As we roll into the Labour Day long weekend, we can’t help but feel slightly nostalgic for back-to-school.
Even though we aren’t headed back to the classroom like thousands of students across the country, this time of year always brings back a flurry of memories for that time in our lives.
The homework, the packed lunches, the new friends, the cliques, the inevitable lessons learned.
It’s why we tend to honour September by binge-watching some high school-themed films.
Largely released in the ’90s, they’re full of the tales that allow us to reminisce about and relive of our youth.
Here are 12 of our favourite flicks.
1. 10 Things I Hate About You
This hilarious teen comedy, based loosely on Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew, was released in 1999.
10 Things I Hate About You gained its popularity due to sharp writing and an amazing cast led by Julia Stiles, Heath Ledger, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Gabrielle Union.
Stiles plays outcast Kat (a.k.a. the Shrew) who is tough and unafraid of speaking her mind. Her popular sister, Bianca, has been forbidden to date anyone until her boy-hating older sister finds a date of her own. In an attempt to win Bianca, a potential boyfriend (Gordon-Levitt) desperately attempts to set Kat up with Patrick Verona (Ledger), who might be able to win Kat’s heart.
Moral of the story: There’s a difference between “like” and “love.” For example, I “like” my Skechers but I “love” my Prada backpack. Also, love is worth learning French for. And don’t become someone’s puppet, especially if you’re trying to get a romantic interest’s attention.
2. Superbad
This comedy follows high school seniors Seth (Jonah Hill), Evan (Michael Cera) and Fogell (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) as they navigate their last weeks of high school together.
The co-dependent teens plan to score booze and babes so they can become part of the in-crowd. Separation anxiety and two bored police officers (Bill Hader, Seth Rogen) complicate the group’s self-proclaimed mission.
Moral of the story: Stuff may not pan out exactly as planned, but that’s OK. You’ll have fun anyway.
3. Bring It On
This high school comedy about rival cheerleading teams explores Torrance Shipman’s (Kirsten Dunst) life as she captains her San Diego high school’s six-time championship-winning cheerleading squad.
Her parents wish she would spend more time on her homework, her boyfriend wants her to spend more time with him and she quickly learns some of her routines have been stolen by a rival squad.
Moral of the story: #SquadGoals. The now famous phrase was coined in this film. Get yours!
4. John Tucker Must Die
This teen comedy has a title that might suggest a horror movie, but it’s quite the opposite.
Katie (Brittany Snow) is a sweet and innocent high school student who’s enlisted by Beth (Sophia Bush), Carrie (Arielle Kebbel) and Heather (Ashanti) to date John and eventually break his heart. The latter three ladies, who John cheated on, plot with Kate to make his life miserable.
Moral of the story: Plotting revenge on someone that’s hurt you is never a good idea.
5. Dazed and Confused
This 1993 high-school movie made everyone who watched it want to throw caution to the wind, crank up some music and party the night away. Set on May 28, 1976 on the last day of high school, this movie tells a timeless coming-of-age story that defines what it means to be a teenager.
A few things to note:
- Randall “Pink” Floyd (Jason London) and his football teammates Don Dawson (Sasha Jenson) and Benny O’Donnell (Cole Hauser) are asked to sign a pledge to not drink or use drugs all summer.
- The freshman boys, including Mitch Kramer (Wiley Wiggins), are worried about being chased and paddled down by the rising seniors, including notorious bully Fred O’Bannion (Ben Affleck).
- The freshman girls are busy being hazed with ketchup and other condiments by the cheerleading squad led by Darla Marks (Parker Posey) and friends Simone Kerr (Joey Lauren Adams) and Jodi Kramer (Michelle Burke).
- There is also Wooderson (Matthew McConaughey), a post-grad who still loves high school girls; and Slater (Rory Cochrane), the school’s biggest marijuana advocate, and many more.
The entire group eventually gathers at the Moon Tower for an epic keg party.
