In a nutshell, John Bender was in Saturday detention for pulling a fire alarm. He is a product of an abusive family and a pot smoker, yet appears to be highly intelligent and a keen observer of the human condition of those around him. He can be both confrontational and kind, and in some instances, a moral compass in the group.
Nelson created Bender from a method-acting approach; so much so, he scared Molly Ringwald and angered John Hughes. He embodied the character from the hair to the clothes and the posturing. But he also colored the character with a vulnerability that with his classmates was raw, and with his principal, delicate. Within him, you could see the smartmouth teen, the scared little boy, and a weary adult. Judd successfully creates a character that while labelled The Criminal, is also a basketcase, a princess, an athlete (c'mon, the ceiling tile trick was awesome), and a brain.
Nelson also delivers some classic movie quotes:
Does Barry Manilow know you raid his wardrobe?
Answer the question Claire!
Eat.. my.. shorts.
So it's sorta social, demented and sad, but social. Right?
Screws fall out all the time, the world is an imperfect place.
Sweets. You couldn't ignore me if you tried.
You're a genius because you can't make a lamp.
Being bad feels pretty good, huh?
Sporto.
You're a neo maxi zoom dweebie, what would you be doing if you weren't out making yourself a better citizen?
Go fix me a turkey pot pie.
The old man grabbed me and said, "Hey, smoke up Johnny."
Prom Queen.
That's very clever, sir. But what if there's a fire? I think violating fire codes and endangering the lives of children would be unwise at this juncture in your career, sir.
Oh, obscene finger gestures from such a pristine girl.
Without lamps, there'd be no light.
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