Moviefone Editorial

Tag: @campusbeat

  • 5 Reasons Claire Underwood Is the Real Hero of ‘House of Cards’

    claire underwood in season 3 of House of CardsAfter months of waiting, “House of Cards” has finally returned. Frank and Claire Underwood have worked their way to the top of the political ladder as President and First Lady of the United States. Frank is the ostensible protagonist of the show, Machiavelli with a Southern accent and a penchant for speaking directly to the audience. However, Frank’s unceasing self-involvement can be tiring at times. He would never have succeeded without the help of his own Lady Macbeth, Claire, and it is she who is the real fascinating focal point of the show. Here are the reasons why Claire is the real hero (or antihero) of “House of Cards.”

    (WARNING: Mild season 3 spoilers ahead.)

    1. She’s brave
    Claire has had to make a series of difficult choices throughout the three seasons of “House of Cards,” often sacrificing personal comfort or happiness for political advancement. Admitting to having an abortion publicly definitely takes some guts, even if it is a politically calculated action. Claire always seems as if she is in control of the situation, even if this isn’t the case, and fights for what she believes she and her husband deserve, no matter the consequences.

    2. She’s ruthless
    There’s a reason that Frank and Claire work so well together, and that’s largely because they are both so conniving. Frank is willing to kill to get what he wants, but Claire is willing to publicly shame and humiliate anyone who gets in her way. Probably the biggest example of this would be her cancellation of a pregnant former employee’s health insurance, depriving her of medicine so she’d drop a wrongful termination lawsuit. It’s an undoubtedly cruel move, but one so savvy that the viewer can only look on with amazement.

    3. She’s brilliant
    Before becoming the wife of the Vice President, and then President, Claire was the CEO of the nonprofit Clean Water Initiative. But beyond being the leader of an impressive organization, Claire is also half the brains behind Frank’s political upward mobility. The two’s late-night cigarette plotting sessions are a testament to their mutual ingenuity, as they plan to tear the world down to get what they want.

    4. She has occasional doubts
    Frank always seems to look upon his advancement with glee, and is willing to be ruthless without a second thought. This makes him an entertaining but not very complex character. Claire, on the other hand, is shown to have occasional doubts, or at the very least fleeting moments of regret. This can be seen in her decision to break off her relationship with Adam Galloway, who offered her happiness but not advancement. In the third season, it seems as if Claire is beginning to understand that she has sacrificed everything in her life for Frank’s political career. This recognition is a crucial aspect of the newest season, showcasing Claire’s doubts towards the life she has helped to create.

    5. She has amazing style
    Claire’s fashionable sensibilities are actually a weapon, contributing to her aura of composed intelligence. She is always wearing a beautiful ensemble, which makes her seem even more intimidating and coldly aloof. Claire doesn’t want to be put on a pedestal, but she does want others to know that she’s smarter, better, and able to take them down. Her choice of clothes and hair are calculated moves, just like everything else in her life, designed to fill a person with awe.

    Grace Segers is a student at Tufts University and a contributor to Moviefone’s Campus Beat.
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  • Oscar-Winning ‘Ida’ Brings Old Beauty to the Present Day

    ida 2013Best Foreign Language Film is one of the more underrated categories presented at the Academy Awards. Some films within this category truly shine, yet they are blacklisted by many people as being foreign and, therefore, unwatchable. “Ida” tackles foreign topics, literally and figuratively, with grace, and it somehow is related to today’s world. While “Ida” is immensely popular within its target market, most of the general public has not seen or even heard of it. Its ability to tackle such relatable issues contributed to its win at the Academy Awards.

    Filmed in black and white, “Ida” follows the eponymous nun-in-training, played by Agata Trzebuchowska. While she is content to remain at the convent until she takes her vows and officially becomes a nun, Ida is sent into the real world to meet her last living relative. During her stay with her Aunt Wanda, played beautifully by Agata Kulesza, the duo goes on a journey to trace the origins of Ida’s parents. Aunt Wanda introduces Ida to a more wild life, and even introduces her to the revelation that her parents had been Jewish. This revelation disrupts everything Ida had ever learned and forces the pair to investigate the death of Ida’s parents during Nazi occupation. Considering the setting of 1960, Poland still retains marks of the war, and this shows through the prejudice held by certain townspeople met along the way.

