Unfortunately,Sixteen Candleslands squarely in the latter category.
Here are the disturbing things only adults will notice inSixteen Candles.
Give me a break!
You know my method.
I don’t hit her when you’re just down the hall."
He also remarks that it “should make for an interesting honeymoon.”
His father then says, “Good!
I’m getting my money’s worth,” in a creepy pivot that indicates his approval.
That’s some non-stop creepiness, from a kid no less.
In fact, Sam’s grandparents Grandma Helen and Grandpa Fred clearly cross the line as well.
Helen, clearly amused, then remarks, “Oh, and they are so perky!”
As if that isn’t humiliating enough, she then reaches out to grab Sam’s breasts.
For one, a gong sounds every time his name is said.
Additionally, Mike muses that they will have to “burn the sheets and mattresses after he leaves.”
Later, Mike complains that he has to “sleep under some Chinaman named after a duck’s dork.
After the party, he drunkenly leaps from a tree and yells, “bonsai!”
When they realize he’s crashed the car, the grandmother kicks him hard in the stomach.
He’s mocked to the bitter end.
His friend dismisses him again, saying, “maybe she’s retarded,” in another offensive move.
His friend dismisses him, telling Jake that Sam’s “a child.”
Then he inquires, “What are you going to do with her?
She’s too young to party serious.”
Clearly Jake doesn’t care about Caroline, or consent for that matter.
They both gawk and stare at Caroline when she’s showering, naked and clearly unaware.
The camera amplifies her nudity by opening the scene with a close-up of her breasts.
There are LGBT slurs
Sixteen Candlesdoesn’t stop at misogyny and racism.
It also includes a dose of homophobia in the form of slurs.
First, Sam calls Ted a gay slur while they’re on the bus.
Later, at the party at Jake’s house, Ted hurls another gay slur at his friends.
In both cases, the language is used to intentionally feminize people as an insult.
It starts on the bus when he sits next to her, quickly invading her personal space.
Sam expresses her disinterest, but Ted doesn’t take the hint.
He then makes a bet that he can “get it all” with her.
He also remarks to Jake that she has “smallish tits” and “smells pretty good.”
The accumulation of cringe-worthy encounters is exhausting to watch.
She also feeds Ted a birth control pill and laughs hysterically.
She took them to deal with discomfort from her period, but clearly took too many.
Even the groom thinks it’s all a gas.
