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Stars:
Molly Ringwald, Anthony Michael Hall, Paul Dooley, Justin Henry, Gedde Watanabe,
John Cusack, Joan Cusack, and Jami Gertz.
Writer:
John Hughes
Director:
John Hughes
Feature
length: 93 minutes
Languages:
English DTS Digital 5.1 Theatrical Surround Sound and Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
Sound
Subtitles:
English Captions and French and Spanish Language Subtitles
Packaging:
Keep Case
Chapter
Stops: 18
Sound:
DTS Digital 5.1 Theatrical Surround Sound and Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
Year
of Theatrical Release: 1984/DVD Release: 2003
Theatrical
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Home
Video Distributor: Universal Studios Home Video
MPAA
Rating: PG
Reviewer:
Mark A. Rivera
“Sixteen
Candles” is the first and in some ways the most light hearted of the high
school films John Hughes wrote and directed. In many ways it is a lot like the
teenage comedies that came before it, but it had at the core and inherent
sweetness and sense of heart that elevated it above the contemporaries of the
time and set the trend for Hughes’ future features that followed while putting
suburban Chicago on the map. Paul Dooley is marvelous as the father whose eldest
daughter is getting married and regrettably like the rest of the family has
forgotten his middle daughter’s sweet 16. Anthony Michael Hall is a panic as
the “geek” who comes of age in one wacky night. Also unforgettable is Gedde
Watanabe’s hilarious performance as foreign exchange student “Long Duck
Dong.” Hughes had directed a feature before, the original “National
Lampoon’s Vacation” and this is no surprise since he was a writer for
“National Lampoon” before becoming a feature film director. I’d say
“Sixteen Candles” retains the most of that “National Lampoon”
sensibility that would gradually change as Hughes matured as a filmmaker. The
film also features early roles for John and Joan Cusack as well as Jami Gertz.
“Sixteen
Candles” is now presented on DVD with an anamorphic widescreen (1.85:1)
presentation and the original motion picture music remixed for the first time
ever on home video in both DTS and Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. The picture
quality is pretty mixed with a lot of visible grain present in the opening act
of the film, but the picture does clear up considerably once Molly Ringwald’s
character arrives at the school dance. The English DTS and Dolby Digital 5.1
Surround Soundtracks rely mostly upon the music to create the surround effect,
but the tracks in general are about equal in quality and free of any analogue
background noise or hissing too. English Captions for the hearing impaired and
French and Spanish Language Subtitles are encoded as options as well.
There
are no extra value features aside from a reel of DVD titles available now from
Universal Studios Home Video (3:07) that include the “High School Reunion
Collection” box set, “National Lampoon’s Animal House: Double Secret
Probation Edition,” and “Monty Python And The Meaning Of Live.” The
interactive menus are well rendered and very easy to navigate.
“Sixteen
Candles” is available on DVD-Video now as a part of the “High School Reunion
Collection” DVD box set or for sale individually at retailers on and offline
from Universal Studios Home Video.
©
Copyright 2003 By Mark A. Rivera
All Rights Reserved.
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