Sixteen Candles (1984)

Genre

Comedy | Romance

Director

John Hughes

Country

USA

Cast

Molly Ringwald, Paul Dooley, Justin Henry, Anthony Michael Hall, Michael Schoeffling, Gedde Watanabe, Haviland Morris, Carlin Glynn, Blanche Baker, Edward Andrews, Billie Bird, Carole Cook, Max Showalter, Liane Curtis, John Cusack, Darren Harris, Deborah Pollack, Joan Cusack

Storyline

It's Samantha Baker's (Molly Ringwald) sixteenth birthday but her family is so wrapped up in her sister's (Blanche Baker) wedding that they completely forgot about it. As if that wasn't enough, she has a crush on the most popular guy (Michael Schoeffling) in school  who apparently doesn't know she even exists, but she is noted by a geek (Anthony Michael Hall) who lusts after her at every opportunity.

Opinion

One year before "The Breakfast Club" John Hughes made "Sixteen Candles" which is arguably one of his most popular films. Since I've never seen it when I was a teen, and it was on TV a few nights ago, I caught the opportunity to watch it. And I kind of enjoyed it. Yes, even though I'm an adult now.

Unlike "The Breakfast Club" that is slightly more complex as it tries to handle the seriousness of social peers, the story to this film is quite simple yet nicely done and it revolves around a teen girl whose parents forget about her sixteenth birthday. But it's not just that, there is also a romantic interest/romance involved, that eventually becomes the most predictable final ever, but if you are expecting originality you should probably stay away from teen movies.

Of course there are the relatable and/or goofy characters, and I'm not talking only about the supporting characters, but the main as well, because Sam is just an anonymous high school girl that has the hots for the most popular guy. Unless you were the most popular girl or guy in high school, I'm sure you can totally relate with that.

The film is full of humour that still works nowadays even though at times it is quite inappropriate and unfunny. And some characters - like Long Duk Dong, the foreign exchange student living with Sam's grandparents - are awfully stereotyped for the only purpose of making people laugh.

The soundtrack is beautiful and memorable, but I think that's the thing of 80s' movies. Am I right? 

As for the cast, it was interesting to see Molly Ringwald and Anthony Michael Hall working together "again", even though they got stuck in stereotyped roles. But their comedic timing is just amazing.