Edge of Seventeen (1998)
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73% of critics liked it
(15 reviews) -
70% of users liked it
(3,634 ratings)
A Eurythmics-obsessed, small-town Ohio youth comes to terms with his sexual identity and his New Wave fashion sense in this gentle coming-out drama, which is set in 1984. When closeted Sandusky teen Eric (Chris Stafford) and his best friend, Maggie (Tina Holmes), accept summer jobs in food service… More A Eurythmics-obsessed, small-town Ohio youth comes to terms with his sexual identity and his New Wave fashion sense in this gentle coming-out drama, which is set in 1984. When closeted Sandusky teen Eric (Chris Stafford) and his best friend, Maggie (Tina Holmes), accept summer jobs in food service at the local amusement park, they befriend their lesbian manager, Angie (Lea DeLaria), and a gay college student named Rod (Andersen Gabrych). Sparks fly between the two boys, even as Maggie waits patiently in the wings for Eric's affections. Rod eventually gives Chris the first-time experience he was looking for, then promptly heads back to Ohio State, leaving the younger guy to spend his entire senior year looking for love -- and the perfect bleach job. As Eric's outsider fashions raise eyebrows with his loving parents, he learns that his frustrated pianist mom (Stephanie McVay) is going to have to get a job to help send him to study music in New York. Meanwhile, Eric ventures out to the local gay disco, a hopping joint run by none other than his old boss, Maggie, who shows him the ropes and gives him just enough rope to hang himself. Stung by a meaningless sexual experience and pining away for the otherwise involved Rod, Eric decides to sleep with the saintly Maggie. But he's too open and sensitive to pull a fast one over on her; crestfallen at his rejection and his willingness to toy with her affections, she ends the friendship, leaving Eric to confide in his mother -- and find his place in the gay community. Written by Todd Stephens, directed by David Moreton, and produced by both, Edge of Seventeen was screened as part of the American Spectrum at Sundance in 1999. Stephens would return with the similarly themed Gypsy 83 in 2001. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
- Directed By
- David Moreton
- Written By
- Todd Stephens
- Genres
- Drama, Comedy
R,
- In Theaters
- Apr 30, 1999 Wide
- On DVD
- Jul 11, 2000
- Studio
- Strand Releasing
Critic Reviews
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Cherryl Dawson and Leigh Ann Palone, TheMovieChicks.com
This film deals honestly with the difficulties of coming out in high school.
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David Noh, Film Journal International
Has a winning empathy and observant sense of the Midwestern locale which bring freshness to a tale that's been told many a time before.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
Featured Audience Ratings
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Cast
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Chris Stafford
as Eric
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Tina Holmes
as Maggie
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Andersen Gabrych
as Rod
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Stephanie McVay
as Mom
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Lea DeLaria
as Angie
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John Eby
as Dad
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Antonio Carriero
as Andy
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Jason Sheingross
as Steve
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Tony Maietta
as Gregg
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Sallyanne Law
as Grubber
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Tal Ben-David
as Waitress
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Craig H. Shepherd
as Irate Customer
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Jeff Fryer
as Jonathan
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Kevin Joseph Kelly
as Chuckie
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Mark Gates
as Foodtown
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Stevie Reese Desmond
as Ruby Rogers
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Barbie Marie
as Frieda
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Doug Millon
as Security Guard
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Clay Van Sickle
as Ed
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Jason Griffiths
as Scott
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Jimmy Mack Hodge Jr.
as Bartender
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Justin Leach
as Tall Blond Guy
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Jeffrey Abramson
as Dan McAllister
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Don Mitri
as Teacher
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Mike Roth
as Wrestling Jock
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Adam Penton
as Joe Plonsky Jr.
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Dina Anderson
as Bitchy Girl
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Karen Brooks
as Bitchy Girl
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Shannon Constantine
as Bitchy Girl
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Edd Martin
as Drag Queen
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Gregg Long
as Mr. Johnson
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Ryan Florio
as Randy
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Twiggy Lawson
as Marlene Dicktrick
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Dominic Carrion
as Miss Anita Mann
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Joshua Elrod
as Rod's Roommate
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Khalid Abdelrasoul
as Grubber
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Jarred J. Nichols
as Grubber
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Mark Jay Warshak
as Grubber
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Diva
as Herself
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Jesse Adams
as Drag Atrocity
- Jason Scheingross
