When most girls think about turning sixteen they think of bumping parties and gorgeous dresses, but for Samantha Baker (Molly Ringwald) turning sixteen is anything but sweet.  

“Sixteen Candles” is a hilarious 1984 comedy that follows Sam Baker’s sixteenth birthday gone wrong.  With the excitement of her older sister’s wedding, her whole family completely forgets about her birthday. On top of that, her grandparents take over her room, she has to ride the school bus with a swarm of freshmen nerds, and her crush Jake Ryan accidentally finds a sex quiz she took in class.

Characters include senior hotshot Jake Ryan, the most popular boy in school and Sam’s crush, Sam’s ditzy older sister and immature younger brother, a group of nerdy freshmen boys, both sets of Sam’s kooky grandparents, and a bizarre Chinese exchange student named “Long Duk Dong.”

Although the movie takes place in the 1980’s, it includes comical high school stereotypes that are still present in films today, such as awkward underclassmen on the school bus, dances in the gym, a house party gone wrong, and embarrassing grandparents.  The portrayal of high school is without a doubt over-the-top, but that’s what makes the movie so funny.

“Sixteen Candles” marks the beginning of an era for director John Hughes, as it was his first of many iconic high school movies to come such as “The Breakfast Club,” “Pretty in Pink,” and “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.”  Likewise, the film also served as Molly Ringwald’s big break in Hollywood.

The movie was filmed in various suburbs of Chicago, serving as the perfect location for an adolescent based story line. With 1980’s music blasting through the speakers at the high school dance and pepto-bismol-pink puffy sleeved bridesmaids gowns, the movie screams 1980’s pop culture in every way.  

I would recommend this movie to anyone over the age of fourteen.  While the movie is rated PG, movie rating criteria has drastically changed over the years.  It should be rated at least PG-13, for it includes profane language and sexual content.

I personally did not enjoy “Sixteen Candles” as much as some of Hughes’ other works, but that is to be expected because Hughes had to start somewhere. I really did like the movie, but it is hard to compare it to “Ferris Bueller’s Day off” or “The Breakfast Club” which are two of my favorite movies of all time.

 Nevertheless, the movie was still very enjoyable and deserves a four out of five star rating.  “Sixteen Candles” was just recently added on Netflix, so make sure to put it on your list if you’re looking for good laugh.