Edge of Seventeen (1998)

73% of critics liked it
(15 reviews)
70% of users liked it
(3,539 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

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 39 min.
Directed By: David Moreton
Written By: Todd Stephens
Genres: Drama, Comedy

In Theaters: Apr 30, 1999 Wide
On DVD: Jul 11, 2000
Studio: Strand Releasing

Critic Reviews

Cherryl Dawson and Leigh Ann Palone, TheMovieChicks.com
This film deals honestly with the difficulties of coming out in high school.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Featured Audience Ratings

Lauren D

I'm a huge fan of gay romance (no idea why, I can't stand straight romance), but I didn't particularly like it. The acting was fine, and there was awesome music (Yazoo, Bronski Beat etc = yay), but it was just boring.
Sunil J

I really thought I was gonna hate this movie but I actually thought it was pretty good. A lot of the criticisms I noticed has to do with stupid choices that the Eric character makes but maybe they don't remember what it's like to be 17. He's pretty much an innocent dork… More
I really thought I was gonna hate this movie but I actually thought it was pretty good. A lot of the criticisms I noticed has to do with stupid choices that the Eric character makes but maybe they don't remember what it's like to be 17. He's pretty much an innocent dork that gets caught up in what he believes to be love but is actually just sex. From there it's a lot of confusion for him. Maybe it's not groundbreaking but the acting was pretty good for a low-budget gay movie. B+

Cast

            Chris Stafford as Eric

            Tina Holmes as Maggie

            Andersen Gabrych as Rod

            Stephanie McVay as Mom

            Lea DeLaria as Angie

            John Eby as Dad

            Antonio Carriero as Andy

            Jason Sheingross as Steve

            Tony Maietta as Gregg

            Sallyanne Law as Grubber

            Tal Ben-David as Waitress

            Craig H. Shepherd as Irate Customer

            Jeff Fryer as Jonathan

            Kevin Joseph Kelly as Chuckie

            Mark Gates as Foodtown

            Stevie Reese Desmond as Ruby Rogers

            Barbie Marie as Frieda

            Doug Millon as Security Guard

            Clay Van Sickle as Ed

            Jason Griffiths as Scott

            Jimmy Mack Hodge Jr. as Bartender

            Justin Leach as Tall Blond Guy

            Jeffrey Abramson as Dan McAllister

            Don Mitri as Teacher

            Mike Roth as Wrestling Jock

            Adam Penton as Joe Plonsky Jr.

            Dina Anderson as Bitchy Girl

            Karen Brooks as Bitchy Girl

            Shannon Constantine as Bitchy Girl

            Edd Martin as Drag Queen

            Gregg Long as Mr. Johnson

            Ryan Florio as Randy

            Twiggy Lawson as Marlene Dicktrick

            Dominic Carrion as Miss Anita Mann

            Joshua Elrod as Rod's Roommate

            Khalid Abdelrasoul as Grubber

            Jarred J. Nichols as Grubber

            Mark Jay Warshak as Grubber

            Diva as Herself

            Jesse Adams as Drag Atrocity

            Jason Scheingross
            
See full cast