Edge of Seventeen is such a reminder of the
old 1980s John Hughes movies – edgy teens with “real” scenarios and great
soundtracks. Now it’s updated for 2016. For me, a bit too much of the “F” word,
but otherwise, this movie is on target and so true and totally made me laugh
(and cry on the inside) at the same time. I felt for Nadine (a
brilliant Hailee Steinfeld) – she’s an insecure high schooler who’s pretty but
doesn’t know it. She’s not comfortable in her skin and lets her motor mouth run
her façade. She’s smart, well read, and nerdy (and that’s okay but she
doesn’t know it). She resents her mother (Kyra Sedgewick – who can play
attractive but trying too hard and acting too young). She “hates” her brother
Darian ( a very solid Blake Jenner) who’s the star football god at high school.
She counts on her bestie, Krista ( Haley Lu Richardson) who cheats on her with
her brother – yep, Krista is moving on. And then there’s the smitten young
man (Hayden Szeto) that Nadine takes for granted and oh, he’s so right for her.
Seventeen?? Yep, tough age. And this movie
captures all of the horror, the good, the anxiety, and more.
Gotta love Woody Harrelson who’s the English teacher that
Nadine counts on. She’s always barging in on his lunch break and assumes he
really has no life. Ultimately when the chips are down and she counts on
this teacher, he goes the extra mile. He has a wife and a baby and Nadine
witnesses that her teacher is a real person. Oh, she has so much to
learn.
Edge of Seventeen is excellent. It truly
captures that age of uncertainty and potential. I am fifty-eight and
could feel seventeen again – that inner heartache and worry. You’ll laugh
and inner swoon. Huge thumbs up to a superb little film with a big
heart. Go see it