    Initially, Ida remains stiff and chaste, but from the beginning there is a twinkle in her eye. Throughout the film, this twinkle expands and creates a lifetime of memories within the numbered days of the visit. Ida’s aunt is a fun-loving judge who spends her evenings drinking with men while Ida reads her bible. Immediately, they clash as the modern world of the ’60s meets the dated world Ida knows.

    Wanda and Ida represent sin vs. purity through their actions and their dress. Ida wears the light-colored clothes given to her in the convent, whereas Aunt Wanda wears exclusively dark clothing. Makeup design represents this relationship as well, with Ida’s bare face. Towards the film’s finale, when Ida removes her habit, her clothing is dark. The impurity of the outside world influences Ida’s decisions and behavior. Their language is indicative of the difference. Ida exposes her thoughts through glances and facial expressions, whereas Wanda vocalizes her desires and anger.

    These issues are still present today, where the older, more conservative generation constantly clashes with the more liberal millennials. Despite its 1960 setting, Ida remains relevant to current issues we face on an everyday basis. As young people, we constantly struggle with what is expected of us, and Ida understands this more than anyone.

    Brooke Schmidt is a student at The College of New Jersey and a contributor to Moviefone’s Campus Beat.
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  • 5 Reasons to Love Frank Underwood on ‘House of Cards’

    frank underwoodIt has now become commonplace to get excited every time a snowstorm rolls into town, because that gives us an excuse to binge-watch hours upon hours of House of Cards.” The excitement is due to the show’s main character, Francis Joseph Underwood. Whether Frank is devising some diabolical plan or reminding everyone just how much more smarter then them he is, we can’t help but be intrigued. Here’s five reasons why we love Frank Underwood:

    1. He Gives the Best Advice
    With his southern drawl and knack for spewing out hometown sayings (Gaffney, S.C., must have a lot of sayings), Frank just can’t help but share his infinite wisdom with us. It doesn’t matter if his speeches deal with the high pressure world of Congressional coups or he’s simply working through a problem out loud, some of Frank’s most captivating moments occur when he faces the camera to share a soliloquy. Some of Frank Underwood’s best quotes are:

    • ” Shake with your right hand, but hold a rock in your left.”
    • “The only thing more satisfying than convincing someone to do what I want is failing to persuade them on purpose. It’s like a Do Not Enter sign. It just begs you to walk through the door.”
    • “She’s right. I should take better care of myself. But it’s the principle. I wont be a slave to anybody or anything you can order with a toll-free number.”
    • “Never slap a man while he’s chewing tobacco.”
    • “I’ve always loathed the necessity of sleep. Like death, it puts even the most powerful men on their backs.”

    2. He Married Claire
    They say behind every great man stands a strong woman. Well, Claire Underwood stands behind no one. Her cunning attitude and quick wits make her a perfect partner for Frank. More than once she’s gotten him out of a jam. Claire can go from having an affair one minute to sabotaging her lover’s life the next. She even managed to turn a scandal for a politician’s wife (having an abortion) into a great moment for her personal and professional life (accusing her former college rapist, now a high-ranking military General, of being the reason she got the abortion in the first place). If there’s one thing Claire Underwood has taught us it’s that you don’t rise to the rank of First Lady of the United States by just shaking hands and kissing babies.

    3. He Gets Away With Murder
    No one is safe with Frank Underwood around. Not even dogs (as we learned in the opening moments of the show). Frank has no gripes with murder, as long as it serves a purpose with getting him closer to his goal. Peter Russo was just a pawn in a game to force the Vice President out of the way. Zoe Barns just got a little too close to a story, and too close to a subway platform for that matter. Either way, all characters are forewarned. Frank knows how to cover his tracks.

