I am a sucker for a good teenage romp film. Long before the current onslaught of melodramatic YA adaptations, there were the classic 90's staples like CLUELESS, CAN'T HARDLY WAIT, and DAZED AND CONFUSED that managed to broach touchy subjects while still poking good fun at the adolescent condition. Though later films like SUPERBAD and JUNO captured a similar joie de vivre-with-a-conscious vibe, I seemed to have missed any recent teen films that have hit the same mark. So, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the new teen dramedy EDGE OF SEVENTEEN perfectly seized that elusive essence, adding another favorite to the beloved genre's catalog.
EDGE OF SEVENTEEN is about a girl with a Gibraltar-size chip on her shoulder. Since early childhood, Nadine has compared herself to her "perfect" brother Darian, and has pretty much maintained a defeatist attitude throughout her formative years. Though her friendship with her bestie since first grade has buoyed her through her awkwardness, she has never really felt like a member of the norm. When a family tragedy strikes in her early teens and things get even more complicated later on, Nadine further regresses into her antisocial tendencies and has trouble coping with the inevitable ever-changing lives of those surrounding her.
So, this all may sound pretty melodramatic, but writer/director Kelly Fremon Craig has performed that magical feat of creating humor in even the most dire of situations. The film is chock full of witty, hilarious dialogue reminiscent of 90's Kevin Williamson magic, and each character is wonderfully fleshed out. The result is a poignant yet hysterical look at angst from all the angles.
Hailee Steinfeld as Nadine is absolutely on point. Imagine all the levity and razor-tongued discourse from her debut in TRUE GRIT with a 2016 sensibility. The banter is extremely clever, but it's Steinfeld's keen comic delivery that elevates it beyond the typical smarty pants teen speak.
A supporting cast including Blake Jenner as the perfect brother, Kyra Sedgwick as the on-edge mom, and Woody Harrelson as the sage yet hilariously ambivalent teacher are all surprisingly well-rounded. In a story where the protagonist is revealed to actually be the antagonist, a solid group of players is a must in order to adequately convey the main character's increasingly apparent flaws. Just when you're supposed to hate Darian for being perfect, you realize that he really is sincerely the good guy. When you see Sedgwick as the slightly unhinged mom, you can see exactly why. And when Nadine obnoxiously underestimates Harrelson's no nonsense teacher, the lessons she unexpectedly learn about herself truly hit home.
EDGE OF SEVENTEEN is a total win for me. I haven't enjoyed watching a character dig themselves into and out of a hole like this in a long time, and I laughed heartily out loud throughout the effort. EDGE OF SEVENTEEN hits theaters on November 18th, so if you're looking for a post-election jolt of irreverent fun, I suggest you hit the theater and check it out.
Rebecca Elliott
aka Annette Kellerman
