1999 was a good year for movies. At least it was if you were an 11-year-old girl who was finally allowed to go to the movies without parental supervision. It was the year Julia Stiles recited a poem about how much she “hated” Heath Ledger. It was the year of Drew Barrymore’s first kiss and an unfortunate incident with Jason Biggs and a warm apple pie.The movies of the nineties taught me that prom was a HUGE deal. I learned that house parties always seem more fabulous in theory. These films taught me you may start the day (or the movie) pining for the quarterback, but every girl wants to end up with the sensitive quiet guy reading in the bleachers. After days of research (not including my previous 12 years of movie watching), I’ve compiled a list of the 10 best teen movies of my generation. This list is in no way conclusive, and the only authority I have is being born in 1988 and spending an inordinate amount of time at the movies as a teenager.
Clueless (1995)
“Why should I listen to you, anyway? You’re a virgin who can’t drive.”
It’s the most famous teen movie of its time. Don’t let its fuzzy pink demeanor fool you; it’s also one of the smartest. (It was based on Jane Austen’s “Emma” after all.) It also introduced the world to Paul Rudd, which was the smartest thing any director’s ever done.
10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
“Don’t, for one minute, think that you had any effect whatsoever on my panties.”
My favorite film on the list, “10 Things” introduced me to Julia Stiles, Heath Ledger’s hair and the radical notion that an outspoken bookish, music-loving feminist could get the guy. Plus Ledger’s rendition of “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” would give any John Hughes music number a run for its money.
Cruel Intentions (1999)
“People shouldn’t experience the act of love until they are in love.”
It’s the teen flick my mother would never let me watch which it makes it even more wonderful. Sex, love, betrayal, and a very odd sister-brother relationship. No wonder my mom said no.
American Pie (1999)
“You realize we’re all going to go to college as virgins. They probably have special dorms for people like us.”
Shocking enough, I’ve never seen “American Pie.” But as many times as I heard “One time at band camp…” I felt like I had seen it. It spawned a million references to apple pie, Stifler’s mom and Alyson Hannigan’s flute. It also spawned a million sequels, but none can come close to the original, or so I’ve heard.
Varsity Blues (1999)
“Football is a way of life.”
Like any small high school surrounded by cornfields, football was king in my town. “Varsity Blues,” set in a small rural Texas town, takes that idea, runs with it and then fumbles it when the star quarterback (Paul Walker) is injured, forcing his studious friend and second-stringer (James Van Der Beek) to take his place. For teenage boys, the movie was the perfect mix of football, cheerleaders and raunchy humor. For girls, we got to hear Van Der Beek speak in a cute southern accent.
She’s All That (1999)
“Am I a bet? Am I a fucking bet?”
It was the first teen flick I ever saw in the theater. It follows a classic formula: Guy makes bet with friends to turn a dorky chick into a popular bombshell. Guy succeeds and ends up falling for girl. Girl finds out about the bet and gets angry. They make up and live happily ever after. Predictable? Yes. Cheesy? A bit. But when Freddie Prince Jr. and Rachael Leigh Cook finally kiss after an hour and 35 minutes of sexual tension, I still get goose bumps.
Never Been Kissed (1999)
“Find out who you are and try not to be afraid of it.”
At first glance this looks like a standard romantic comedy, not a teen flick. That is until Drew Barrymore, who plays a reporter, gets her first big assignment. Her object: to go back to high school and find what kids are like today. No easy feat considering Drew’s character Josie was the school geek, taunted endlessly by her classmates. But this time around she does things her way and learns a few important life lessons, as any star in a teen flick should. She also lands the hot English teacher, Michael Vartan.
Drop Dead Gorgeous (1999)
“This pageant is like a roach motel. Girls check in but they don’t check out.”
This black comedy parading as a mockumentary featured a hoard of nineties teen stars, such as Amy Adams, Kirsten Dunst, Brittany Murphy and Denise Richards. Chaos ensues when someone starts knocking off beauty pageant contestants one by one. The premise doesn’t sound amusing but the ridiculous Minnesota accents make it a riot.
Bring It On (2000)
“I’m major, I roar / I swear I’m not a whore.”
I rolled my eyes when “Bring It On” came out. A movie about cheerleaders? Yawn. But then I watched it and fell in love with its campy story line and surprisingly good comedic timing. It’s the movie that had everyone doing spirit fingers. It’s a movie about cheerleading, but it’s not a cheerleading movie.
Mean Girls (2004)
“She’s fabulous, but she’s evil.”
It is the last great teen movie of my generation. Tina Fey’s sharp writing and a spot-on cast made the movie teen royalty. Lines like “That’s why her hair is so big. It’s full of secrets,” will stand the test of time, unlike Lindsay Lohan’s sobriety. I saved “Mean Girls” for last because if you haven’t seen it, you need to go do so right now. As a twenty-something 90s kid, it’s the right thing to do.
