At 40 Years Old, Sixteen Candles Has Not Aged Well The classic coming-of-age might be one of the worst offenders when it comes to some of the problematic elements of the story. The one character of color included in the movie is a caricature of harmful Asian stereotypes.

What age are 16 candles appropriate for?

Parents need to know that Sixteen Candles is John Hughes' hilarious '80s high school comedy that has both sharply observed moments and painful stereotypes, including a racist portrayal of a Chinese character. Although it's rated PG (it was released before the PG-13 option existed), this is an adult comedy…

Did the breakfast club age well?

The film is widely considered one of Hughes' best works and a classic of the teen film genre. However, in a new feature in The Times, Ringwald, now 56, has shared her feelings about the film as it stands in 2024, claiming that there are some factors that “haven't aged well”.

Is Sixteen Candles worth watching?

These are much needed scenes lifting the movie just out mediocrity, and the movie could've been much better focusing on the drama and cutting a good chunk of light humor. I give "16 candles" a high 6/10, round it up to a 7/10. Its in the top 5 or so of Hughes films - it has some flaws but also some touching moments.

Who is the racist character in 16 candles?

Over the past couple of decades, John Hughes' Sixteen Candles has been seen in a new light, with many calling out its portrayal of foreign exchange student Long Duk Dong, played by Gedde Watanabe, as racist.

Disturbing Things In Sixteen Candles Only Adults Notice

Who is the drunk girl in Sixteen Candles?

The drunk girl in question is Caroline (Haviland Morris), the girlfriend to romantic hero Jake Ryan, and if you know one thing about Sixteen Candles, it's that Jake Ryan (Michael Schoeffling) is perfect.

What does Long Duk Dong say in Sixteen Candles?

Long Duk Dong: Go away! I call F.B.I.! I call police! Go away!

Why didn't 16 Candles age well?

At 40 Years Old, Sixteen Candles Has Not Aged Well

The classic coming-of-age might be one of the worst offenders when it comes to some of the problematic elements of the story. The one character of color included in the movie is a caricature of harmful Asian stereotypes.

How old was Molly Ringwald in Sixteen Candles?

Principal photography began on July 11, 1983. Sixteen Candles was filmed primarily in and around the Chicago North Shore suburban communities of Evanston, Skokie, and Highland Park, Illinois during the summer of 1983, when leads Ringwald and Hall were 15 years old.

How old was John Cusack in Sixteen Candles?

His Sixteen Candles role as geek sidekick Bryce was only 17-year-old Cusack's second film role, but by the following year, he'd graduated to lead in such films as The Sure Thing and Better Off Dead. By the end of the decade, with Say Anything, he became one of his generation's favorite leading men.

Did Molly Ringwald have a double in The Breakfast Club?

As Molly was a minor when the movie was filmed, an adult double was used for the shot of Claire's underwear. “At one point in the film, the bad-boy character, John Bender, ducks under the table where my character, Claire, is sitting, to hide from a teacher,” she wrote.

Why is bender so mean to Claire?

Bender also projects his anger towards the popular crowd onto Claire, since she represents the things he hates about the 'riches'.

What is outdated in Breakfast Club?

THE AUTHORITY FIGURE

A surly authority figure is par for the course in any movie about teens, but what dates this one so much is the fact that he even threatens the kids with physical violence (like punching Bender in the face). In the '80s, corporal punishment was much more widely accepted in schools than it is now.

What year did 16 candles become a hit?

Released on May 4, 1984, Sixteen Candles was an affirmation of everything we wanted high school to be (but rarely got). Let's face it: Did anyone in the movie - except maybe Samantha's sister Ginny - have a truly bad time? (The jury is still out on Long Duk Dong, but he had some good times before the bad times. Ugh!

How old was everyone in 16 candles?

Despite the title, “Sixteen Candles” stars Molly Ringwald and Anthony Michael Hall were actually both 15 years old during filming. Michael Schoeffling (Jake Ryan), on the other hand, was 23 at the time. It's an age gap that makes the movie slightly creepy in hindsight. And meanwhile, Geddy Watanabe was 28.

What was the last John Hughes movie?

His later output was not so well received critically, though films like Uncle Buck and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation proved popular. His final film as a director was 1991's Curly Sue.

Did Caroline wear a wig in Sixteen Candles?

When Jake puts Caroline in the car and Geek-Ted gets his geek friends to take pictures of him with Caroline her hair is definitely still cut in the back (actually it's a wig) - it's cut.

Does Molly Ringwald speak French?

Ringwald, who speaks French fluently, has translated two books from French to English.

How old was Molly Ringwald when she had kids?

Ringwald also told The Times she “always knew” she wanted to have kids, but it took her a while. When she welcomed her first child with Gianopoulos, she was 36. “At that age the biological clock is a real thing and it had kind of become deafening," she said. "All I could think about was: must have kids.”

Was 16 Candles before pretty in pink?

He wrote Pretty in Pink in between Sixteen Candles and The Breakfast Club and based it loosely around the Psychedelic Furs song. At that point in my life I also just really liked pink—Andie's room was basically modeled after my own.

Did they forget her birthday in 16 Candles?

"Life imitates art," Ringwald then wrote back, referencing her Sixteen Candles role, where Samantha's family forgets her birthday. "How true. It took me a few more years to forget," Ringwald's mother then replied, before the actress responded with a single laughing emoji.

Why are 16 Candles popular?

When it first came out, 16 Candles' writer and director, John Hughes, was lauded for his honest portrayal of teenage culture in the '80s. “This is a fresh and cheerful movie with a goofy sense of humor and a good ear for how teenagers talk,” wrote revered film reviewer Roger Ebert.

What ethnicity is Long Duk Dong?

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. The character has been called an offensive stereotype of Asian people.

What is Jake's last name in Sixteen Candles?

Schoeffling came to international prominence at the age of 23 for his role as Jake Ryan, the popular yet sensitive high school athlete on whom Molly Ringwald's character has a crush in the teen film Sixteen Candles.