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

[Anonymous]

Just watched the movie with Millennials and Gen Z (ages from 37-22). We were all absolutely horrified by the blatant racism against Asians and sexism of the film. We could not believe how the movie glorified date rape culture (the main guy giving the nerdy guy his passed out girlfriend to do whatever he wanted with her...) and how alot of the men were just plain predators...

Don't get me started on a non-consenting woman being forced down the aisle to get married.

We were all wondering if this was actually funny in the 80s. Did anyone see anything wrong with this or was this just the way it was back then?

[Anonymous]

Yes! It was hilarious. Long Duck Dong part felt wrong, though.

[Anonymous]

I loved 16 Candles when I was 15-16. I rewatched it this summer, and it is both racist and rapey. I also loved "Revenge of the Nerds" and it's also rapey.

[Anonymous]

By the way, we had a sense of humor and laughed our bums off at offensive comedy.

[Anonymous]

Loved it. Times have changed, thank goodness, but wrecked a lot of movies along the way! I’m reluctant to go back and watch old favorites for that reason.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I loved 16 Candles when I was 15-16. I rewatched it this summer, and it is both racist and rapey. I also loved "Revenge of the Nerds" and it's also rapey.

Another 80s kid - and yep to all that.

Molly Ringwald wrote a great essay for The New Yorker about revisiting these movies that she starred in:

https://www.newyorker.com/culture/personal-history/what-about-the-breakfast-club-molly-ringwald-metoo-john-hughes-pretty-in-pink

The essay focuses on Breakfast Club, which has also aged poorly in a lot of ways. But it applies to 16 Candles, too, I think.

[Anonymous]

I thought it was funny and a bit racy, but was bothered by the Asian stuff because my best friend was from the Philippines and got a lot of rude comments.

But when my 9 and 12yo kids watched it with me they labeled it as date rapey. So I tried again with the Breakfast Club which was better. I should have stopped there- they thought Dirty Dancing was creepy, DD thought Patrick Swayzie was a pedophile and Goonies was a flop too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought it was funny and a bit racy, but was bothered by the Asian stuff because my best friend was from the Philippines and got a lot of rude comments.

But when my 9 and 12yo kids watched it with me they labeled it as date rapey. So I tried again with the Breakfast Club which was better. I should have stopped there- they thought Dirty Dancing was creepy, DD thought Patrick Swayzie was a pedophile and Goonies was a flop too.

our childhoods, ruined

I really truly cannot believe that Revenge of the Nerds was something we all just thought was funny instead of a horror movie. What was wrong with us? I mean no wonder our generation is so messed up.

[Anonymous]

I loved it! Now, I'm so curious and embarrassed about why I loved it. It's so racist. There's rape. I don't know what we were thinking.

I also loved Revenge of the Nerds and Dirty Dancing.

Ugh.

[Anonymous]

It was a fairly accurate representation of what we were dealing with at the time and how many people behaved. I was a teenager in the 80s and loved the movies then, now I look back and it's definitely the past.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought it was funny and a bit racy, but was bothered by the Asian stuff because my best friend was from the Philippines and got a lot of rude comments.

But when my 9 and 12yo kids watched it with me they labeled it as date rapey. So I tried again with the Breakfast Club which was better. I should have stopped there- they thought Dirty Dancing was creepy, DD thought Patrick Swayzie was a pedophile and Goonies was a flop too.

our childhoods, ruined

I really truly cannot believe that Revenge of the Nerds was something we all just thought was funny instead of a horror movie. What was wrong with us? I mean no wonder our generation is so messed up.

Every generation eventually looks back with disgust after times change. And times are still changing, so some movies that people enjoy now will look seriously problematic in 35 years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought it was funny and a bit racy, but was bothered by the Asian stuff because my best friend was from the Philippines and got a lot of rude comments.

But when my 9 and 12yo kids watched it with me they labeled it as date rapey. So I tried again with the Breakfast Club which was better. I should have stopped there- they thought Dirty Dancing was creepy, DD thought Patrick Swayzie was a pedophile and Goonies was a flop too.

I think that's a bit much. How many people here have big age gap? He was supposed to be 24 in the movie. He was 34 IRL, and she was 26 IRL. 18 and 24 in the movie.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I loved 16 Candles when I was 15-16. I rewatched it this summer, and it is both racist and rapey. I also loved "Revenge of the Nerds" and it's also rapey.

+1 times have changed, but Michael Schoeffling frozen at that time period is still HOT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
+1 times have changed, but Michael Schoeffling frozen at that time period is still HOT.

+1. I just googled him (not the first time lol) and he really was.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought it was funny and a bit racy, but was bothered by the Asian stuff because my best friend was from the Philippines and got a lot of rude comments.

But when my 9 and 12yo kids watched it with me they labeled it as date rapey. So I tried again with the Breakfast Club which was better. I should have stopped there- they thought Dirty Dancing was creepy, DD thought Patrick Swayzie was a pedophile and Goonies was a flop too.

I think that's a bit much. How many people here have big age gap? He was supposed to be 24 in the movie. He was 34 IRL, and she was 26 IRL. 18 and 24 in the movie.

+1

Dirty Dancing is amazing. Your 9 and 12 year olds are just too young!