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The Edge of Seventeen is the latest big-budget high school movie to hit our screens. The conceit is familiar – a voiceover proclaiming “there are two types of people in this world” may well elicit a groan from anyone who isn’t still stuck in a high school world where these platitudes are comforting. While undoubtedly formulaic, the opening scenes – from the shot of scuffed trainers stepping out of a car in front of the school to the childhood memories montage – do what they’re supposed to: clearly and confidently let us know what we’re in for.
What follows is a largely predictable, occasionally funny and altogether perfectly entertaining story about a young girl’s distress when her best (and only) friend starts dating her older brother. The relationships between Nadine and those around her are portrayed with real understanding, adding depth and interest to the grumpy-teen-against-the-world dynamic. The central performance, from Hailee Steinfeld, is competent and polished, but fails to bring significant charm or humour to the character of Nadine. By far the best performance comes from Woody Harrelson, who plays Nadine’s sardonic but ultimately caring teacher, Mr. Bruner. His character provides moments of real hilarity, making comments like “your grandparents can’t last forever, can they?” when assuring Nadine that she will soon have the excuses she covets for neglected homework.
The team behind The Edge of Seventeen have crafted a first class character in Harrelson’s Mr. Bruner, which adds adds a genuine note of bold and unexpected humour to the film. Unfortunately, this aspect of the film is like a good tangy icing – commendable, but not sufficient to turn a plain cake into a delicious gateaux. Not moving enough to be an effective drama, not quite funny enough to succeed as a straight up comedy, it doesn’t compare to recent classics of teen cinema (Mean Girls, Pitch Perfect, Rushmore). However, it is stylish and well made, with decent writing, clever plot construction, a solid cast and a very on-trend soundtrack. A fine film.
