Properly capturing the lives of teenagers on film is not an easy task. Tapping into the proper realism regarding dialogue and action requires keen observation and understanding of those formidable years. When making a comedy, that understanding must be there or a teen film can be reduced to mere parody or offensive cliche.
Many get it right. The pinnacle being the films of John Hughes. The filmmaker's work got to the heart of what it means to navigate our teen years and his films continue to connect with audiences to this day. But what of the films that went under the radar? Here are 5 underrated teen comedies from the 80s and 5 from the 90s, that all deserve rediscovery.
80s: Gregory's Girl (1980)
Scottish director Bill Forsyth's charming slice-of-life Gregory's Girl found critical praise, but no audience in the United States. It tells the age-old tale of a high school boy's infatuation with a female classmate.
Forsyth's film was full of charm and wit and was populated with a talented cast of unknowns that added to the film's realistic portrayal of a boy's first crush.
90s: Welcome Home Roxy Charmichael (1990)
Jim Abrahams' teen comedy Welcome Home Roxy Charmichael wasn't well-received by audiences nor critics. The film is widely regarded as an uneven blend of comedy and lite drama.
While a failure upon release, Abraham's film does have its small fan base. Retrospectively, it can be seen as a film that gets by on some sly comedic tones and a relatable performance from Winona Ryder.
80s: The Last American Virgin (1982)
The 80s were chock full of teen comedies with many of them reduced to the "teenagers looking for sex" genre. It was a rare moment when a sex comedy could find a heart. The Last American Virgin was perhaps the first to pull the rug out from under audience expectations.
Critics certainly couldn't get past the film's exploitation trappings and the film didn't perform well, but time has been kind. It is a film that strings its audience along with broad, farcical comedy until the final stretch, where palpable teenage heartbreak comes into play.
90s: Slums of Beverly Hills (1998)
Writer/director Tamara Jenkins tapped into the mindset of the middle-class female teenage mindset with her film Slums of Beverly Hills.
Natasha Lyonne received high praise for her role as Vivian, a 70s era teenager who is trying to cope with life in a neurotic family. The film didn't see a wide release and only found minuscule critical praise, but it is a funny and touching look at teen angst through the eyes of Lyonne's grounded performance.
80s: Hiding Out (1987)
Jon Cryer had a hard time after his popular role as "Ducky" in John Hughes' teen classic Pretty in Pink and his role in 1987's critical and financial failure Hiding Out didn't help.
The story, about a man in hiding from the mob who disguises himself as a high school teen, was considered an uneven blend of action and comedy but finds some winning moments in how the character reexamines his own feelings about when he was a teenager.
90s: Angus (1995)
Director Patrick Read Johnson hoped for gold with his charming tale of an overweight teen who falls for the prettiest girl in his school. Sadly, audiences ignored this critically acclaimed comedy.
Jill Gordon's screenplay and Charlie Talbert's heartfelt performance carry the film to something special with a little comedy and a lot of heart.
80s: Lucas (1986)
Somewhat ignored at the time, 1986's Lucas is well thought of by those who it. Corey Haim was well-received as a 14-year-old who falls for a girl who falls for his best friend in this blend of youthful romance and sweet comedy.
The film was critically praised and found a small following on home video for its sweet and funny yet realistic take on first love and first heartbreak.
90s: Flirting (1991)
To be fair, this film is more of a drama than a comedy, but the Australian film Flirting finds more than a few humorous moments that come out of its naturalistic portrayal of teenagers reacting to others' rebellious nature against authority in a 1960s era boarding school.
A young and pre-fame Nicole Kidman and Thandie Newton anchor an already perceptive and winning film that won over critics but hasn't been well enough ed in the U.S. Critics agreed that the film succeeded due to a sharp wit and fondness for its characters.
80s: Three O' Clock High (1987)
1987's Three O'Clock High found no audience. There are those who it fondly due to the funny screenplay and madcap situations, but the film is rarely mentioned among 80s teen comedy discussions. Siemaszko's funny and truthful portrayal led to his casting in 1989's hit Western Young Guns, which gave the actor a long career.
90s: Dick (1999)
Political satire is as difficult as a teen comedy. Putting the two together is a risky undertaking. Filmmaker Andrew Flemming found the perfect balance of the two in his 1999 comedy, Dick. Two 15-year-old girls inadvertently stumble on and cause the investigation into the Watergate break-in.
Michelle Williams and Kirsten Dunst are the teens and their accidental adventures brought about comic gold. In the middle of the zaniness, there is a very real portrayal of two teen best friends that the two actresses bring to life through easy rapport and natural humor. The film never found a big audience, but most critics agreed that it was a very funny film that kept its comedy grounded by the performances of its two leads.
