The Edge of Seventeen

            A lot of times when we see high school teen movies by today’s standards, we tend to make comments about how they’re not as good as they used to be in the 80’s. I think a prime reason for that is because most of them don’t seem to take as many risks, preferring to get box office revenue from a watered down PG-13 version of what high school was supposedly like, as opposed to what John Hughes did by showing us the full on reality. Sure, there are films in recent memory like “The Spectacular Now,” “Paper Towns,” and “The Perks of Being a Wallflower,” that manage to capture it right, but at the same time you’ll get films like the remake of “Endless Love” and the “American Pie” franchise that just make you cringe at how aggravating it makes itself out to be. However, there is a sliver of hope, with today’s topic, “The Edge of Seventeen.”

            The film is about the life of Nadine Franklin, a teenage girl entering her junior year of high school, but isn’t quite the social butterfly. When her best friend, Krista, sleeps with Nadine’s douchebag brother, Darian, their friendship ends up in deep shit. This leads to Nadine going through a bit of a transitional period about how things have turned out in life.

            So what did I think of this film? Surprisingly enough, this turned out being one of my favorite movies of 2016, and I’m proud to say that. Writer/director, Kelly Fremon Craig, delivered an excellent film that just about everyone can find something to relate to, even if it’s a coming-of-age story about a teenage girl. Everyone has had that awkward phase in high school, regardless of who or what they were, moments where it feels like proper socializing is only something everyone but you can do right. We’ve all been there at some point.

            Usually when it comes to stories like these, we either have to deal with stereotypes like the meat-headed jocks or the ditzy dumb sluts, depending on whose perspective it’s taken from. However, this film doesn’t go that route on any of them. Each of the characters in this film feel like actual people, especially with their dialogue, leaving you in tears from laughing or from feeling sympathetic for their situation.

            Ever since her film debut in the remake of “True Grit,” Hailee Steinfeld has only been getting better and better with each passing role. And as Nadine, she truly brings to life one of the most likable protagonists that I’ve seen this year. At first, you think she’d just be some angsty teen who acts moody because of one really bad day, but not exactly true. She’s had this attitude throughout her life, thinking that only a select few people really understand her and the rest of the world thinks she’s just a whiner. Same can be said for the rest of the cast, consisting of Blake Jenner as Darian, Haley Lu Richardson as Krista, and even Hayden Szeto as Nadine’s awkward admirer, Erwin. They all have traits that just about everyone in the audience can relate to and have a deep connection with.

            However, the scene stealer is, of course, Woody Harrelson as Nadine’s teacher. A lot of what he says would typically be something a teacher would risk their job saying, but Harrelson’s delivery makes it feel so genuine that it’s hard not to appreciate. Whether he’d have something helpful to say or make some kind of sarcastic comment, you can’t help but love it. The scenes that Steinfeld and Harrelson share together are definitely the best parts, and they alone are worth recommending.

            While there are some big blockbusters out right now, such as “Arrival,” “Fantastic Beasts,” and “Moana,” don’t let this film get lost in the crowd. Much like “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” and “The Spectacular Now,” it feels like a love letter to the films of John Hughes, and that his legacy has left an impact on future film makers. I expect this film will be looked back on with fond memories in ten to twenty years, much like “The Breakfast Club” and “Sixteen Candles,” and I hope more people feel the same way. It’s definitely one of my favorite films of the year, and I can’t wait to buy this film when it comes out on blu-ray.

Rating: 10/10