    4. Frank’s Focus
    Who didn’t feel bad for Freddy the BBQ Guy when Frank tossed him aside like yesterday’s baby back ribs. Or how about when Frank turned the shooting death of a child into a negotiation tool to stop a teachers’ strike. Frank is resourceful. He will not let anything stand in his way. It’s worked out so far. He’s gone from the guy whipping votes in Congress to running the country from the White House (although there might not be a difference between the two). Without running a campaign, Frank has become President by outsmarting his opponents, Chiefs of Staff, Washington lobbyists, hired hookers included.

    5. No One Messes With Frank
    Hell hath no fury like Frank Underwood scorned. This all started from him getting screwed over right? All they had to do was make him Secretary of State like they promised. But then again, we wouldn’t have a story to watch. Where would the nation’s capital be without the thrill of Washington Herald reporters fearing for their lives, or a menage-a-trois with a secret service agent, or former waitresses/prostitutes knocking out Harry Stamper (Is he really dead?). Either way, the fact that Frank was wronged first is why we can’t help but root for him. A small part of us wants him to win — maybe not commit any more murders along the way — but win nonetheless. Long Live President Underwood.
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  • 10 Things You Probably Don’t Know About Shonda Rhimes

    Shonda Rhimes FactsShonda Rhimes created what could be called the biggest night on television, Thursday nights on ABC. She has created a fan base through social media that call the event TGIT (Thank God It’s Thursday). It all started with “Grey’s Anatomy,” which originally aired on Sunday nights but since got moved to Thursday nights and is currently in its eleventh season. Then, “Private Practice” was a spin-off of the show and the success of Shondaland continued. “Scandal” premiered in 2012 and “How To Get Away With Murder” followed a couple years after. We all know she is a brilliant and successful writer and producer, but there are some things about Shonda Rhimes you may not know but we’re here to give you the inside scoop.

    1. She was born in Chicago, Illinois and thinks deep dish Chicago pizza is the only kind of pizza that matters.

    2. She was in a championship marching band in high school.

    3. She went to Dartmouth College to receive her BA in English Literature with Creative Writing. Several years later, she attended the University of Southern California to get a Master of Fine Arts in the School of Cinematic Arts.

    4. She has three daughters in her life, two who were adopted and the third who arrived via surrogacy.

    5. She wrote the film, “Princess Diaries 2: A Royal Engagement,” which was released in August 2004.

    6. The idea for Grey’s Anatomy originated after a doctor told Rhimes it was really hard to shave her legs in a hospital shower. Rhimes thought it was a small detail at first, but then realized it was probably the only time and place the doctor was able to do something like that, which just showed how hard her job was, which she thought would be a good start for a show.

    7. She really loves the National Spelling Bee.

    8. She “predicted” Sarah Drew’s pregnancy from Grey’s Anatomy. Rhimes wrote the script for the episode when April Kepner finds out she’s pregnant and later on, Drew who plays April Kepner got pregnant with her second child in her real life.

    9. Headphones are a part of her writing process. She likes listening to music when she writes.

    10. She appeared as a version of herself in an episode of “The Mindy Project” in October of 2014.

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  • 5 Reasons We’re Excited for ‘American Crime’

    American Crime Review“American Crime,” created by Oscar winner John Ridley, is one of the new dramas premiering on ABC in March. It’s set to air Thursday nights at 10 pm, and the anticipation is killing us. The show stars Felicity Huffman, Timothy Hutton, Regina King, and Benito Martinez just to name a few. Here are five reasons why we can’t wait for the March 5th premiere date.

    1. Watching the trailer takes us on an emotional rollercoaster.
    Just by watching the trailer, we are getting all sorts of feels from the show. Whether it’s the dad (Benito Martinez) crying over his son (Johnny Ortiz) being taken into jail or another dad (Timothy Hutton) having to identify his dead son, we know John Ridley has some major surprises and cliffhangers coming for us in Season 1. If the trailer is that good, we can’t even imagine what the show will bring.

    2. John Ridley is the creator.
    The Oscar winner for best adapted screenplay for “12 Years a Slave” is back but this time in television. “American Crime” is the first thing he has done since “12 Years a Slave,” so it’s time for more Ridley. “12 Years a Slave” was a powerful film and from the looks of the trailer for “American Crime,” it doesn’t seem like this television show will be any different.

