A Film whose end is triumphant—Largely because it brings relief from the 90 minute cringe that came before.
Regan Humphrey
Samantha Baker (Molly Ringwald) is horrified to discover that everyone in her family has forgotten about her sixteen birthday. Her brooding is spurred by the incessant advances of “Farmer Ted,” an obnoxious, oblivious freshman with a crush on her (Anthony Michael Hall) and the agonizing unavailability of Jake Ryan (Michael Schoeffling), her ideal.
REF SCORE: 13%
Soundtrack: 50%
Story: 100%
Writing: 60%
Diversity: 60%
Daring: 100%
Racism: PERVASIVE – 100%
Gender Bias: PERVASIVE – 100%
Homophobia: PERVASIVE – 70%
SUMMARY
Though an important contribution the American zeitgeist and sweet for the romantic success of a deserving heroine, Sixteen Candles (1984) remains a challenging watch. The horrifically racist portrayal of an exchange student and the unending objectification of (and intent to defile) women is a pungent odor, still acrid 36 years later.
ref score 