Chloe Adams
The 1984 film Sixteen Candles is a romantic comedy that revolves around a girl's sixteenth birthday, where her family forgets her birthday, and her sister gets married. The movie explores the challenges of adolescence, with themes of young love, friendship, and family dynamics. It has received generally positive reviews for its heartwarming and funny portrayal of teenage life. However, it has also faced criticism for its portrayal of certain characters, particularly the potentially offensive stereotype of Asian exchange student Long Duk Dong. The film is considered a classic in the teen comedy genre and is known for its effective performances and fresh take on teenage storylines.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Sixteen Candles |
| Genre | Comedy, Romance |
| Rating | 7.0 |
| Director | John Hughes |
| Writer | John Hughes |
| Initial release | 1984 |
| Music by | Ira Newborn |
| Cinematography | Bobby Byrne |
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What You'll Learn
Sixteen Candles' critical reception
The 1984 film Sixteen Candles, written and directed by John Hughes, has received generally positive reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 81% based on 43 reviews, with an average rating of 7.1/10. Metacritic gave the film a score of 61 based on 11 reviews, indicating "generally favourable reviews".
Critics praised the performances of Molly Ringwald, who plays the lovesick Samantha, and Anthony Michael Hall, who plays "The Geek". Variety called Ringwald "engaging and credible", while Roger Ebert wrote that she "provides a perfect centre for the story" in "a sweet and funny movie". Gene Siskel of the Chicago Tribune gave the film three and a half stars out of four and said it was "the best teenage comedy since last year's Risky Business".
However, Sixteen Candles has also been criticised for its portrayal of Long Duk Dong, a Chinese exchange student, as a potentially offensive stereotype of Asian people. In a 1984 review, The New York Times called the character "unfunny", and in 2008, Alison MacAdam of NPR wrote that "to some viewers, he represents one of the most offensive Asian stereotypes Hollywood ever gave America". Asian Americans have complained that they were taunted with quotes of his stilted English lines. The film has also been criticised for potentially condoning date rape, although no sexual activity is established in the film.
Despite these criticisms, Sixteen Candles is considered one of Hughes' best films and a classic romantic teen comedy. It grossed $23,686,027 at the box office against a budget of $6.5 million and has been released multiple times on DVD and Blu-ray.
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The character Long Duk Dong
Long Duk Dong is a fictional character who appears in the 1984 American coming-of-age comedy film Sixteen Candles. Played by Japanese American actor Gedde Watanabe, the character is a Chinese foreign exchange student and a supporting character in the film set at a US suburban high school.
In the film, Long Duk Dong stays with the grandparents of the film's protagonist, Samantha, played by Molly Ringwald. He is accompanied by the sound of a gong and practices his conversational English with others. He has his hair parted down the middle in an "uncool" style, is mystified by American food, and calls himself "The Donger". Dong also finds a love interest in Marlene, an athletic and buxom young woman who is physically larger than him.
Long Duk Dong has been criticised as a potentially offensive stereotype of Asian people. Asian Americans have complained that they were taunted with quotes of his stilted English lines, and his character embodies several negative stereotypes, including an exaggerated accent, comedic incompetence, and gong-accompanied entrances. In retrospect, Watanabe himself has said that he was "a bit naive" about the role.
However, at the time of the film's release, Watanabe defended the character as being distinct from the "submissive, smart" stereotypes of Asians prevalent at the time. Director John Hughes also argued that he was parodying foreign exchange students and their American host families in general, rather than specifically foreigners or Asians.
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John Hughes' direction
John Hughes is an American filmmaker and producer, best known for writing, producing, and directing films such as Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, Weird Science, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Planes, Trains and Automobiles, and Uncle Buck. His films often combine slapstick comedy with heartfelt moments and coming-of-age stories, capturing the teenage experience and shaping the teen movie genre.
Hughes' direction in Sixteen Candles, his directorial debut, is considered one of his best films and a classic 80s teen comedy. The film follows the story of Sam, a teenager who feels neglected and like a social oddball, and her quest to find a place where she can be herself. Hughes' direction captures the awkwardness and perils of being a teenager, with a mix of humour and heartwarming moments. The film also explores themes of alienation and the desire to fit in, a common thread in Hughes' films.
