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You can never have too many Heathers.
At least that's so in Michael Lehmann's 1988 cult classic starring Christian Slater and Winona Ryder. It's one of those movies that ever teenage girl - regardless of age, race, sexuality or style - should watch before losing their virginity. The film truthfully illustrates high school cliques, notorious bad boys, competitive peers and impending pressure situations in which you must think on your feet. Striving for popularity, Veronica Sawyer (Ryder) befriends her high school's three most popular girls, all of whom are named Heather and are as physically light as feathers. That is until Sawyer's budding boo J.D. makes Veronica seemingly come to her senses. One conniving deed segues into another until it all combusts into every teenager's nightmare.
The dialogue and character development are second to none. Upon encountering fellow students, J.D. attractively says "greetings and salutations," painting him as polite yet his underlying sarcastic tone of voice implies otherwise. Burying herself in her magnifying glass and diary, Sawyer reflects on her J.D.-induced wrongdoings that hauntingly feel kind of right. "She's my best friend," contemplates Sawyer regarding the leader of her pack, "God, I hate her." Babe Heathers add morally questionable one-liners throughout. Social status and outer appearance are what they bank on, cursing their post high school lives and chances at success. "Grow up, Heather," said queen bee Heather Chandler, "Bullimia's so '87." But not corn nuts. That flavorful junk food's still in like Flynn in modern convenience stores.
Teenagers portrayed have cynical views on death and empower themselves through misguided notions of immortality. "I prayed for the death of [you'll find out] many times and I felt bad every time I did it but I kept doing it anyway," bulimic Heather Duke thinks to herself, whose thoughts the director shares with viewers, "Now I know you understood everything. Praise Jesus, Hallelujah." In reality that's an eerie thought unnoticeable high school students keep to themselves about A-list peers.
The drama and self-affliction could crescendo even greater with better musical accompaniment. While the directional style was fast-paced and engaging when compared with similar movies, theme songs in The Breakfast Club and St. Elmo's Fire are catchier. Interestingly, Heathers hits Broadway's New World Stages this spring in its 25th year on the market. Happy Birthday - now on to Broadway and music-making.
Even 25 years after its release, Heathers still rings true; almost too true for today's American school cultures.
- LIZ KOBAK