Jessie Taylor
The 1984 coming-of-age comedy film Sixteen Candles is considered a classic by many. The film, written and directed by John Hughes, follows 16-year-old Samantha Baker (Molly Ringwald) who deals with a crush on high school senior Jake Ryan (Michael Schoeffling) while also being pursued by freshman Ted The Geek Farmer (Anthony Michael Hall). While some viewers have enjoyed the film, others have criticised it for its treatment of consent, racism, and sexism.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Film title | Sixteen Candles |
| Year of release | 1984 |
| Genre | Comedy, Romance |
| Rating | 7/10 |
| Director | John Hughes |
| Writer | John Hughes |
| Main cast | Molly Ringwald, Michael Schoeffling, Anthony Michael Hall |
| Character name of lead actress | Samantha "Sam" Baker |
| Character name of lead actor | Jake Ryan |
| Character name of supporting actor | Ted "The Geek" Farmer |
| Character name of supporting actress | Caroline |
| Film setting | Suburban Chicago |
| Film themes | Teenage life, coming-of-age, family dynamics, romance |
| Film tone | Goofy, comedic, dramatic |
| Film reception | Positive, Problematic, Nostalgic |
| Impact | Helped launch the careers of Ringwald, Schoeffling, and Hall |
| Related song | "16 Candles" by The Crests |
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What You'll Learn
The character of Long Duk Dong has been criticised for being racist
The 1984 American coming-of-age teen comedy film Sixteen Candles has been criticised for its portrayal of racist and sexist content. One of the biggest issues with the film is the character of Long Duk Dong, played by Japanese-American actor Gedde Watanabe. Long Duk Dong is an Asian man who comes to America as a foreign exchange student and stays with Sam's grandparents. The character has been criticised for perpetuating racist stereotypes and for being reduced to a running joke in the film. Every time he appears on screen, a gong sounds, and his name is repeatedly ridiculed. The humour involving Long Duk Dong has been described as "tasteless, poor, and hasn't aged well".
The film has also been criticised for its portrayal of consent, or the lack thereof. One example is the character of Ted, a geeky freshman who pursues Sam despite her many rejections. Ted is persistent to the point of being forceful, and he ignores Sam's requests to be left alone. The only way Sam can get rid of him is by giving him a pair of underwear so he can lie to his friends about hooking up with her. Ted then holds viewings of the underwear for his teenage friends in the high school bathrooms, which has been described as "wrong on so many levels".
Additionally, the film has been criticised for its treatment of rape. Jake, the love interest of the film, is dating the popular girl Caroline, but he dismisses her and offers her up for possible rape when he finds a letter from Sam expressing her desire to sleep with him. This has been described as "horribly offensive" and "disgusting", with some viewers stating that they would stop seeing someone who expressed a liking for the film.
While Sixteen Candles is considered a classic by some, it has not aged well and is seen by many as problematic and offensive.
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The film's treatment of consent has been criticised
The 1984 film Sixteen Candles, written and directed by John Hughes, has been criticised for its treatment of consent. The film centres on Samantha "Sam" Baker, played by Molly Ringwald, whose 16th birthday is forgotten by her family due to her sister's upcoming wedding.
One of the main criticisms of the film is its portrayal of Ted, an overconfident freshman who pursues Sam despite her many rebuffs. Ted is persistent and forceful, ignoring Sam's requests to be left alone. The only way Sam can get rid of him is to give him a pair of underwear so he can claim they hooked up. Ted then holds viewings of the underwear for his teenage friends in the high school's bathroom stalls.
Another issue with the film's treatment of consent is the character of Jake, Sam's love interest. While Sam is pining over Jake, he is dating the popular girl Caroline. When Jake finds a letter from Sam stating she wants to sleep with him, he dismisses Caroline and offers her up for possible rape. Despite this, Jake and Sam end up together at the end of the film.
The treatment of consent in Sixteen Candles has been called "troubling" and "horrifying". Some viewers have found the film offensive and problematic, particularly in light of the #MeToo movement and a greater awareness of consent issues.
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The film's portrayal of teenage culture in the 80s
The 1984 film Sixteen Candles is a coming-of-age comedy that portrays several aspects of teenage culture in the 80s. The film centres on Samantha "Sam" Baker, a high school sophomore who is hopeful that her 16th birthday will mark the beginning of a great new year. However, she is shocked when her family forgets the occasion due to her older sister's upcoming wedding. This sets the tone for the film, which explores the ups and downs of teenage life in the 80s, including crushes, peer pressure, and family dynamics.
One of the most prominent themes in Sixteen Candles is the portrayal of teenage romance and crushes. Sam deals with a seemingly unrequited crush on high school senior Jake Ryan, while also being pursued by freshman Ted "The Geek" Farmer. The film captures the intensity and drama of teenage romantic relationships, with Sam filling out a friend's sex quiz and revealing her crush on Jake. The film also addresses the issue of consent, as Ted repeatedly ignores Sam's rebukes and continues to pursue her throughout the film.
