Whether your favorite is ’17 Again’ or ‘Scary Movie’, there’s a teen comedy for everyone! Though the genre certainly isn’t as prevalent at cinemas now as it was in the past, these movies will always have a place in movie history due to their ability to connect with audiences through a mix of laughter and cringeworthy moments. In this article, we discuss about the 10 of the best teen comedies you must see.
1. Scary Movie
With the recent announcement that the franchise is getting rebooted, now is as good a time as any to watch ‘Scary Movie’. Starring Anna Faris, Marlon Wayans and Regina Hall, the first film in the series was released in 2000, and tickled audiences for its cheeky jabs at popular horror flicks, like ‘Scream’, ‘Saw’ and ‘The Ring’. The success of the film saw four sequels follow.
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2. Road Trip
‘Road Trip’ ticks a lot of boxes when it comes to teen comedy. The 2000 picture sees Josh (Breckin Meyer) and his college buddies go on a 1,800-mile long journey from New York to Texas to save the protagonist’s relationship with his long-distance girlfriend Tiffany (Rachel Blanchard) after he accidentally mails his videotaped affair with another girl to her. Often called a ‘gross-out’ teen comedy, director Todd Phillips – who made his directorial debt with the film – rejected this label, and said his work was more than just a simple cringe-fest. He explained: “I find the term ‘gross-out comedy’ sort of dismissive. It’s very easy to be gross, it’s very hard to be funny. I think why ‘Road Trip’ works is not because of the gross stuff, it’s because of the characters.”
3. Mean Girls
Cliques, love and high school drama – ‘Mean Girls’ has it all. Starring Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, Amanda Seyfried and Tina Fey, the 2004 film documents the struggles of Cady Heron (Lindsay Lohan), a 16-year-old girl who transfers to an American public high school after being homeschooled her whole life in Africa. Lindsay and Amanda are extremely proud of the picture, and they would love to reprise their respective parts as Cady and Karen Smith. Amanda said: “I would kill just to do one week, all of us playing our own roles on ‘Mean Girls’ on Broadway.” Lindsay added: “That would be really fun!” The movie was also rebooted earlier this year, with the new film following the same plot as the original.
4. Superbad
Perhaps the crudest entry on this list, ‘Superbad’ is every bit as hysterical and relatable as it is cringeworthy. The 2007 film tells the story of a group of high school boys – played by Jonah Hill, Michael Cera and Christopher Mintz-Plasse) in a frantic quest to do the deed before heading off to college. As well as being an hilarious watch, the flick birthed plenty of memes and jokes – like the legendary McLovin – that have been cemented as pop culture staples. After the success of the picture, producer Judd Apatow tried to convince the cast to come back for a sequel, though they collectively decided it was best to leave well alone. He recalled: “Everyone was like, ‘Nah we don’t want to screw up ‘Superbad’. And I would always say the same thing, ‘Well, that’s like saying don’t make the second episode of the ‘The Sopranos.’ Like, so why do you think we would screw up the second one?’”
5. Clueless
If you haven’t seen ‘Clueless’, then you really are clueless about teen comedies! The 1995 movie tells the story of vain high schooler Cher (Alicia Silverstone) who gives new student Tai (Brittany Murphy) a makeover, which ultimately sees the newcomer become more popular than she is – a dreadful outcome for the socialite. Upon some introspection, Cher comes to realise that her ex-stepbrother Josh (Paul Rudd) was right about her misguided priorities, and soon finds she loves him.
6. Legally Blonde
If you liked ‘Clueless’, chances are you’ll love ‘Legally Blonde’. Starring Reese Witherspoon, Matthew Davis and Jennifer Coolidge, the 2001 flick follows sorority girl Elle Woods who goes to Harvard University in a quest to prove to win back her aristocratic boyfriend. Looking back on the film and its successes, Reese said playing Elle Woods was “the role of a lifetime”. She gushed: “I’m so honored to have been a part of sharing her story with you all. Every meme, graduation cap, musical number, Halloween costume and bend and snap has brought me so much JOY over these past two decades! I wonder … what will Elle do next?”
7. The Breakfast Club
This golden-oldie is an absolute must-watch! ‘The Breakfast Club’, which stars “Brat Pack” actors Emilio Estevez, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald, Anthony Michael Hall and Ally Sheedy, sees a group of students from different cliques come together for a Saturday detention, only to find there is more to life than their respective social circles. The 1985 movie is one of the teen comedy greats that has stood the test of time, and will hopefully continue to be enjoyed by generations to come.
8. American Pie
If you do choose to watch ‘American Pie’, it may be a good idea to do so without your parents. The 1999 flick – which stars Jason Biggs, Seann William Scott and Alyson Hannigan – focuses on a group of guy friends who don’t want to go to college with no experience between the sheets. The movie is famous for its numerous cringe-inducing moments, including that unforgettable webcam sequence and a ruined sweet apple pie.
9. 17 Again
Heartwarming, hilarious and witty, ’17 Again’ is easily one off the best teen comedies ever put to screen. The 2009 picture sees a middle-aged man (Matthew Perry) who is depressed and downtrodden magically return to the body of his 17-year-old self (Zac Efron) and attempt to correct the mistakes he made in his past. ’17 Again’ is often cited as the best film of the late Perry’s career, and his co-star would agree. After his passing, Zac said: “He was a mentor to me, and we made a really cool film together. I looked up to him, I learned comedic timing from that guy. I mean, when we were filming ’17 Again’, it was so surreal for me to look across and have him be there, because I’ve learned so much from him, from his whole life.”
10. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
Without a shadow of a doubt, ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’ is one of the best teen comedies of all time. Starring Matthew Broderick, Alan Ruck, Mia Sara and Jennifer Grey, the 1986 classic follows the wild adventure a group of high schoolers go on in an effort to escape the mundane drags of the classroom. Considering the colossal success the movie had, Paramount Pictures were obviously very keen to pump a sequel out as soon as possible, though nothing ever materialized. Alan – who played Ferris’ friend Cameron – revealed that plenty of pitches had come his way over the years. He said: “There are always little rumors, and different writers will come up to [me] at parties or awards shows and say, ‘I’ve got a great idea,’ and then you never hear anything more about it. Back in the day, John Hughes talked to Matthew briefly about maybe having Ferris go to college. I always thought they should wait until Matthew and I are in our 70’s. Cameron’s in a nursing home, and Ferris comes and breaks him out!”
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