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Footloose
This coming-of-age movie follows the story of Ren McCormack as he struggles to deal with the grief of losing his mum and moving from Chicago to the little town of Beaumont, it received a mixed reaction as some described it as ‘entertaining and fresh’ others said that it’s ‘a seriously confused movie that tries to do three things, and does all of them badly’. A remake of the film was released on October 14th 2011, which received a more positive response. I found this film very entertaining. -
The Breakfast Club
February 15th 1985
The Breakfast Club is about a group of teenagers who are struggling to fit into their social groups and struggling to be understood. The school that ‘The Breakfast Club’ was filmed in was used by John Hughes’s Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Molly Ringwald and Anthony Michael Hall starred in John Hugh’s ‘Sixteen Candles’. Only one location was used to film The Breakfast Club. I liked this film because I found that the pressure to fit in was realistically and accurately portrayed. -
Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Released: February 20th 1987
This coming-of-age classic tells the story of a teenager who wants to enjoy a day off with his friends before they all go their separate ways to university or school; and he will do just about anything to get it. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is targeted at a universal audience as it addresses the struggle all teenagers face; the desire to stay carefree against the need to grow up. I enjoyed watching Ferris Bueller’s Day Off as I found the plot unpredictable and exciting. -
Dirty Dancing
Dirty Dancing is about a girl going against her parents ideals of associating herself with the upperclass as she befriends the working-class staff. During production director Emile Ardolino insisted that they cast dancers who could dance and act as he wanted the film to look as authentic as possible by not using stand ins. I enjoyed this film as I feel that it is an accurate representation of the struggle of being a teenager trying to make your parents proud whilst being independent. -
Dead Poets Society
Released: June 2nd 1989
As the new English teacher, John Keating,arrives at the elite prep school, Welton Academy, the film follows the stories of the students and the effect the encouragement of John Keating to live their own lives the way they desire. The film was met with a favorable reaction. -
Clueless
Clueless is loosely based on Jane Austen’s novel (1815) ‘Emma’, and follows the story of Cher Horowitz as she tries to do good by helping those that are considered ‘uncool’ become popular, however it backfires, and she decides to help those that actually need help (relief areas). Producers wanted a realistic feel of the high school culture, so producers sat in classes at Beverly Hills High School, the drama teacher played the principal in the film. The film was filmed within a 40 day schedule. -
Mean Girls
Released: June 18th 2004
Mean girls is about doing anything to fit in, and how rumours and lies can affect young adults. Lindsay Lohan originally auditioned for the part of Regina George but was thought to be a better fit to play Cady. Mean girls was also made into a videogame. The film was so well received and successful a sequel was released. Tina Fey based the screenplay and the potential sequel ‘Mean Moms’ on books by Rosalind Wiseman (Mean Girls was based on Queenbees and Wannabes. -
Superbad
Released: August 17th 2007
Seth and Evan try to celebrate their last days together by attending a big high school party before they go off to seperate universitys. The two protagonists in the film were based on the writers Evan Goldberg and Seth Rogen. Whereas some people described it as 'ridi ulous' and 'excessive' othes stated that it was 'excessive'. -
Juno
Released: February 8th 2008
Juno is a coming of age film based on teen pregnancy and the struggle of becoming a young parent. Diablo Cody wrote the majority of the film based on her high school experiences and a lot of them were based on one of her close friends. Juno premiered on 8th September 2007 at the Toronto International Film Festival and received a standing ovation. She researched heavily into stories of adoptees, birth parents and adoptive parents. -
The Perks Of Being A Wallflower
Released: (first) September 21st 2012
Coming of age film which tells the story of introvert Charlie who tells of his high school experiences, through anonymous letters to a stranger. Stephen Chobsky who wrote the novel, loosely based it around himself and why we let ourselves be treated badly. The producers wanted to keep the original tone of the book, and therefore hired Chobsky to adapt it into a screenplay.
