People who were teens in 80's... what did you think of 16 candles at the time?

[Anonymous]

Re: Joan Cusack and the drink of water scene...yes, it's terrible, just like all the other outrageous scenes that highlight social issues for effect. That was the whole point. For perspective, this movie come out in 1984, six years before the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed into law.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I loved the central love story and Molly Ringwald's take on a generally angsty teen.

Every other storyline was problematic: the date rape, the racist tropes on Gedde Watanabe's character - with the bonus of treating Joan Cusack as a loser because of scoliosis - and the mafia jokes about the sister's fiance and her being drugged at the wedding (and presumably for the wedding night too).

God people, rewatch the movie! No one drugged the bride. She took too much medicine for her menstrual cramps. And she did this on her own, no one tricked her into it!

Right- but it wasn’t simple Midol. She was on hard core muscle relaxers, which were much more commonly prescribed for menstrual cramps back then. Midol wouldn’t make a person act like that, even if she had overdosed.

It’s a movie that took all of the craziness of high school in the 80s and oversimplified and over exaggerated it all at the same time. Most of Joh Hughes’s movies did that. That’s why all of us normal kids ran to see his films. Granted, there was a lot of sex and booze in high school but nothing was quite as beautiful as they were in the movies.

PS- everyone talks about the rapey and racist behavior but what about poor Joan Cusack who had to struggle with her scoliosis brace and couldn’t even get a drink of water? Anti-ADA!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a 17 year old dad, am 50, and have the following thoughts:

1. 16 candles was cringey at the time and the least favorite of the Hughes movies with my friends

2. My DD was horrified by it and the other John Hughes movies. Likes Real Genius though (but not Top Secret or Fletch). You wanna freak ourself out? The original Ghostbusters is VeRY bad in many ways

3. Her name was Baby to show how sheltered she was by her family - Swayze didn’t give her the name. She was also very clearly interested in him and he was reluctant - he did not stalk or rape her in any way. DD approves.

4. We DID know what date rape was. We also did not think the police would help us. Two of my friends were date raped in college, and neither would press charges.

Didn't Ghostbusters have a ghost having sex with Sigourney Weaver?

[Anonymous]

Footloose also didn’t stand the test of time. Ariel was beat up by her boyfriend and nobody cared!

[Anonymous]

I liked all those movies as a teen and I was shocked when I watched some of 16 Candles again recently. I wouldn’t want my teenagers to watch them. It was the first time I really felt so old that “times have changed”.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am 100% Asian and felt zero offense, both then & now at the whole Long Duck Dong character.
I thought it was funny how they always played that “dong” sound whenever he was featured, but I can see how certain people can get offended.

What I loved about the movie was the kind things Molly Ringwald’s Father told her that night on the sofa.
That if the guy she likes does not seem interested in her, then there is definitely something wrong w/him, not her.

I would have loved a Father who could have built me up like that.

All girls should have the opportunity to hear they are special by their own Dads.
There would be less tolerance on their end for staying w/men who treat them bad I believe.

Another Asian here, born in Asia. I'm not offended either and found all of it funny.

Asian here and it was totally offensive and only encouraged kids to be even more racist towards me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am 100% Asian and felt zero offense, both then & now at the whole Long Duck Dong character.
I thought it was funny how they always played that “dong” sound whenever he was featured, but I can see how certain people can get offended.

What I loved about the movie was the kind things Molly Ringwald’s Father told her that night on the sofa.
That if the guy she likes does not seem interested in her, then there is definitely something wrong w/him, not her.

I would have loved a Father who could have built me up like that.

All girls should have the opportunity to hear they are special by their own Dads.
There would be less tolerance on their end for staying w/men who treat them bad I believe.

Another Asian here, born in Asia. I'm not offended either and found all of it funny.

Asian here and it was totally offensive and only encouraged kids to be even more racist towards me.

Well guess what? People have different opinions!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am 100% Asian and felt zero offense, both then & now at the whole Long Duck Dong character.
I thought it was funny how they always played that “dong” sound whenever he was featured, but I can see how certain people can get offended.

What I loved about the movie was the kind things Molly Ringwald’s Father told her that night on the sofa.
That if the guy she likes does not seem interested in her, then there is definitely something wrong w/him, not her.

I would have loved a Father who could have built me up like that.

All girls should have the opportunity to hear they are special by their own Dads.
There would be less tolerance on their end for staying w/men who treat them bad I believe.

Another Asian here, born in Asia. I'm not offended either and found all of it funny.

Asian here and it was totally offensive and only encouraged kids to be even more racist towards me.

Well guess what? People have different opinions!

Obviously. I never said you weren’t allowed to feel differently.