    3. Felicity Huffman is back!
    I don’t know about you, ever since Desperate Housewives” ended in 2012, I’ve been having withdrawals. I’ve missed her in the television world. Lynette Scavo kept things lively and interesting in “Desperate Housewives” and we can’t wait to see what Huffman brings to this new character in “American Crime.” Even though her character doesn’t seem like she will be the most likable one of the series, all that matters is that Huffman is back and we get to see more stellar acting from her.

    4. When HTGAWM leaves temporarily, we’re going to need something to watch.
    Shonda Rhimes has created quite the experience for viewers on Thursday nights. “How To Get Away With Murder” will have its season finale and viewers are going to need something else, just as good, to watch. Ridley has some big shoes to fill, but after watching “12 Years a Slave,” I don’t see any problems coming our way. He probably won’t sugarcoat anything and instead will definitely bring reality and rawness to the show.

    5. It’s not your typical crime show.
    John Ridley has made it clear in many interviews that this show isn’t the crime show where each episode solves a mystery. Instead, the show focuses on the victims, the suspect, and their families, rather than the crime and how to solve it. The season focuses on one crime and shows the implications of that crime on the people around it somehow involved with it. It seems like the show will be more relatable and resonate more with us.

    Vanessa Gomez is a student at the University of Southern California and a contributor to Moviefone’s Campus Beat.
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  • ‘Last Man on Earth’ or Dead on Arrival?

    last man on earth campus beatThe initial premise for “The Last Man on Earth” sounds a bit strange. According to one of the clips on YouTube, a virus wipes out all of the life on Earth. IMDb says that “THE LAST MAN ON EARTH is a new single-camera comedy about the life and adventures of the last man on earth.” Pretty straightforward. The show stars Will Forte as its lead, Paul, and I’m very concerned that Forte’s comedic talents might not be enough to sustain an audience’s attention. There are several other actors listed on the IMDb page, which is a relief, but how will they factor into a comedy that’s based solely on the talents of a single man?

    Let’s look at Forte’s career to see if he has the chops to pull this off. He was in Oscar-nominated “Nebraska,” but that was a dark movie (both literally and figuratively). I guess this show can be pretty dark, too, seeing as he’s supposedly the last man on Earth. It’s being branded as a comedy, but it’ll probably be rather dark. If “Nebraska” is any indication, I’m sure Forte can handle a dark comedy. The most reputable credit on Forte’s film list is probably “Saturday Night Live.” If he can handle ten years of fast-paced comedy on the live broadcasted, insanely popular NBC show, there is a good chance Forte can handle this. He has also written for “That 70s show” and “the Late Show with David Letterman” in the past, and he has a writing credit for this show. At least that shows his talents are very versatile.

    The biggest challenge that the writers, including Forte, will have to face is creating tension, comedic moments, and drama out of a single person. From the clips on YouTube, “The Last Man On Earth” seems like it’s leaning more towards “Portlandia” humor verses the humor of “Modern Family.” Go check out clips on the Fox YouTube channel and you’ll see what I mean.

    As a seasoned television watcher (but seriously Netflix has ruined me), I can foresee a few potential conflicts that Forte’s Paul will have to conquer; but what happens when those easily reached goals are met? The writers will have a monumental task coming up with content, but I look forward to seeing what they come up with. After hearing about “The Last Man on Earth,” most people were very apprehensive, myself included, but now I’m just very intrigued as to where this is going. In the meantime, let’s just keep our fingers crossed that such a unique premise will last passed its pilot.

    Brooke Schmidt is a student at The College of New Jersey and a contributor to Moviefone’s Campus Beat.
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  • ‘Obvious Child’ or ‘The Most Underrated Film of 2014’

    Obvious Child Jenny Slate UnderratedWhile she did not win the award, last week Jenny Slate was nominated for Best Actress at the Indie Spirit Awards. She was nominated for the film “Obvious Child,” a film most people haven’t even heard about. Jenny Slate stars in the Gillian Robespierre directed film about a woman who gets pregnant off a one-night stand and then decides to have an abortion. Instead of fixating on her decision, Slate’s character revels in life, love, friendship, and an amazing support system. Never before has such a grim topic been tackled with such grace and hilarity.

