Sixteen Candles Review

 In “Sixteen Candles” a teenage girl shows predictable angst after her family forgets her birthday. After an unwanted romantic pursuit by a geek and while trying to get together with a guy she likes, she ultimately sees the value in her family and unpleasant circumstances that will inevitably turn pleasant. 

Sixteen Candles is, to put it simply, surprisingly funny. Fueled by an effective pursuit by the young Molly Ringwald and injected with strong writing and dialogue, the film more than stands on its own. 

The two greatest strengths of the movie are the writing and the acting. Completely revolutionary at the time, the writing humanizes most of the characters (the aforementioned Ringwald is great, though Anthony Michael Hall as a geek practically steals the scenes he’s in, also). 

While I stand by my statements about the characters being well-written, not all characters are written equally (an asian character and the main love interest both are a bit stereotyped/unpleasant, but they’re the exception rather than the norm). Also the filmmaking craft isn’t particularly flashy or phenomenal in terms of visual aesthetic (though that’s not really a problem as it doesn't change the effect the story has and has had on many people). 

In conclusion, while there are definitely some unsavory elements that haven’t aged very well, the film remains timeless as a funny coming-of-age movie from a decade fueled primarily by pop blockbusters. For those who enjoy solid character work and witty dialogue, how can you resist?