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Molly Ringwald established herself as the teen queen of the '80s in this fresh comedy. The movie is a day in the life of Samantha, whose 16th birthday is turning out to be anything but sweet. All the traumas of teendom come down on one long day, which sees Samantha surrounded by dithery relatives, mooning over a high school hunk, and pursued by a sawed-off Lothario.Sixteen Candles marked the directing debut of John Hughes, and its goofy energy displayed a promising talent with a great ear for high school lingo ... a promise neglected since Hughes became, afterHome Alone, a one-man entertainment industry. There are some pretty crass moments (Why the stereotype of the foreign-exchange student from Asia?), but Ringwald's steady appeal smoothes over the rough spots. As the pubescent, self-styled lady-killer, Anthony Michael Hall turns in a hilarious portrait of a young swinger; he and Ringwald would reteam with Hughes forThe Breakfast Club, another key teen picture of the decade.--Robert Horton
"No, Sam. You're Just Being a Little Selfish and Immature." If you grew up in the 1980s, and you haven't seen this movie, I don't know what to tell ya. It's as much a staple of 1980s culture as "Thriller," ColecoVision, and Saturday evening runs of "Solid Gold." In fact, "Sixteen Candles" and its influence are so ingrained in American pop culture, every other adult in their mid-thirties is able to recite the script in their sleep. For the uninitiated, former Brat Packer Molly Ringwald is Samantha Baker, a suburbanite whose parents blow off her sixteenth birthday because they're too preoccupied with her older sister's wedding, which takes place the next day. High school crushes are as inevitable as acne, and Samantha has the hots for the hunky jock Jake Ryan (Michael Schoeffling), who is already attached to prima donna prom queen Carolyn (Haviland Morris). While Samantha works up the nerve to approach Jake, she's trying to ward off the Geek (a star-making performance by Anthony Michael Hall) and his unwanted advances. All the while this is happening, Samantha is completely bummed that her parents forgot her birthday. I mean, a kid's sixteenth birthday is pretty major, so her frustration and angst are pretty understandable. But no matter how well you summarize this already-familiar plot, you can't deny the fact that "Sixteen Candles" has some of the best one-liners you will find in any film. The humor is plumb-dumb silly but a whole lot of fun thanks to director John Hughes. However, if "Sixteen Candles" has revealed its age in any way, it's through its subplot with foreign exchange student Long Duck Dong (Geede Wantanabe). The ethnic jokes border on tasteless, but it's hard not to laugh out loud at Dong's attempt to assimilate into American culture. While "Sixteen Candles" isn't a "classic" as we understand the term, it's a revered favorite that still generates chuckles from me. I'm just disappointed that the film features music and a soundtrack that's different from the original version. What's more, the DVD looks like a bare-bones effort with virtually no features and it has lackluster sound. However, "Sixteen Candles" still earns its five star rating for it's such a sentimental favorite for many viewers.
Sweet Sixteen John Hughes directorial debut, "Sixteen Candles" is a real treat. The cast of young actors are very genuine and the story line is very good. The movie revolves around Samantha Baker(Molly Ringwald), whose sixteenth birthday is forgotten in the hectic day before her big sister's wedding. In a funny scene, Samantha is talking on the phone to her best friend, complaining how she has to go down stairs&endure the family making a big fuss over her birthday. When she gets downstairs, not a word about her birthday, mom even forgot to make her lunch. The look of utter suprise on Sammy's face is priceless, and Ringwald has that cute kewpie doll face that really makes the expression work. The other issues in the movie, growing up, falling love, interacting with family&friends are very real. One of Hughe's greatest strengths as a filmmaker is the keen ear he has for teen dialogue. His characters act&speak like REAL teenagers, not some hollywood producers conception of teenagers. I especially liked Paul Dooley as Sammy's father, he was affectionate without being sappy, and their scene in the living room is warm and engaging. The happy ending is wonderful. If you like well made movies that capture the teenage years and the 1980's, check out "Sixteen Candles".Definitive 80's. A must! Sixteen Candles is a must-see classic. Truly unique, original, and memorable. The cast is fantastic and the story has been duplicated countless times. It took me so long to finally see this, and I regret not seeing it earlier. Everyone talks about it, it's not worth being left out and you're just gonna thank yourself later anyway, so SEE IT NOW if you haven't already. If you have, see it again, memorize the lines, and have a Sixteen Candles drinking party!!!!
