With the occasion all but overshadowed by her sister's upcoming wedding, angst-ridden Samantha faces her 16th birthday with typical adolescent dread. Samantha pines for studly older boy Jake, but worries that her chastity will be a turnoff for the popular senior. Meanwhile, she must constantly rebuff the affections of nerdy Ted, who is unfortunately the only boy in school who seems to take an interest in her.
There's also a darkly handsome high school heartbreak kid (Michael Schoeffling), a merciful brisk pace, some quick humor (visual and verbal), and a solid music track.
– Variety Staff,
Variety,
18 Jul 2007
rotten:
As the girl, Molly Ringwald is natural and appealing, but she's lost in a world of blunt, vicious caricatures.
– Dave Kehr,
Chicago Reader,
18 Jul 2007
fresh:
Sly humour and an appreciative ear for the demotic improv of teenage chat completes an attractive package.
– Derek Adams,
Time Out,
24 Jun 2006
fresh:
A sweet and funny movie about two of the worst things that can happen to a girl on her sixteenth birthday.
– Roger Ebert,
Chicago Sun-Times,
23 Oct 2004
fresh:
Most of the the movie is cheerful and light, showcasing Mr. Hughes's knack for remembering all those aspects of middle-class American adolescent behavior that anyone else might want to forget.