Video/DVD Review: Sixteen Candles
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What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that this is a hilarious high school
comedy with sharply observed moments. The early '80s score will
sound dated to some, but for others, it will be a walk down
memory lane. But bear in mind that this is also an adult comedy
with teen characters. The teens drink, have sex, and talk about
birth control. Parents may want to exercise caution with more
impressionable kids, and especially preteens or younger. But
this smart exploration of adolescent life will be fun for teens
and adults.
Families can talk about Sam's insecurity about her body. How
could her family have eased some of the anxiety of adolescence?
Families may also want to discuss the stereotype of Long Duk
Dong, and how that stereotype has changed today.
Sam (Molly Ringwald) is turning 16, but her family has forgotten her birthday because of her sister's impending wedding. At school, Sam has a crush on a senior, Jake, who might not know she's alive. Fortunately for Sam, Jake is tiring of his prom-queen girlfriend. With help from a freshman super-geek (Anthony Michael Hall), Jake sets his sights on Sam, but will he find her amidst her sister's wedding chaos to fulfill her birthday wish?
SIXTEEN CANDLES is a hair-raising tour of adolescence. Sam is a girl in the throes of her first crush, and she's desperately insecure about her body. A sublimely awkward dork dogs her heels, alternately yearning for approval and crassly propositioning her. She's infatuated with a senior god and intimidated by his goddess girlfriend.
The movie doesn't raise profound issues or craft scenes of special beauty. However, this is John Hughes at his best; he captures the nuances of adolescent slang and recreates the little humiliations that can make teen life a living hell. It's all in the details: When Sam's grandmother checks out Sam's "perky boobies" with a squeeze, you'll wonder how anyone gets through high school.
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