Buy Edge of Seventeen on DVD

Edge of Seventeen

DVD

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$17.99 (10% off)
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Synopsis

This gay coming out tale set in the 80's was a theatrical hit and is considered one of the best gay movies ever! Sexy boys, great soundtrack, Lea DeLaria and raw emotions pack a punch.

3 Reasons To buy this film

Although directed by David Moreton, this is really a Todd Stephens film.
Over the years, this tender and infectiously fun film has become a gay classic.
The '80s soundtrack rocks!

Review

What? Another coming out movie? Do filmmakers still have anything original to say about that? But Edge of Seventeen dusts off the coming out movie and has something original to say. Sexy, funny and sometimes sad, Edge tells the story of 17-year-old Eric (Stafford) in Sandusky, Ohio, and the trials of tribulations of his coming out in the summer of 1984. Eric finishes his junior year at high school and takes a summer job serving food at the local amusement park. He shares his work duties with best friend/sort of girlfriend Maggie (Holmes) and openly gay Rod (Gabrych). They flirt (all three) throughout the summer leading to a climactic party when Maggie and Eric are drunkenly making out on the sofa while Rod opens Eric's zipper and fools around. All the while this is happening Angie (the amazing Lea DeLaria), their supervisor at the amusement park looks on. She's a total dyke and leads Eric by the hand through the local gay spots.

Eric comes out to his mom in a tear-filled, very real scene and is rejected by the lovelorn Maggie. Several hot bedroom scenes, lots of kissing and some beautiful boys later Eric is a confirmed fag. DeLaria does a terrific job as guide. She throws her usual fast clips right and left, "Why do you fags all think I'm gay?" Maggie owns the local gay bar, "Universal Fruit and Nut Company". She concludes the film by singing a sultry version of "Blue Skies." The style and music of the 80's are crucial to the film. As Eric comes out he becomes more and more eccentric in his dressing and grooming habits. He dyes his hair several different colors and dresses like Boy George. The soundtrack includes songs from Bronski Beat, Flock of Seagulls, Thompson Twins and the Eurythmics. Although the film is a low-budget affair, it has been a winner because the emotions are real and raw, the film speaks truths, it doesn't preach and it's a totally entertaining.

Scott Cranin

Product Format Information

DVD : $17.99

Availability: In stock and ready to ship
Region Code: None
UPC: 712267990429

Studio : Strand Releasing

Aspect Ratio: 1.85

Customer Reviews

Heart Wrenching

Buddhaman wrote on 05/13/2007:

Wow! I discovered this gem on the LOGO channel which does an excellent job of showcasing excellent films with a gay lesbian theme. Edge of Seventeen brought back some vivid memories of my own jouney of acceptance of my sexual orientation. While I also grew up in a northern Ohio town (Akron) and had the prequisite opposite sex crushes and sexual experiences in an effort to deny my truth, I was fortunate not to have broken anyone's heart the way
Eric did Maggie's. I also related to the early sexual exploration experiences Eric had. The cherry on the sundae was the 80s soundtrack. This movie is not to be missed!

Great Movie!!

ohiogreg wrote on 05/02/2005:

This is about a 17 year old boy in Sandusky, Ohio discovering his sexuality in 1984 and being gay. The movie is very believeable and accurate.

The movie brought back memories to me. I worked at Cedar Point in 1984 & 85. Those uniforms in the movie were the actual uniforms. The name of the restaurant in the movie was changed. However, the gay club was actually named the Fruit & Nut Company. It closed in 1985. I don't know if it ever re-opened or not.

Excellent Movie

glstouffer (glstouffer@yahoo.com) wrote on 04/11/2003:

Before I watched this movie I went in with preconceived notions that it was going to be just another coming out story with good looking actors. However, I was pleasantly surprised not only because the actors did such an extraordinary job but that the script was so well written. It has been a long time since i have seen a movie with so much emotion. Eric coming out was something I think most teenagers have felt. The rest of the characters in this film do justice. Some of the reviews I have read have Rod as a complete jerk in my opinion he was just what the film needed a character not ashamed of who and what he is. He is a user and like it or not there are many people out there that are just like him. I was also pleased that even after he had sex and thought he was gay it still showed the inner struggle. I was also well pleased with the fact than when he went to talk to Angie she didn't come out with a bunch of cliches but rather with the truth. There were many more things that I saw the reminded me of the trouble I face when I came out but the difference is that Eric had a support system to help him. I also felt Maggies pain as she realized although she loves Eric he would never be able to love her the way she wants. His mother asked the same questions i think all mothers ask. What did I do wrong? Even as she left the living room with tears in her eyes you could see the she still loved her son very much but needed time to understand everything that was going on. The last thing i want to mention is the fact that when Eric was in the club he danced with Jonathon. I was glad to see in the final scene these two get together. Praises to the actors and writers and the director for doing such and excellent job with this movie.

Frighteningly vivid

Tippi (tippi1963@gmail.com) wrote on 07/19/2000:

Having growin up and come out in Northern Ohio during this era (the 1980s), watching this film transported me back to this difficult yet transformative time of my life. In fact, coming out of the San Francisco theater where I saw it made me realize just how engrossing this movie is; I forgot where I was and what year it was, literally. My best friend also grew up just outside of Sandusky, and she reports the uncanny accuracy of this film due to Stephens's amazing memory and affinity for this period of time. (She hung with and could identify various "prototype" characters from "Crystal Shores" and the Fruit and Nut. The scenes depicting the 1st kiss and 1st "time" were frighteningly vivid, particularly as they were embedded in the fear, confusion and desire the coming out process created for young gay men in that particular time and place. With great acting by the leads (is Tina Holmes not the splitting image of a young Streep?), fine directing by a 1st time helmer, this is a must see/must own film.