I just rewatched Sixteen Candles for its 40th anniversary. It hasn't aged that well, but here are the moments that I think are still worth celebrating

May 4th is a big day for War of stars, But it's not the only film worth celebrating. The day also marks the release of legendary writer/director John Hughes' directorial debut. Sixteen candles. Not only did the film launch his career as a director, but it was also the first of many coming-age films he directed. In 2024 it will be 40 years ago Sixteen candlespremiere, and while it hasn't aged well by today's standards, there are still a handful of moments worth celebrating.

Molly Ringwald plays Samantha Baker, a teenager whose 16th birthday is overshadowed by her sister's wedding, which takes place the next day. Not only does her entire family forget about her special day, but things only get worse from there. She was evicted from her bedroom so her grandparents could stay there; She continues to harbor hopeless longing for senior Jake Ryan (Paul Dooley), who, unbeknownst to her, becomes aware of her; And she fights off Ted (Anthony Michael Hall), a geeky newbie who's just trying to get along with her so he can seem cool to his friends.

At 40 years old, sixteen candles have not aged well

technology and image technology, Sixteen candles holds up as well as any other classic film of the decade. It's neither better nor worse than the original war of stars trilogy or Indiana Jones. While the Brat Pack cast may never age, the same can't be said about the films they appeared in. Classic Coming of Age might be one of the worst offenders when it comes to some of the story's problematic elements.

The only character of color in the film is a caricature of harmful Asian stereotypes. He's purely there for “comedic” effect and lacks any real depth, which only makes his character worse for representation purposes. Luckily, we have come a long way since then and there have been many great films about Asian history and culture.

Despite being the main character, Samantha (and some of the young female characters) are often demeaned and portrayed as hysterical. Even her sister, the bride-to-be, is not exempt from this sexist ideology, as the film goes so far as to make fun of her for having her period on her wedding day.

As if these two examples weren't proof enough that the coming-of-age film hasn't aged well, then the film's terrible attempt to excuse sexual assault as a funny moment will definitely do the trick. Although it is unclear whether Ted actually slept with a drunk Caroline, he did take photos of her without her consent.

But there are some moments that deserve to be celebrated

There is no denying that a large part of it Sixteen candles is outdated and downright problematic. However, there are some moments in the film that are starting to show their age; so good that they have become iconic pop culture moments.

Perhaps the best moment to emerge from the coming-of-age flick is the final scene where Sam finally catches the guy. Sam forgoes her sister's reception and takes Jake Ryan to his home, where he gives her a cake to celebrate her birthday. As the birthday candles burn, the two share a chaste teenage kiss on the table. It's romantic, thoroughly youthful, and easily one of the most iconic moments in any John Hughes film.

Another classic Sam and Jake Ryan scene worth celebrating occurs moments before the cake scene. When Sam realizes that her sister left her veil at the altar when she ripped it off (after taking too many muscle relaxers for period cramps), she goes back into the house to get it. When she returns, most of her family has already gone to the reception, but one person is waiting for her: Jake Ryan.

He not only waits for her, but also stands leisurely next to his red Porsche 944. She is so surprised that he has to repeat himself twice. which has become one of the funniest quotes from a Hughes film. The scene has become a pop culture sensation. Receiving references in numerous shows and films – including a subtle Easter egg Bridesmaids.

Less popular, but still worth mentioning, is the scene where Sam has a heartfelt conversation with her father about the trials and tribulations of growing up. For an '80s film, having the father comfort his teenage daughter and even apologize was pretty groundbreaking. For that moment alone, her father might be one of the best movie dads of the decade.

The unfortunate truth is that films and series will always age poorly, even newer ones are very dear to us. It is important to look critically at any problems that may arise and understand how they could complicate the future. At the same time, it's important to continue to honor films that have had a lasting impact on pop culture.

If you've never seen Sixteen Candles before or know what you'd like to rewatch to celebrate the big anniversary, you can stream it with an active Amazon Prime Video subscription.

I just rewatched Sixteen Candles for its 40th anniversary. It hasn't aged that well, but here are the moments that I think are still worth celebrating

At 40 years old, sixteen candles have not aged well

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I just rewatched Sixteen Candles for its 40th anniversary. It hasn't aged that well, but here are the moments that I think are still worth celebrating

At 40 years old, sixteen candles have not aged well

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