Wednesday, February 8, 2017

THE EDGE OF SEVENTEEN Tackles Teen Angst with Brilliance



Jeri Jacquin

Currently on Digital HD, coming to Bluray/DVD and OnDemand from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment and writer/director Kelly Fremon Craig is a reminder about THE EDGE OF SEVENTEEN.

Nadine (Hailee Steinfeld) is a high school girl living in a teen crisis life. Feeling the crushing weight of it all, it would almost be unbearable if she didn’t have bff Krista (Haley Lu Richardson).

Watching her successful brother Darian (Blake Jenner) be great at everything doesn’t help and Mom Mona (Kyra Sedgwick) is on a roller coaster of her own. Just when Nadine thinks she has a handle on it all, she discovers that Krista and Darian are dating!

That sends her straight to Mr. Bruner (Woody Harrelson), a teacher who can’t go a day without listening to Nadine’s exploits. Listening to her go off on tangents, he attempts in his own way to offer advice.

In the middle of all of the craziness she strikes up a friendship with Erwin (Hayden Szeto), a young man who seems to understand the misunderstood Nadine. As the rollercoaster of life keeps baiting Nadine, she has to decide what her happiness level is…

and then get there.

Steinfeld as Nadine will take the viewer through every emotion she is feeling so be prepared for your own emotional exhaustion by films end. From the very beginning Steinfeld’s character narrates the world from her point of view but, in truth, it was and is pretty much the world view we all have felt.

Harrelson as Mr. Bruner is absolutely hilarious. His characters demeanor is very unique but I have to admit I was laughing myself silly. Sedgwick as Mona is a mother who seems to favor one child over another and absorbed into her own life. Sedgwick still know how to deliver a performance.

Richardson as Krista is everything a bff should be – except when that girl code is broken. Watching Richardson and Steinfeld go through their relationships problems brings out the worst in them both.

Jenner as Darian is a brother who is the guy everyone wants to be which makes his relationship with sister Nadine even more difficult. Szeto as Erwin is the calm in Nadine’s storm; it just might take her a little while to realize it.

Other cast include Alexander Calvert as Nick, Eric Keenleyside as Tom, Nesta Cooper as Shannon, Daniel Bacon as M.C., and Lina Renna as Little Nadine.

Universal Studios Home Entertainment has just added an amazing film to their library and making it available for us all to experience and re-experience in our own home theatres. There are films of every genre available from scary to drama to family films. For more of what they have to offer please visit www.uphe.com.

THE EDGE OF SEVENTEEN is such a well done film in so many respects. It is a trip down memory lane a bit with the awkwardness we all have felt in our teens. Even though the film has humor, it doesn’t make light in a downgraded way to what Nadine goes through.

The casting of the film is wonderful as Steinfeld seems to embrace playing a young teen girl making it look so easy. From her fear of peers, to dealing with a set of beliefs about her Mother to completely misreading a trusted confident, Steinfeld nails it all. THE EDGE OF SEVENTEEN on Bluray can stand proudly next to the likes of THE BREAKFAST CLUB, SIXTEEN CANDLES and EASY A – and it will in my home.

The Bluray and DVD include the bonus features of a Gag Reel and Deleted Scenes. Bluray unleashes the power of any HDTV with amazing picture resolution and DVD can be played in more places. Digital HD with Ultraviolet means more places to view films on an iPad, iPhone, and Androids.

If you have forgotten what it means to be seventeen again, THE EDGE OF SEVENTEEN is an awesome reminder of the pains mixed with the comedy of teen life.
If you happen to be a teen, the film embraces every aspect of the emotions and situations with a movie-hug.

In the end – you’re only young once…is it over yet?


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