnight Run?
Posted by: chase | July 12, 2009 at 10:37 PM
Inigo & Fezzik (Princess Bride)
Indiana Jones & Short Round (Temple Of Doom)
Seymore & Audrey II (Little Shop Of Horrors)
John Winger & Russell (Stripes)
Venkman, Stanze, & Egon (Ghostbusters)
David St. Hubbins & Nigel Tufnel (Spinal Tap)
Posted by: Bassnote | July 12, 2009 at 10:34 PM
Jake and Elwood Blues
Posted by: Gary | July 12, 2009 at 10:28 PM
darn, someone already mentioned bill and ted. to me, they were the epitome of the bromance in the 80s.
Posted by: CHAD | July 12, 2009 at 09:07 PM
Spears & Daly.
Posted by: mojo | July 12, 2009 at 07:49 PM
If you're accepting TV bromances:
Balki and Cousin Larry
Posted by: Marissa | July 12, 2009 at 07:39 PM
Good bromances already mentioned, but more 80's movie bromances include: "Tango & Cash" (89); "Cheech and Chong" (four or five movies); Han Solo and Chewbacca (80 & 83); Daniel-San and Miyagi (84, 86 & 89); Rocky Balboa and Apollo Creed (82 & 85).
Shifting to TV bromances: Norm & Cliff and Crocket and Tubbs.
And the ulitmate 80's music bromance: Hall & Oates.
Posted by: Wuenchdog | July 12, 2009 at 07:18 PM
Fred and Randy from Valley Girl surely qualifies.
Posted by: Spears | July 12, 2009 at 07:02 PM
Louis and Gilbert from "Revenge of the Nerds". Lots of bro-mance there.
Posted by: Tom | July 12, 2009 at 06:38 PM
Sort of off topic, but VALLEY GIRL was on Fox this afternoon. I haven't seen that movie on TV since Rhonda Shear was UP! All Night. Dude, that's such a sign!
Larry and Richard from Weekend at Bernie's
and the ultimate '80s bromance :The Coreys!
Posted by: Marissa | July 12, 2009 at 06:24 PM
Neal Page and Del Griffith from Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. "Those aren't pillows!!" Ya, it's the love/hate thing.
Posted by: Gary in Gilroy | July 12, 2009 at 05:52 PM
Oliver Cromwell (O.C.) Ogilvie and Mark Stiggs in Robert Altman's underapprecicated (and slightly uneven) 1985 comendy, "O.C. & Stiggs".
Posted by: Jeff in Cuba | July 12, 2009 at 05:22 PM
Bill & Ted
Maverick & Goose
Posted by: 80sfan | July 12, 2009 at 05:10 PM
Johnny and Ponyboy - The Outsiders!
Posted by: Wes Platt | July 12, 2009 at 05:09 PM