Moral of the story: You do you. Wooderson gives advice to Pink, who’s under pressure to give up a summer of fun for the benefit of his promising football career, with the line, “Let me tell you this, the older you do get, the more rules they’re gonna try to get you to follow. You just gotta keep livin’ man, L-I-V-I-N.”
6. Never Been Kissed
Josie Geller (Drew Barrymore) returns to high school as a copy editor-turned-reporter and goes undercover at her old high school to find out what illicit things teenagers in 1999 are up to.
At one point in the film, Josie has to decide whether to be true to her dream of being a reporter or true to her heart after she falls in love with a teacher.
Moral of the story: Always give something a second chance.
7. Sugar and Spice
This teen crime comedy follows a group of high school cheerleaders who conspire and commit armed robbery when one of them becomes pregnant (by the star football quarterback, natch) and desperate for money.
The movie was loosely based on a 1999 series of robberies executed by four teenage girls from Houston, Texas.
Moral of the story: “The Beatles were wrong, love isn’t always all you need.”
8. Grease
This 1978 musical is about teens Sandy (Olivia Newton-John) and Danny (John Travolta) as they fall in love over the summer of 1958, before Sandy heads back home to Australia.
By a twist of fate, Sandy moves back to America in time for the start of the new school year and unknowingly attends the same high school as Danny. What ensues is a song-filled flick about friends, cliques, the T-Birds, the Pink Ladies, race-car driving and rival gangs. Oh yes: and whether you’re willing to change for someone you love.
Moral of the story: Singing will make everything better.
9. Clueless
Cher Horowitz (Alicia Silverstone), a high school student in Beverly Hills, must survive the ups and downs of her adolescent life.
Cher and her friend Dionne (Stacey Dash), two of the most popular sophomores in school, play matchmakers for two teachers.
Inspired by their success, Cher takes new transfer student Tai (Brittany Murphy) under her wing. While trying to make a powerful match for Tai, Cher attempts to find a boyfriend of her own.
Several misfires take place due to poor communication before Cher eventually finds the man of her dreams.
Moral of the story: Argue your grades like a lawyer and if all else fails, turn into Cupid for your teacher.
10. She’s All That
Zack Siler (Freddie Prinze Jr.) is a Los Angeles high school student who’s been dumped by his popular girlfriend Taylor Vaughn (Jodi Lyn O’Keefe) for a famous volleyball player.
Zack accepts a bet from his friends that he can turn Laney Boggs (Rachael Leigh Cook), a geeky girl, into the school’s prom queen.
He ends up falling in love with her, which leads to a series of complicated mishaps.
Moral of the story: Always make a good first impression and ’90s soft rock must accompany any makeover – cue Kiss Me by Sixpence None The Richer.
11. Mean Girls
Cady Heron (Lindsay Lohan) is entering public school for the first time and befriends Janis (Lizzy Caplan) and Damian (Daniel Franzese). Her new friends warn her to avoid the “worst people you will ever meet,” which are the Plastics, comprised of three girls: Gretchen Wieners (Lacy Chabert), Karen Smith (Amanda Seyfried) and Regina George (Rachel McAdams).
Cady eventually becomes friends with the clique, only for Janis to ask her to sabotage them. After conflicts involving Regina’s ex-boyfriend, Aaron Samuels (Jonathon Bennett), Cady becomes torn between being part of the Plastics or sabotaging them.
Moral of the story: Don’t let popularity make or break your new school experience. It might be way more fun to stick with friends who don’t require you to wear pink on Wednesdays.
12. School of Rock
Dewey Finn (Jack Black) gets fired from his band and he faces a mountain of debt, which results in him taking a job as a 4th grade substitute teacher at a private school where his attitude has a powerful effect on his students.
At school he meets Zack, a 10-year-old guitar prodigy who could help Dewey win a battle of the bands competition (which would solve his financial problems and put him back in the spotlight).
Moral of the story: Rules were made for breaking. “Stick it to the man!” Also, Jack Black would be the best teacher, since his homework assignments consist of listening to music to get inspired.
What other movies are on your must watch list before school is back in session? Let us know in the comment section.
Comments