8/10 on IMDB from me. Well worth seeing though you won’t find anything new here. Just reassuring if you’re old like me, or disturbing if you have yet to get old.
It’s a rites of passage, coming of age story. Not revolutionary. Not thrilling. But it is told with an authentic voice. And it is both very American and yet somewhat unAmerican because of its on-the-fringe-yet-OK vibe.
Edge of Seventeen demonstrates the brilliant solipsism of teenage years before the mundane horrors of adulthood, knowledge, and insight start to kick in.
You can read a few plot summaries at IMDB. Rather than spoil the movie I’ll share what I really liked:
- The mopey teenage solipsism
- The laconic history teacher played by Woody Harrelson
- The ‘perfect’ yet martyred older brother played by Blake Jenner
- The hopeless, yet hardworking and normal mother (Mona) played by Kyra Sedgwick who I found entertaining in ‘The Closer’
- The tough incident where real, cruel, life shows its face
- The endearing, yet awkward, relationship with Erwin played by Hayden Szeto
