MovieChat Forums > Sixteen Candles (1984) Discussion > Seemed like a work of surrealism

Seemed like a work of surrealism

posted 4 years ago by Jes' Sayin' (5955)
3 replies | jump to latest

An entire extended family -- parents, siblings and TWO sets of grandparents all forget a teen's birthday? And the 16th of all birthdays? And it's not like they're a wild family? They're all supposed to be sturdy midwesterners.

And then when they finally figure it out they do virtually nothing to make up for it?

Finally, at the end, they go back to the guy's place and he has already prepared a birthday cake for her? How did he even find out, much less have time to do it?

[–] Trev (850) 3 years ago

The whole movie really makes no sense at all if you think about it. Not one character is at all believable in what they're doing or saying. Except the her little brat of a brother. That was the only thing that made sense.

I get that it's a comedy and meant to make you laugh (I didn't laugh once) but it's also a romance which is just absurd.

[–] Jes' Sayin' (5955) 3 years ago

Yep, but absurdist comedy is a thing I guess.

[–] Redsfan001 (6004) 3 years ago

You make a good point that the odds EVERYONE forgetting it are high.

But this movie is not make for rational thinking adults, it was for horny teens. My generation X just wasn't hyper-critical on movies as kids are today. We just sat back, had fun and hoped there would be some good nude scenes..(this had a great shower one)