Hughes' direction style is known for its focus on character-driven narratives, with well-written scenes and memorable dialogue. His films often feature tissue-thin parental figures, highlighting the independence and struggles of adolescence. Hughes was also known for his compulsive writing, with fast-paced screenplays that impressed studio executives.
Sixteen Candles, in particular, showcases Hughes' ability to balance humour and compassion for its characters. The film received positive reviews, with critics praising its maturity and respect for its characters. Hughes' direction of the talented young cast, including Molly Ringwald and Anthony Michael Hall, is also notable, with Hall's one-liners and comedic timing stealing the show.
Overall, John Hughes' direction in Sixteen Candles and his other films has left a lasting impact on the teen movie genre, with his ability to capture the complexities of adolescence and combine comedy with heartfelt moments. His films continue to resonate with audiences, defining the 1980s and becoming iconic classics.
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The film's soundtrack
The John Hughes-directed film Sixteen Candles features a soundtrack that is considered by some to be "the most 80s movie soundtrack". The official soundtrack album is out of print and incomplete, as it only contained a fraction of the songs featured in the film.
The film's opening credits feature the song "Kajagoogoo" by the band of the same name, from their 1984 album, White Feathers. Another notable song in the film is "When It Started To Begin" by Nick Heyward, which plays during a scene where Joan Cusack's character is trying to drink from a water fountain. Other songs featured in the film include "Farmer John" by The Premiers, "Ring Me Up" by The Divinyls, "Happy Birthday" by Altered Images, "Little Bitch" by The Specials, and "If You Were Here" by Thompson Twins.
The film also includes songs by artists such as AC/DC, Darlene Love, Paul Young, Ray Anthony and His Orchestra, Night Ranger, Spandau Ballet, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and David Bowie. The soundtrack is a mix of genres, including ska and new wave, and captures the sound of the 1980s.
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The film's ending
The ending of the 1984 film Sixteen Candles has been described as "heartwarming", with the final scene being particularly memorable. In the ending, Jake admits his attraction to Samantha and invites her to his house instead of Ginny's wedding reception. Samantha accepts, and the film concludes with the pair sitting in front of a birthday cake. They kiss, and Samantha says that her wish has already come true.
The final shot of the film has been interpreted as mirroring the difficulties of adolescence. In it, both Ringwald and Schoeffling are sitting "Indian-style" on a tabletop facing one another. They have to lean forward, presumably using their wrists for leverage, to kiss over the flaming candles on the birthday cake.
Sixteen Candles has been praised for its portrayal of teenage culture in the 1980s and its compassionate and respectful treatment of its characters. However, the film has also been criticised for its insensitive and offensive jokes about women and people from other cultures, particularly the character of Long Duk Dong, who has been called a potentially offensive stereotype of Asian people.
The Christmas Candle, a 2013 film based on the book by Max Lucado, ends with a miracle or two arriving out of nowhere to put everything straight. Reverend Richmond, who has been trying to convert the townspeople from a candle-based form of faith to something more pragmatic, fails miserably in his attempts. The film illustrates how the two versions of faith depicted—praying for miracles and working to make them happen—are not mutually exclusive and work best in tandem.
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Frequently asked questions
The movie follows the story of Samantha, a teenager who experiences two of the worst things that can happen to a girl on her sixteenth birthday: her family forgetting her birthday and her grandparents making embarrassing comments about her. The day goes downhill from there, with her sister's wedding and complications involving her crush and a freshman boy.
The main characters in the movie are Samantha, played by Molly Ringwald, the Geek, played by Anthony Michael Hall, Jake, played by Michael Schoeffling, and Long Duk Dong, played by Gedde Watanabe.
The title "Sixteen Candles" refers to the protagonist Samantha's sixteenth birthday, which is a central plot point in the movie.
"Sixteen Candles" received generally positive reviews from critics. Rotten Tomatoes reported an 81% positive rating, and Metacritic gave the film a score of 61. The film was praised for its compassionate and respectful portrayal of its characters, with Ringwald's performance particularly standing out. However, the character of Long Duk Dong has been criticized as a potentially offensive stereotype of Asian people.
