Review of The Edge of Seventeen (2016) by Greg C — 11 Dec 2016

She's a bit hard to love, the movie that is,... and the lead character. Admittedly, I am something of a traditionalist. So I like to feel a bit of empathy with my protagonist. Hailee Steinfeld's portrayal of Nadine, an insufferably self-centered, self-hating, self-destructive, bad boy lusting, good boy deflating teen girl is so obvious that I didn't find much complexity in it.

Are there real girls like this? Yes, millions.Maybe having putting the story of their hyperbolic self-focused world view on the screen will let them see themselves and the concept that teen awkwardness and a few bad choices do not mean the end of the world.

Ultimately, I can say that I am not the target audience for this one. I like to see female characters who are sympathetic and who overcome external adversity or who can clearly acknowledge and wrestle with their inner demons much faster than this teen slog.

Sure this movie brought to mind some notes of John Hughes' 16 Candles or Pretty In Pink. That rebeliously dressed teen girl made more realistic and dysfunctional for a new age just feels a bit too sad for me.

My favorite part is Woody Harrelson's high school teacher. He's my anti-Myagi.