    As Slate’s Donna goes through the abortion process, she ends up falling in love with the unfortunate Baby Daddy. While she doesn’t tell him at first that she is pregnant, a remarkable thing happens after she finally does tell him: He stays by her side! Ryan (Paul Briganti) doesn’t shirk away from his responsibility. He ends up accompanying Donna to the Clinic to have her procedure, and it’s such a heartfelt and beautiful moment. He appears on her sidewalk holding flowers as though he is about to pick her up for a date, not take her to get an abortion.

    In today’s age, where abortion is such a real issue and such events are not uncommon, “Obvious Child” is the type of movie we need. We don’t need another Nicholas Sparks film where unrealistically gorgeous people fall for each other in increasingly more melodramatic ways with an overwhelming amount of obstacles between them. Real issues need to be at the forefront of films that are meant for the public, and it’s a shame more people haven’t seen this film. As audience members, we need relatable scenarios that showcase what it means to be alive and to deal with real issues.

    Sure, the topics are extremely relevant, but what makes this film truly shine is the incomparable Jenny Slate. She infuses the film with humor and honesty, emphasizing the already beautiful script by Gillian Robespierre. To echo Cate Blanchett’s quote at last year’s Oscars, “Perhaps those of us in the industry who are still foolishly clinging to the idea that female films, with females at the center, are niche experiences, they are not. Audiences want to see them.”

    Brooke Schmidt is a student at The College of New Jersey and a contributor to Moviefone’s Campus Beat.
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  • 5 Things You’ll Realize While Watching ‘Friends’ on Netflix

    Friends Netflix1. The beginning is slow
    With the characters less developed than I remember them being, and the jokes a bit predictable at times, the beginning of “Friends” left me underwhelmed. Scenes were sometimes very short, filled with only a few quick, mediocre jokes. The plots of the episodes moved slowly, and some scenes seemed unnecessary. After the first handful of episodes, though, it starts to pick up speed and become the classic sitcom we all know and love today.

    2. Some of the girls’ outfits are on point (Rachel, I’m looking at you)
    Fashion tends to repeat itself, and nowhere is that more obvious than while watching “Friends.” Monica, Rachel, and Phoebe sported some serious looks back then that I would happily wear today. I’m talking combat boots, overalls, sweaters tied around your waist, and flannel. It’s a ’90s girl’s dream.

    3. Ross is so annoying
    Starting with his complete inability to confess his feelings for Rachel in Season 1, Ross is that character you love to hate. Well, maybe not hate. There are moments when he seems like a simple, adorable, dinosaur-loving nerd. But then he complains about being divorced, or messes up yet another one of his relationships, or exclaims his usual “We were on a break!” and his adorableness fades away pretty fast.

    4. You should totally be hanging out in coffee shops more often
    Everything cool seems to happen at Central Perk. Phoebe was always playing her quirky songs while the gang sipped their coffees and joked about dating and work and life. When you watch the show, you may start to get the urge to hang out in a small, trendy coffee shop. You may even start saying things like, “That is such a Monica thing to say.” Don’t worry, there’s nothing wrong with it. After all, who doesn’t want to be a character in “Friends”?

    5. The theme song is super catchy
    As soon as you hear the first few notes of the song play at the beginning of each episode, you really can’t help but sing (and clap) along. And once you’ve heard it, that song will be stuck in your head all day. You end up not just singing it, but totally, unapologetically belting it out. When you watch “Friends,” that song becomes your jam.

    Abigail Drueke is a student at the University of Florida and a contributor to Moviefone’s Campus Beat.
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  • A Countdown to the Oscars

    The time to unwind has finally arrived. Now we can look back at what made us laugh, what made us cry and what made us wonder why we paid full price for a ticket. The latter of those statements should, hopefully, be invalid, because the Oscars are a time to rejoice at what we loved, not what we didn’t. And I believe that this year such a statement would be particularly accurate because I’ve never seen such a strong group of candidates for Best Picture in my short life as a film lover. But enough wasting time on introduction, because there are eight films I am going to rank in descending order from what I believe is least likely to win to most likely to win the crown jewel of the Academy Awards, and like anyone who has given a speech on the world’s biggest stage probably knows: we haven’t got all night.

