The Edge of Seventeen: A Movie Review

The trailer for this movie starts with a girl who goes to her teacher and tells him she wants to kill herself, then has him read a text she accidentally sent the guy she wants desperately.  After reading said text, her teacher, who has just read many deep and dark deeds this girl texted, tells her she needs to work on her run on sentences.  That part right there is what made me want to see this movie.  This scene alone gives a glimpse into the drama and comedy this film contains and it truly has the perfect amount of both.

Nadine has lived a life in which nothing and I mean nothing goes her way.  Her personality was never the shining star that her brother's was and making friends was pretty much impossible.  Luckily she found Krista, who appreciated Nadine in all her quirkiness and the two became BFFs instantly.  Life didn't stop being difficult for Nadine though.  Her father died during her teen years unexpectedly, and the older she got, the more aware of herself she became, and really hated what she saw.  You could definitely say her teenage years were not her best.  So take that and add to it the fact that her best friend and only friend falls for her brother and you have a monumental disaster.  It is up to her unconventional history teacher to help her find her way.

IMDB gave this film an 8/10 and Rotten Tomatoes gave it an astounding 94%.  As far as rated R drama/comedy films go, I am going to go ahead and give it a 10/10.  I think anyone who can relate to the anxieties of growing up, dysfunctional families, and just trying to survive in our own skin will appreciate this movie.  Even if those elements don't apply to you, but you can appreciate the anxieties others go through and be able to do so with a sense of humor, this movie will appeal to you.  It was witty, relatable, endearing, and raw.  The length was perfect and Woody Harrelson plays an awesome teacher/mentor for our dear Nadine.  This was a movie with a lot of heart that I highly recommend.