Sixteen Candles | Blogmas Day 8

Happy Blogmas Day 8!

Today's film review comes in the form of Sixteen Candles, one of those classic movies that everyone knows about, even if they haven't actually seen it. I myself hadn't seen it until very recently, but I immediately knew that I wanted to review it, so here's my review!

It's Samantha's (Molly Ringwald) 16th birthday, the day when she feels like she should finally start becoming a woman. But rather than celebrate with her, her family are too preoccupied with her sister's wedding to even remember the special day. However, for Samantha, the only thing she cares about is capturing the affections of Jake Ryan (Michael Schoeffling), all the while avoiding Ted (Anthony Michael Hall), the only boy who actually likes her.

There's something familiar and comforting about this movie, even if you weren't born at this time. You instantly feel safe in a John Hughes movie, there's something nostalgic there that you feel without even knowing it.

The fact that Samantha is navigating turning 16, while many of the people watching this film will already be out of their adolescence, is important because it serves to remind the audience of a simpler time. Throughout the film, you know that many of the things worrying Samantha will soon become insignificant and irrelevant in her life. The benefit of this is that it puts you in the mindset of a teenager, reminding you what it was like to care so much about things that later meant nothing.

The actual events of the film are slowed down by moments of just two characters having a conversation. But these moments are the heartwarming aspects that make the film a classic.

Samantha is an extremely frustrating character, in terms of her actions, her dialogue, and her treatment of other characters. However, it could be said that this frustration surrounding her character mirrors the frustration that she had at this time as a teenage girl. You as the audience feel as frustrated with her as she feels with her own life.

Having said all this, the thing that most struck me about the film was that there didn't seem to be a really significant plot. It doesn't fit into a definitive genre other than coming-of-age, but nothing that happened was particularly interesting. The problem is that I don't think it has aged particularly well, and it isn't viewed in the same way today as it was when it was made.

5.5/10

It's 17 days until Christmas!

Come back tomorrow for Blogmas day 9!