Edge of Seventeen

1999

Edge of Seventeen (1999)

TOMATOMETER

76%
40%

Critic Consensus: No consensus yet.

AUDIENCE SCORE

72%

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Edge of Seventeen Photos

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Movie Info

The year is 1984. The music is Boy George and the Bronski Beat. Eric and his best friend, Maggie, are on the edge of seventeen and donning matching polyester uniforms for their summer amusement-park cafeteria jobs in small-town Sandusky, Ohio. They learn the fine art of dishing up rib-chick combos and tater logs from their brassy boss, Angie. Maggie develops a special twinkle in her eye for Eric. Everything hums along until Eric see Rod, a gorgeous hunk with dreamy blue eyes, bussing tables. No one knows Eric is gay. Not Maggie. Not his mother. Not even Eric himself, really. In this refreshingly honest and exceptionally crafted first feature, the conflicts and confusions of teenage sexuality are a perfect match for the equally conflicted and confused 1980s. With a distinct sense of place and amazing performances by Chris Stafford, Tina Holmes, and Lea DeLaria, Edge of Seventeen is a remarkable achievement: a coming-of-age story that is sentimental without being cutsie, a powerful portrait of a family dealing with undesirable change, and an uncompromising depiction of the complexities of sexual experience, ranging from the heady romance of a first kiss to the messy realities of adult sex. A musical score by Tom Bailey of the Thompson Twins completes the film's dead-on portrait of the mideighties, complete with eyeliner, two-toned hair, and skinny ties. Edge of Seventeen is a must-see for all of us who survived the fashion disaster known as "the eighties."
  • Rating:
    R (adult situations)
  • Genre:
    Comedy, Drama
  • Directed By:
    David Moreton
  • Written By:
    Todd Stephens
  • In Theaters:
     wide
  • On Disc/Streaming:
  • Runtime:
  • Studio:
    Strand Releasing

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Cast

Chris Stafford
as Eric
Tina Holmes
as Maggie
Andersen Gabrych
as Rob
Stephanie McVay
as Mom
Lea DeLaria
as Angie
John Eby
as Dad
Anderson Gabrych
Antonio Carriero
as Andy
Stephanie McVey
Jason Sheingross
as Steve
Tony Maietta
as Gregg
Jeff Fryer
as Jonathan
Kevin J. Kelley
as Chuckie
Kevin Joseph Kelly
as Chuckie
Mark Gates
as Foodtown
Stevie Reese Desmond
as Ruby Rogers
Steve Reese Desmond
as Ruby Rogers
Barbie Marie
as Frieda
Craig H. Shepherd
as Irate Customer
Doug Millon
as Security Guard
Clay Van Sickle
as Ed
Jason Griffiths
as Scott
Jimmy Mack Hodge Jr.
as Bartender
Justin Leach
as Tall Blond Guy
Jeffrey Abramson
as Dan McAllister
Jeff Abramson
as Dan McAllister
Don Mitri
as Teacher
Mike Roth
as Wrestling Jock
Adam Penton
as Joe Plonsky Jr.
Tal Ben-David
as Waitress
Dina Anderson
as Bitchy Girl
Karen Brooks
as Bitchy Girl
Shannon Constantine
as Bitchy Girl
Edd Martin
as Drag Queen
Gregg Long
as Mr. Johnson
Ryan Florio
as Randy
Twiggy
as Marlene Dicktrick
Dominic Carrion
as Miss Anita Mann
Jesse Adams
as Drag Atrocity
Joshua Elrod
as Rod's Roommate
Khalid Abdelrasoul
as Grubber
Sallyanne Law
as Grubber
Khalid Abdeldasoul
as Grubber
Sally Law
as Grubber
Jarred J. Nichols
as Grubber
Mark Jay Warshak
as Grubber
Mark Jay Warschak
as Grubber
Diva
as As Herself
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Critic Reviews for Edge of Seventeen

All Critics (17) | Top Critics (5)

My hope for Eric is not merely that he grows comfortable with his sexuality, but that he becomes a more interesting conversationalist, hopefully before I see him in another movie.

Jan 1, 2000 | Rating: 2/4 | Full Review…
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic

The Edge of Seventeen is the kind of modest, funny teen movie that we don't see enough of these days.

Jun 26, 2018 | Full Review…
Brooklyn Magazine

... it's a calm, clear-eyed portrait of a particular kid trying to figure out -- like teenagers of all kinds the world over -- who he is and where he fits in.

Oct 3, 2017 | Full Review…
New Times

This film deals honestly with the difficulties of coming out in high school.

Aug 16, 2002 | Rating: 4/5
TheMovieChicks.com

Has a winning empathy and observant sense of the Midwestern locale which bring freshness to a tale that's been told many a time before.

Jan 1, 2000 | Full Review…
Film Journal International
View All Critic Reviews (17)

Audience Reviews for Edge of Seventeen

½

I'm a huge fan of gay romance (no idea why, I can't stand straight romance), but I didn't particularly like it. The acting was fine, and there was awesome music (Yazoo, Bronski Beat etc = yay), but it was just boring.

Lauren Donis
Lauren Donis

Super Reviewer

I really thought I was gonna hate this movie but I actually thought it was pretty good. A lot of the criticisms I noticed has to do with stupid choices that the Eric character makes but maybe they don't remember what it's like to be 17. He's pretty much an innocent dork that gets caught up in what he believes to be love but is actually just sex. From there it's a lot of confusion for him. Maybe it's not groundbreaking but the acting was pretty good for a low-budget gay movie. B+

Sunil Jawahir
Sunil Jawahir

Super Reviewer

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