    The film that I believe is least likely to win Best Picture out of the eight very worthy candidates is “The Theory of Everything”. Although the movie was graceful and well told, it doesn’t bear the strength to challenge some of the other films that came out this year. Every year that the Oscars roll around, there will be films that relied heavily on acting and a little less on solid storytelling. It is a tale that we have all heard before, and though this particular type of romance may be new, there is nothing surprising in a period piece about someone as well known as Stephen Hawking. Don’t be shocked if Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones both take home awards for their acting in this flick, but the story itself won’t have the strength to win an Oscar.

    Number seven on my list is “The Grand Budapest Hotel”. Personally, I loved the film, but Wes Anderson is more likely to win an award for his screenwriting than he is as producer. Also, the film came out in early 2014, giving it ample time to fade into distant memory for those with ballots. Masterfully shot and originally told, “The Grand Budapest Hotel” is Wes Anderson at his best. Sadly, his best probably won’t cut in on Sunday when he sits in the ring with several menacing heavyweights. I would recommend this film to anyone looking for pure entertainment, but I don’t envision it as an Oscar baiting piece.

    Coming in at number six on my countdown is “The Imitation Game.” The film was very similar to “The Theory of Everything” in several ways, but I think the story itself was slightly more interesting and a lot more fun to follow. Everything about “The Imitation Game” was high stakes and I think it was told wonderfully, but I don’t think this is the year for period pieces and biopics. There were just too many good original screenplays in 2014 that I find it hard to believe this movie will be able to stand out. In all honesty, there’s no reason why this would win and “The Theory of Everything” wouldn’t and vice versa. The films are just so damn similar. Next to Michael Keaton in “Birdman”, I think Benedict Cumberbatch gave one of the top performances of the year and it was genuinely fun to watch him work.

    The next film on my list is “Selma,” which was an interesting look at a political figure who hasn’t had as much of a presence in film history: Martin Luther King Jr. I enjoyed that the story didn’t focus on the obvious things such as his speech in front of the Lincoln Memorial or his premature death. If that had been the focus I think the movie would have been too broad and fell flat on its face. Instead, we were able to peer into the relatively untold story of his march on Selma, Alabama. This made it a much more powerful piece about race and equality during the civil rights movement. But once again, I don’t believe this the year for period pieces, which is why “Selma” is in the second half of my list.

    Number four is “American Sniper”, whose critical reception surprised me a little bit. After “Lone Survivor” was snubbed a nomination last year, I figured that Hollywood might be against the glorification of Navy Seals, but they certainly felt differently about this one as evident by its 6 nominations. Personally, I didn’t find the film to be all that political, and I think it really was a good story that needed to be told. But then again, I’ve grown slightly numb to the annual trend of what seems to be one big “war on terror” movie. “The Hurt Locker,” “Zero Dark Thirty,” “Lone Survivor,” and now this? It seems that the same basic plots are being recycled and there’s only so much that can be said of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

    Next up is “Whiplash,” which might be the most critic-friendly movie of the year. It is a great original story about the sheer desire for greatness that was written and directed by newcomer Damien Chazelle. It was so good in fact that Chazelle is already working on a new project, “La La Land”, that will star “Whiplash” lead Miles Teller and everyone’s favorite: Emma Watson. But the man who really stole the show in this one was J.K. Simmons, who gave a career performance as a viciously over-the-top music teacher. Simmons, in my opinion, is the most viable candidate for Best Supporting Actor and I truly hope he takes home the statue for his work in “Whiplash.” Everything about this movie breathes “well-executed Indie” and I’m glad it’s getting the recognition it deserves.

    At number two is a movie that will most definitely stand the test of time: “Boyhood.” I think every so often a movie like this comes along that truly turns the industry on its head. Will “Boyhood” spark a trend that involves using the same actors over long periods of time? Probably not. But it was something that really needed to be done and writer/director Richard Linklater’s experiment paid off. It already took home the Golden Globe for Best Drama so don’t be at all surprised if “Boyhood” wins Best Picture come Sunday.

