The movies in the 1980s, especially those featuring the brat packers, exhibit striking similarities. Unsurprisingly, Sixteen Candles falls into the romantic/comedy genre typical of 80s American high school films.
The story is about a girl named Samantha, a sophomore at Shermer High School. She fell in love with Jake, a senior. Unfortunately, Jake had a girlfriend who acted very immature. Jake found out that Samantha was actually the true love he wanted to pursue, as she took romantic relationships more seriously than his current girlfriend. Samantha blossomed in love after a series of events, or so to say parties, and they lived happily ever after.
I would like to highlight the significant link that becomes apparent when examining Risky Business (1983), featuring Tom Cruise and Rebecca De Mornay.
If you watch enough movies in the 80s, you will be able to identify the entrance door of the high school in Sixteen Candles as the very same door encountered by Tom Cruise while running late. In fact, both scenes were filmed at Niles East High School in Skokie, Illinois, which closed in 1980 and became available for various film shoots.
Adding to the intrigue is the fact that the high school’s name in Sixteen Candles, Shermer High School, remains consistent across other iconic films like The Breakfast Club (1985), Weird Science (1985), Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1987). This level of continuity is unprecedented in the history of American movies. Those common threads can be traced back to John Hughes, the prolific movie producer behind most of these films. Shermer, the fictional high school’s name, is also a street in the Chicago suburbs near where Hughes lived, with historical ties to the town of Northbrook, IL. It’s fascinating how Hughes seamlessly incorporated these elements into his films.
Apart from the Shermer High School continuity in iconic films, this movie kicks off with familiar ’80s intro music and the typical high school vibe. The music in 80s movies is not too far from each other yet stands out from the other types of music. They always include discernible beats as an intro combined with Rick Astley-style of singing, creating an upbeat energy that defines the era. Many film scores blended traditional orchestral elements with synthesized sounds, which were often used to produce catchy melodies during the time. The era witnessed a significant influx of electronic composers, whose use of synthesizers and electronic elements became symbolic of 80s soundtracks.
Beyond the seemingly superficial narrative accompanied by conventional, if not uninspired, background music, the attitude toward love is something that we can think about. Should love always be approached with solemnity, or can one revel in its more lighthearted, superficial facets?
In this movie, Samantha is a girl who deeply cares about who she is in love with. She was nervous when she saw Jake at the prom. She talks about Jake all the time. She even rehearsed her sentences before she tried to talk with Jake (and unfortunately she failed to say a word because she was so nervous).
Compared to Samantha, Jake’s ex-girlfriend does not care about who she is dating unless he can provide happiness. She partied all night. She stayed drunk all the time even when Jake came to visit her. She was questioning Jake’s motive when he was not paying attention to her during the prom dance. She displayed morally questionable behavior by kissing a stranger right in front of Jake in his own car.
Personally, I lean towards advocating for a serious relationship, and it’s challenging for me to argue in favor of a more lighthearted approach due to this bias. However, it’s important to recognize that different individuals have varying perspectives on love, and what works for one may not necessarily work for another. Perhaps, it is ultimately not for me to judge who is right or wrong. Rather, I would conclude that it is more useful to find the right person who shares similar perspectives on relationships. There might not be a general consensus or truth on the attitude.
I personally wouldn’t recommend this movie to people who have watched movies in the eighties. I would only recommend it to anyone who wants to have a taste of what a classic 80s movie is like.
