Tropic Sprockets / The Edge of Seventeen

By Ian Brockway

Kelly Fremon Craig’s rollicking and nearly madcap “The Edge of Seventeen” is a joyride that is a refreshing recall to the films of the 1980s, in the tradition of “Sixteen Candles” and “The Breakfast Club.” Light yet pointed, bubbly but intelligent, the film never falters.

Nadine (Hailee Steinfeld) is a verbally hyper, odd girl out for no particular reason. As a youngster she is bullied, in high school she is spurned. Her one friend is the good natured Krista (Haley Lu Richardson). The two are inseparable. But when Krista has a romantic encounter with Nadine’s brother Darian (Blake Jenner), things get testy.

One might be tempted to think that this is a run of the mill teen drama and indeed there have been countless ones. But rather than going through a rush of angst and tears, as other films might, this story is spirited, real and engrossing.

No cardboard characters or dialogue here. Each actor is full bodied with emotion and charge, from Steinfeld and Richardson to Woody Harrelson, who plays his most human role yet as a sarcastic teacher. Harrelson is a joy for playing a regular guy without any violence whatsoever. Still, he has a whiff of a mystery about him which makes him all the more intriguing.

A standout performance comes from Hayden Szeto as Erwin, a shy but impulsive illustrator who is attracted to Nadine. Another good turn belongs to Eric Keenleyside as Nadine’s dad, the face of festivity and comfort. Kyra Sedgwick appears as a very highstrung mother.

This is a swift story that is free with itself, containing no self-consciousness or syrupy sap. Once again, this is a young girl growing up on the border of adulthood. But its sense of fun, excitement and verve make “The Edge of Seventeen” intensely watchable. It has terrific ease and good performances but most of all, see this film for its clarity and smoothness, as well as a touch of what it actually feels like to grow up: spontaneous, silent, sullen and wild.

Write Ian at [email protected]

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