Sixteen Candles (1984)

My Review

“Sixteen Candles” is a John Hughes teen comedy film that many consider to be a classic today. It does have the feel of an old fashioned romantic comedy of the 1940’s or 1950’s. Samantha Baker (Molly Ringwald) is in love with Jake Ryan (Michael Schoeffling), who already has a girl friend (Haviland Morris). And Ted (Anthony Michael Hall) has a big crush on Samantha, who cannot stand him. Maybe a typical plot but great writing and directing by Hughes in his feature film debut. He would go on to give us “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” (1986) and “Home Alone” (1990).

The film has a strong supporting cast as well. Paul Dooley, Carlin Glynn, Blanche Baker, John Cusack, Joan Cusack, Deborah Pollack, Jami Gertz, Justin Henry, Brain Doyle-Murray, Tony Longo, John Kapelos, Zelda Rubenstein. Veteran actors Edward Andrews, Billie Bird, Max Showalter, and Carole Cook star as Molly Ringwald’s grandparents. This was the final film role for Showalter, who began in pictures in 1949. “Sixteen Candles” was successful at the box office for Channel Productions and Universal Pictures. It was filmed in the suburbs along Chicago’s North Shore.