The Edge of Seventeen reminds me of all the countless Disney TV movies I would watch growing up. All the coming of age films that show the tough life teens endure while injecting some humor in all of it. Because what would we be if we couldn’t laugh at our situation right?
Edge of Seventeen Summary
The Edge of Seventeen is a heartfelt drama starring Hailee Steinfield as Nadine, a poorly dressed and socially awkward teenager. Life isn’t grand for Nadine, but everything gets much worse when she discovers her best friend is dating Nadine’s older brother. With few other friends to turn to, Nadine relies on the support of a teacher, played by Woody Harrelson, who doesn’t seem so thrilled that he is her first pick. As a matter a fact, he rather have the “dark nothingness” than bother with this hopeless teen.
Nadine’s Laughter and Tears
Judging by the trailer, The Edge of Seventeen will be a comedic look at the life of a teenage girl. It reminds me of those popular Judy Blume novels, which I have never…cough…read before…cough. My concern with these films is always whether the trailer spoiled all the humor. There are several films that disappoint me because they didn’t fulfill its promise of laughter.
Aside from the apparent humor, The Edge of Seventeen aims to inject a little drama and, I’m sure, some tear-filled moments. The performances by both leads look extremely promising. For some reason, Woody Harrelson as a jerky teacher feels very appealing.
This may seem like an extremely sappy film, and it probably will be. Still, I want to see it because I’m always game for well written characters and a compelling story. I think we’ve all felt isolated at one time or another, especially in high school. The Edge of Seventeen will, potentially, show how one young woman overcomes that.
The Edge of Seventeen premieres November 18.
