Teen Movie Times: Mean Girls
Hello, internets! Been a while, hasn’t it? The truth is that keeping up with these is taking more time than I thought from paying work, so I think it’s going to have to backburner these essays for a while, unless I can come up with some way to make them paying work. Tipjar? E-book with bonus material and some book-only essays, maybe? I’ll have a think. Any suggestions welcome. Today’s teen movie is a recent classic, and possibly the most quoted movie in the circles in which I move, ie, on tumblr. Yes, that’s right, it’s four for you, Glen Coco, with: Mean...
read moreTeen Movie Times: Empire Records
So far: Empire Records, But I’m a Cheerleader, Saved!, Bring It On. The thing about this next movie is that it’s really kind of a mess. The emotional tone’s all over the place, there are big continuity errors, there are about four plotlines too many (and thus they all get shortchanged), some problems get solved way too easily (suicidal depression and drug addiction don’t just stop), and people get away with things they really shouldn’t in any kind of vaguely realistic world. It’s essentially a great soundtrack held together with some snappy and infinitely...
read moreTean Movie Time: Clueless
So far: But I’m a Cheerleader, Bring It On, Saved!. Internets, you know I’m a Jane Austen nut. But before I read a word of Austen, I saw the BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, and Amy Heckerling’s adaptation of Emma. They both came out in 1995, the year I turned fourteen. Yes, Internets, my very first teen movie was: Clueless. I was not alone. Clueless was almost effortlessly influential on teenage fashion and vernacular for years to come. Hahaha, what am I saying, effortlessly? Amy Heckerling, who wrote as well as directed and is not incidentally a massive role model...
read moreTeen Movie Times: But I’m a Cheerleader
So far: Bring It On Saved! And today, But I’m a Cheerleader! What Happens? But I’m a Cheerleader is almost the other half of Saved!. Where that movie has a boy sent to a Christian rehab centre that fixes gay, and focuses on the girl he leaves behind, But I’m a Cheerleader follows the story of a girl sent to True Directions, a gay rehab centre based on the AA “steps” and “higher power” rehabilitation. Megan is a cheerleader, a pretty blonde with a jock boyfriend and a collection of adorable dresses. Her friends and family host a gay intervention, tell...
read moreTeem Movie Times: Saved!
Hey there, Internets! Time for the next in the series of Teen Comedy Movie Thinky Thoughts. So far: Bring It On This one got super long. My fingers are neglecting to fing. Also, kindly gave me a copy of her very good book Teen Dreams: From ‘Heathers’ to ‘Veronica Mars’, which is full of awesome analysis, much of which I shall be using for this series. Teen Comedy With A Serious Message Number Two: Saved! What Happens? Born-again Christian Mary’s life was going pretty great – she’s a member of the Christian Jewels (“A girl gang for...
read moreTeen Movie Times: Bring It On
Kia ora, Internets! I was going to do a post on Teen Comedy Movies with Serious Messages, but it, uh, it kinda grew! So now it’s a series. On the list so far: Bend It Like Beckham Bring It On But I’m A Cheerleader! Clueless Easy A Empire Records Juno Mean Girls Saved! Stick It Recommendations are very welcome. I can’t guarantee I’ll even get to all of the ones on my list (some of the messages are pretty nebulous, but either beloved or interesting enough that I kinda want to talk about them anyway) but heck. Why not? On with the show! Teen Comedy With A Serious Message...
read moreAbout Karen
Karen Healey is a young adult novelist. She is the author of the urban fantasies GUARDIAN OF THE DEAD and THE SHATTERING, both set in New Zealand, and the forthcoming sci-fi adventure WHEN WE WAKE. GUARDIAN OF THE DEAD won the 2010 Aurealis Award for Best YA Novel and was a finalist for the William C. Morris Award. Karen can tell you a lot about baking, covers of "Hallelujah" and superhero comics.
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