We've Made it!

After bearing witness to six teen movies, five of which I have determined to be worthy of “classic” status, which films would I recommend in particular to my loyal readers? First, I would refer you to the handy dandy ratings system for quality, located at the bottom of each review. Then, I would urge you to cross reference with the ‘fun’ scale I have included below for the films that I have deemed “worthy to watch”, indicated by a score of four or higher on the quality scale.

Upon completion of this project, it has become obvious that there is no perfect formula for a classic teen movie. Some films succeed because they achieve a delicate balance between light-hearted fun, comedy, and real issues that teens face, such as Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Other films take a completely different approach, offering a purely diverting, pleasant, and even nostalgia-inducing experience such as Grease and Clueless. Another type of teen film, as evidenced in Rebel Without a Cause, yields a different approach, staunchly addressing issues such as bullying, the true nature of strength, friendship, and mental health issues, all the while maintaining the intense, suspenseful pace of a good drama. It would be unfair to judge these films any further, as they have their unique merits, and are equally worth watching.

Many teen movies, such as Bring it On, completely fail to draw the audience into the story, and instead rely on tired cliché storylines without exploring the depth of their own story and characters. After viewing Beach Party, I came to the realization that while a film may be popular for a few years surrounding its release, it doesn’t necessarily mean it will be a classic enjoyed for all time. While Beach Party should be considered a classic for its impact, as it sparked a genre all of its own, the slow pace of the movie has dated it so that it has lost most of its appeal to a modern audience.

Throughout this project I have seen everything from sandy beach parties, makeover and shopping montages, chickie-runs, dance competitions and days off from school. It’s time to stop being cooped up in my room watching and taking notes on teen movies, and live a little. After all, life moves pretty fast.