Last week was the 17th anniversary of the teen comedy “John Tucker Must Die,” which has become a staple in many people’s households. However, to much surprise, the beloved teen movie only received a 27% on Rotten Tomatoes, which is a popular film and television review website. Upon this realization, I crafted a list of five teen movies that deserve a better Rotten Tomatoes score.
1.“A Cinderella Story” – 12%
It is hard to believe that “A Cinderella Story” received such a low Rotten Tomatoes score as the film has become such an iconic movie. However, the critics viewed the movie as an “uninspired, generic updating of the classic fairy tale.”The movie follows a teen girl Sam (Hilary Duff), anonymously text-messaging and emailing the popular boy in school, Austin Ames (Chad Michael Murray). They both agree to meet at a school dance, but once Sam discovers that her secret pen pal is none other than Austin, she panics and runs away, accidentally leaving her phone behind. Austin is then determined to find his mystery girl.Though the film isn’t the most revolutionary teen movie, it is still entertaining. A considerable part of that is because of the cast, which consisted of the beloved Disney star Hilary Duff, the iconic Jennifer Coolidge, and the talented Regina King. With all three stars appearing in this film, it is difficult not to fall in love with the movie. As a result, this film should have received at least 70%. “A Cinderella Story” is available to rent on YouTube or Amazon Prime Videos.
2.“Sydney White” – 35%
Like “A Cinderella Story,” “Sydney White” is a modern retelling of “Snow White.” The film centers around college freshman Sydney White (Amanda Bynes), who is determined to pledge to her late mother’s sorority. But after discovering that today’s sisterhood is not what it used to be, Sydney finds her new home with seven outcasts. With the help of her new friends, Sydney takes on the reigning campus queen Rachel (Sara Paxton), to attempt to transform the school’s misguided social hierarchy.The main critique of this film was that it was a poorly adapted take on “Snow White,” resulting in the movie getting 35%. However, the subtlety of the Disney adaptation is what made this film such a classic. From Rachel depicting the evil queen to the seven outcasts representing the seven dwarfs, it cleverly puts a modern twist on the story. But what truly makes this film deserve a better Rotten Tomatoes score is its theme. Like the original movie, this film highlighted the importance of kindness in today’s day and age. However, the creators added new pieces, such as embracing one’s quirkiness and building a community that made the message more relatable to viewers. With these elements, it is fair to say that the film deserves a much higher score. “Sydney White” is available to stream on Max.
3.“Monte Carlo” – 40%
“Monte Carlo” is the most underrated film on this list, as most people have forgotten about this teen movie. So, seeing that this film got a low score wasn’t much of a surprise. However, as I rewatched this film, it was challenging to understand why it was reviewed so poorly.The film follows best friends Grace (Selena Gomez) and Emma (Katie Cassidy), who both head to Paris for a post-graduation trip, accompanied by Grace’s uptight stepsister, Meg (Leighton Meester). Upon arriving in Paris, the prepackaged tour fails to meet their expectations and ruins their excitement about the beloved city. However, that changes when Grace is mistaken for a British socialite named Cordelia (Selena Gomez). Pretending to be Cordelia, Grace and her companions head to Monte Carlo for a week. Though the major gripe about “Monte Carlo” is that the film is silly and predictable, it is difficult not to enjoy as it is full of charm and adventure. From fancy parties to light-hearted romance, the film will leave you with a big smile. As a result, this film should have at least a 65% Rotten Tomatoes score. “Monte Carlo” is available to rent on YouTube or Amazon Prime Videos.
4. “She’s The Man” – 44%
“She’s The Man” was one of Amanda Bynes’ best teen movies. Unfortunately, the film received a Rotten Tomatoes score of 44% for its predictable jokes and unconvincing plotline. However, for many teen viewers, that wasn’t their experience watching it, as it has become a teen movie classic.The film is about an all-star soccer player Viola Johnson (Amanda Bynes) who dreams of playing for the North Carolina Tar Heels soccer team. However, her school team got cut, leading Viola and her friends to want to join the boys’ team. But the coach and players refused. To prove that girls can play sports too, she poses as her twin brother, Sebastian (James Kirk), and takes his place at a new boarding school and soccer team.Although this film isn’t the most groundbreaking, as it has some flaws, it is still entertaining and touching to watch. From the exceptional performance by Amanda Bynes, playing both a boy and girl, to the moving storyline that showcases how anybody, no matter what gender, can do anything, it will leave you rewatching this film over and over again. “She’s The Man” is available to stream on Hulu.
5.“Legally Blonde” – 71%
You may be wondering why “Legally Blonde” is on this list, given that it received a decent score of 71% from film critics. But, upon reviewing the critiques, it has become clear that “Legally Blonde” deserves a much higher score.One of the common critiques of this movie is that the material was too predictable and formulaic. Though in the beginning, it might appear that way as the main character Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon) seems to be just a beautiful blonde that only wants to be engaged with the charming Warner Huntington III (Matthew Davis), the story progresses to be so much more than that. It showcases empowerment, independence and integrity that many find inspiring and enjoyable, making the film a cult classic. “Legally Blonde” is available to watch on Amazon Prime Video.