Of the myriad of film genres popular in the 80s, teen movies historically ranked towards the bottom of the totem pole. It wasn’t that there wasn’t an occasional gem in the crowd – My Bodyguard proved to be an exceptional film. But these rare treats were overshadowed by such crude offerings as Porky’s and the ilk. And yet, when 1983 rolled around, a director named John Hughes proceeded to raise the bar considerably, offering a film called Sixteen Candles that has since become a classic example of what a teen film is capable of. Bathroom humor gave way to poignant and sly observation and earned Hughes the well-deserved respect as a master of the genre.

It’s Samantha Baker’s sixteenth birthday and what should be a joyous occasion is anything but. Not only has the family failed to remember this important teen benchmark as a result of the chaos surrounding sister Ginny’s upcoming wedding but her romantic life leaves much to be desired. Sure, she has boys interested in her- there is Ted, the resident high school geek and the infamous Long Duk Dong, a visiting foreign exchange student (staying with her grandparents, no less) with an inferno of raging hormones contained within. But both of these prospects pale in comparison to the true love of her life, high school hunk extraordinaire, Jake Ryan. The problem is Jake is already taken by reigning prom queen, Caroline, and she has no intention of letting go of the leash. And then there is the pesky problem with that sex quiz that she took – the one where she stated that she was a virgin, saving herself for Jake – yeah, that seems to have turned up missing.

The impending evening doesn’t look to be any better for poor Samantha. It’s the night of the big dance and the grandparents insist that she accompany Long Duk. When she arrives, matters are complicated quickly as she realized that hunky Ryan might actually be interested in her, as long as she can fend off nerdy Ted, who is trying desperately to shack up with her so he can win a bet with his friends. Meanwhile, Long Duk has discovered the time honored American teen tradition of partying with reckless abandon. All of these events lead up to a crazy party over at Jake’s, with unforeseen consequences in store for all involved.

Perhaps the secret of John Hughes success with movies like Sixteen Candles is his uncanny ability to capture the emotions and behavior of teens in a way that few can. His films are not only believable but a poignant look at the trials and tribulations of being a teen hit home with everyone who has ever gone that particularly turbulent time in their life. Hughes doesn’t miss anything, from the sibling rivalry (and aggression) to the dysfunctional family unit as a whole, and throughout it all, manages to inject significant amounts of humor that never seems contrived or over-the-top.

The film also managed to merge a new entity called the brat pack with well established stars, blending young and old for maximum effectiveness. John Cusack and his sister Joan, along with Jamie Gertz, manage to provide the experienced thespian skills while newcomers Molly Ringwald and Anthony Michael Hall offer fresh perspectives that endeared them to their future fan base. But perhaps there was no finer casting than Gedde Watanabe as the lovable Long Duk Dong, who proceeds to steal every scene he has an appearance in.

While Sixteen Candles didn’t exactly break any box-office records, over the years it has become an endearing classic to many who managed to catch it on video of cable movie outlets. With a masterful combination of memorable (and perpetually quotable) dialog, paired with some truly hilarious moments, it managed to garner the attention that John Hughes certainly deserved  -as a true craftsman of the genre. It’s popularity would lead to such classic teen films as The Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, and finally earned some respect for a type of film that many had written off as crude and sophomoric – words that simply do not describe Sixteen Candles.