The Edge of Seventeen review

The Edge of Seventeen is a teenage comic drama about a girl who becomes friendless after her only friend engages in a relationship with her brother.

 

I must admit that if I hadn't heard good things about it, I wouldn't have seen The Edge of Seventeen as that premise did not interest me at all. Despite this I found the film to be highly engaging, hilarious and, at times, emotional. Writer and director Kelly Fremon Craig does a great job at making the characters believable and giving them smart dialogue. Hailee Steinfeld is the standout of the cast and gives depth to a character that could have just been shallow. While Steinfeld is great as Nadine, Woody Harrelson as one of her teacher is absolutely hilarious.

I can't really complain about actors in their twenty's playing teenagers in films because it happens all the time, but there are two examples here that just feel like the filmmakers must have been joking. The first is 24 year old Blake Jenner as an 18 year old. I would believe him as a college student but he looks too old to be a high school student. The second is 31 year old Hayden Szeto as a 17 year old introverted art student who is in good shape. He looks slightly younger than his age, but not 14 years younger. And there will be people in schools who are in shape, but his character doesn't seem like the person who spends time in the gym every day to stay in shape.

In short: It is very good and a shame it didn't find it's audience.