Another aspect of teenage culture portrayed in Sixteen Candles is the pressure to fit in and navigate social hierarchies. Sam feels the pressure of being noticed by the popular senior Jake, while also dealing with the attention from the geeky freshman Ted. The film also showcases the dynamics between different social groups, such as the popular kids and the geeks. The character of Long Duk Dong, an Asian exchange student staying with Sam's grandparents, adds a layer of cultural diversity to the portrayal of teenage culture. However, his character has been criticised for being reduced to a running joke, with his name repeatedly ridiculed.
The film also captures the fashion and style of the 80s, with references to floppy disks, headgears, and leotards. The jokes and humour in the film have been described as "goofy" and reflective of how teenagers talked in the 80s. Sixteen Candles has become a classic for many who grew up in the 70s and 80s, with its portrayal of teenage life resonating with audiences. However, it has also been criticised for its treatment of consent and its portrayal of racial stereotypes.
Overall, Sixteen Candles offers a glimpse into the world of teenage culture in the 80s, with its focus on romance, peer pressure, family dynamics, and the unique challenges of growing up in that era. While the film has been praised for its honest portrayal of teenage life, it has also faced criticism for its treatment of certain sensitive topics and the portrayal of certain characters.
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The film's comedic elements
The comedic elements of the 1984 coming-of-age comedy film "Sixteen Candles" are considered to be problematic by modern audiences. The film centres on Samantha "Sam" Baker, played by Molly Ringwald, and her sixteenth birthday, which is forgotten by her family due to her sister's upcoming wedding.
The film has been praised for its honest portrayal of teenage culture in the 1980s, with film reviewer Roger Ebert describing it as having a “goofy sense of humour and a good ear for how teenagers talk". However, Ebert also notes that the film is "racist and sexist".
One of the most criticised elements of the film is the character of Long Duk Dong, an Asian exchange student staying with Sam's grandparents. Long Duk Dong is the subject of repeated ridicule, with a gong sounding every time he appears on screen. The character has been described as a running joke and “poor, tasteless humour” that "hasn't aged well".
Another issue with the film is its treatment of consent. Ted, a geeky freshman, pursues Sam despite her many rejections, even going so far as to launch himself at her and show her underwear to his friends, claiming they have hooked up. This has been criticised as "troubling" and "wrong on many levels".
Despite these issues, some viewers find the film funny, particularly the characters of Ted and the "Duck Guy". The film is also considered quotable, and some viewers enjoy the nostalgia of seeing outdated technology like floppy disks.
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The film's impact on the careers of its cast
Sixteen Candles was a career-defining film for several of its cast members. For Molly Ringwald, who played the film's protagonist, Samantha "Sam" Baker, the film was a breakthrough. Ringwald's performance received particular praise from critics, and the film is considered to have launched her career. In the years since its release, Ringwald has reflected on the film, acknowledging both the good and bad aspects of the movie. She has expressed gratitude for the film, stating that it ""encapsulated what it was like to be a teenager who feels invisible but is really a star in their own right".
The film also marked a significant moment for Anthony Michael Hall, who played the freshman "super-geek" Ted, also known as "The Geek". Hall was only 15 years old when the film was shot, and Sixteen Candles was one of his early-career films, along with National Lampoon's Vacation, which he worked on the same summer as Sixteen Candles. Hall has since expressed gratitude for his mother's support during his experience with child stardom.
Sixteen Candles was also a notable film for Michael Schoeffling, who played the role of Sam's love interest, Jake Ryan. The film is considered to have helped launch Schoeffling's career.
In addition, the film featured other actors who would go on to have successful careers, such as Haviland Morris, who played Jake's girlfriend, Caroline, and Gedde Watanabe, who portrayed the controversial character of Long Duk Dong, a foreign exchange student staying at Sam's house. Watanabe's character has been criticised as a potentially "offensive stereotype" of Asian people, but the film nonetheless provided a platform for these actors to showcase their talents.
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Frequently asked questions
The plot of '16 Candles' centres on Samantha Baker, an angsty teenager whose 16th birthday is forgotten by her family due to her sister's wedding.
The film has been criticised for its treatment of women and Asian people, with casual sexist and racist jokes and stereotypes. The film also includes a problematic side plot about orchestrating the sexual assault of a popular girl.
Some viewers praise the film for its entertainment value, funny moments, beautiful shots, and nostalgic 80s soundtrack. It has also been described as a "female-friendly" spin on the 1980s' teen sex comedy movie craze.
While the film was initially well-received by teenagers when it was released, some viewers now consider it to be problematic and offensive. The film has been described as painfully dated due to its racial and gender stereotypes.
'16 Candles' was written and directed by John Hughes, who also created other classic coming-of-age films such as The Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Home Alone, and Planes, Trains and Automobiles.