    And finally, the number one movie on my list is “Birdman.” This was one of the best movies I’ve seen in my lifetime. Everything about the movie screams originality, which is something that can often lack in the movie business. Not only was I blown away by how the film was shot — in a manner that makes the whole thing look like one take –- but the way in which the movie delved so deeply into human nature was verging on unsettling. Is this what it’s really like to be an egomaniac? If I had 15 minutes of fame would I go crazy too? Movies like “Birdman” are the movies that make us think introspectively. If I had to show my children one movie from my generation that embodied phenomenal storytelling it would be this one.

    At the end of the day, this could all be a wash and maybe “The Theory of Everything” does win best picture. My guess is as good as anyone’s given the surprises we have seen in years past. I can only hope that however the night ends that credit is given where credit is due for each and every candidate. And anyone who has given a speech on the world’s biggest stage probably knows: it’s an honor just to be considered.

    Jack Heyden is a student at the University of Illinois and a contributor to Moviefone’s Campus Beat.
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  • The Importance of Teen Comedies

    The Duff Teen Movies Much like taxes and death, teen comedy movies are a certainty of life. On Friday, February 20, the newest addition to the pantheon of high school dramas will be released: “The DUFF,” starring Mae Whitman and Robbie Amell. Whitman plays Bianca, the “designated ugly fat friend” (DUFF) of her social group. The plot of the film seems cliché, but to be fair, it is a part of a genre that has thrived on stereotypes. Whether or not “The DUFF” will not only be successful, but also influential, depends on its ability to communicate to teenagers.

    It has been 30 years since the release of “The Breakfast Club” (1985), 20 years since the movie “Clueless” (1995) premiered, and a little over 10 years since “Mean Girls” (2004) hit theaters. These three films happen to be my favorite teen comedies because, despite the dated outfits and references, they perfectly captured what it actually is to be an adolescent. While very different, each of these movies show what friendship is actually like when your hormones are on the fritz. “The Breakfast Club” teaches us that everyone is secretly weird, lost, and confused. In “Clueless,” we learn that true friendship can teach us to be better people. “Mean Girls” shows that while we can be cruel to each other, we have the choice and the capability to be great as well. These films also have actual realistic representations of teen emotions, a time when every little problem is heightened to a high-stakes issue. When watching these movies, teenagers can feel like they’re actually being represented, while adults can remember the angst and joy of being young (and feel secretly glad that they never have to endure high school again).

    High school movie characters tend to seem a bit more mature than their real life counterparts, probably because actors in their mid-20s are portraying 15-year-olds. Have you seen a real 15-year-old lately? Let me tell you, they do not in any way look like Robbie Amell. There are far more pimples and far less chiseled good looks. Furthermore, teen movie characters are also a lot wittier. I can’t tell you the last time I heard a high schooler say a witty one-liner a la Cher Horowitz in “Clueless” that didn’t involve a puerile joke. But the fundamentals of teen angst are still there and relevant in these movies, and that’s part of what makes them important.

    American culture is obsessed with youth, completely preoccupied with giving young people labels and defining their interests. “The Breakfast Club,” “Clueless,” and “Mean Girls” stand the test of time because they recognize this cultural preoccupation and subvert it, working it so it benefits teenagers instead of the adults who attempt to constrict and understand them. I mean, “Sincerely yours, the Breakfast Club”? The whole movie is about breaking societal stereotypes and reconstructing them to work for teenagers! In “Clueless,” Cher is portrayed as a stereotypical Californian girl, but she’s really sweet and kind, willing to help others while still being fabulous. “Mean Girls” tells teenagers, especially girls, that they don’t have to be in competition with each other, a value enforced by society since childhood. Instead, they can work together. So a good teen movie doesn’t only relate to teenagers on an intrinsic level, but it also proves that they are more than just a subset, or even a symbol.

    I don’t know if “The DUFF” can live up to these standards, but I hope that it does. If it takes the time not only to be clever and romantic, but also sincere, then perhaps it too can be remembered as a great portrayal of the American teenage life.

    Grace Segers is a student at Tufts University and a contributor to Moviefone’s Campus Beat.
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