"This biography is a fascinating portrait of a brilliant, complex, and wonderful man. John Hughes forever transformed my world, and I am grateful for such a wonderful tribute." - Ally Sheedy

"John Hughes always treated me with respect and consideration, and was most generous with his insight. As a result of Mr. Honeycutt's detailed research, we learn John Hughes the person was even more impressive than John Hughes the writer/director. Reading this book was a bittersweet experience, making me feel the size of the loss of his premature passing. But it also confirmed for me that John Hughes was a giant, and under his great shadow I am fortunate to remain." - Judd Nelson STARRED REVIEW **

"Filmmaker John Hughes (1950-2009) captured the zeitgeist of suburban America in the 1980s and 1990s with his iconic teen-angst comedies and madcap cinematic romps. In this retrospective, film critic and blogger (honeycuttshollywood.com) Honeycutt reviews Hughes's legacy of creating memorable characters such as the title character in Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986), writing humorous and zany stories such as those of the "Vacation" and "Home Alone" movies, and spotting talented actors including Molly Ringwald, star of Sixteen Candles (1984) and Pretty in Pink (1986). While it is evident that the author is a fan, the book is not merely a nostalgic look back at an impressive filmography. Honeycutt takes a critical look at the filmmaker and his films. Even though Hughes's sensitivity and perfectionism led him to create believable "underdog" or "outsider" characters and endearing stories, these same traits also made it increasingly difficult for him to work with the actors, directors, and producers as his career progressed, eventually resulting in his retirement from filmmaking. VERDICT Reminiscent of a high school yearbook in format and filled with behind-the-scenes photos and movie posters, the book is perfect for film students, fans of Hughes's movies, and "I love the Eighties" devotees." - Library Journal "...longtime Variety movie-industry reporter and critic and current film-studies professor Kirk Honeycutt's newly published retrospective, John Hughes: A Life In Film does something a bit different. Rather than examining Hughes's place in the broader cultural milieu or conducting an unauthorized census into Hughes's life story, Honeycutt takes us through a chronological tour of the Chicago native's two decades in show business. Starting with his transition from writing ad copy to joining National Lampoon's ranks and concluding on the bittersweet note of his somewhat infamous late-90s flops (Flubber, Baby's Day Out), Honeycutt also interviews collaborators including Matthew Broderick and Pretty in Pink director Howard Deutch (Hughes wrote the screenplay). The end result makes no bones about Hughes's erratic output and reputedly aloof personality, but also offers insight into creative and logistical process that went into his body of work." - FastCompany.com