MovieChat Forums > Can't Hardly Wait (1998) Discussion > Can't Hardly Wait's Legacy

Can't Hardly Wait's Legacy

posted 16 years ago by polkaboy13
35 replies | jump to latest

Why do you think a movie as awesome as this was mostly a theatric dud, and had no significant impact on pop culture? This movie should have been the "Sixteen Candles" of the late 90's, yet it seemed to get passed over. Sure, it has a small cultish fanbase, but it won't go down in pop culture history as one of the definitive teen movies of a generation. Or maybe I'm wrong; maybe I'm underestimating it's staying power. What do you guys think?

I'll tell you who it was. It was that darn Sasquatch!

[–] condking 14 years ago

Teen movies in general don't feel iconic like the John Hughes ones did.

[–] Vote_One 14 years ago

After seeing it again after all this years, I can't hardly wait to vote it a 1.

[–] Jets2533 14 years ago

this movie is legendary. Cult status territory.

[–] Suriname86 13 years ago

This movie put the most unf^ckable guy in the lead role (in the era of 90s hotties like Freddie Prinze Jr, Ryan Phillipe and Josh Hartnett) and created the most generic/boring ads for the movie. The only reason it's even remotely well-known is because it's packed with popular late 90s actors.

[–] clownbaby866 11 years ago

This post establishes you not only as having poor taste in films, but that of a whore. Ethan Embry is "the most *beep* guy"? How messed up in the head do you have to be to even make that statement?

"Hate is baggage. Life's too short to be pissed off all the time."

[–] ArachKing05 13 years ago

I think American Pie's success the following year ended up overshadowing this movie in general, IMO. I saw it this week for the first time in a few years and it's aged about as well as you'd expect this kind of movie from the late '90s to, which is okay. It definitely has its place in the pantheon of '90s teen/youth culture flicks.

"A man's character is his fate"

[–] twohundredproof 12 years ago

I was almost 12 when the film came out. I was of the incredible fortune to live in a neighborhood where I had best friends across the street, 2 houses down, 4 houses down, a block behind me etc.

They all saw it without me (forgot what I was busy doing when they decided to see it) and kept quoting things to me from the movie for a year (before I moved away, sadface).

If you think it had no affect on pop culture, then look no further than the cast. Many of the actors in it were fresh if not brand new in Hollywood, and the vast majority of them remain famous today. This was one of those small-impact, large scale stepping stone films for young actors. Think "Wet Hot American Summer" as a (marginally) more recent example of a small-scale, large impact comedic vehicle film.

[–] 12 years ago

[deleted]

[–] clownbaby866 11 years ago

Can't Hardly Wait, in my opinion, is the quintessential teen comedy of the 90s. It's on the same level as American Pie. You have love, humor, a crazy house party, and classic characters such as Seth Green's gangsta black-wannabe Kenny. And Peter Facinelli plays the perfect jock (too bad he sunk to a low and was in twilight). Ethan Embry is the most likeable person ever, you can't help but root for him. And Jennifer Love Hewitt? Probably the most gorgeous woman of the 90s. Haven't seen her today but I've heard she's still a beauty.

Can't Hardly Wait has not been forgotten. Just tonight I got two of my friends who had never seen it to watch. They were laughing the whole time and though we have been out of high school for almost ten years, we still appreciate its classic moments/quotes. If only they made films like this today. The Girl Next Door was great, but that too was almost ten years ago. Charlie Bartlett was pretty good but they just don't compare to 90s teen comedies. Dazed and Confused and She's All That are a couple more, though Dazed and Confused is sort of in a different category.

"Hate is baggage. Life's too short to be pissed off all the time."

[–] Doc110894 11 years ago

I remember being absolutely in love with this movie when it was in theaters.

[–] Moviefan-Two-Kay-Four 10 years ago

I never went to any party that was even remotely like this. In fact, I never went to any kids-only party in school at all. The only major student-aimed event I attended was my 6th-grade dance. It had a Western theme, and I was too scared to ask my crush to dance. So, I wound up playing games like Bingo and Scrabble with all the other rejects. I was removed from public school in 9th grade, at age 17 (started one year late and held back twice). To this day, my only regret was never getting to attend a prom.

I saw this film numerous times, mostly because my 7th-grade crush was named Mandy, and I also had a mad attraction to Jennifer Love Hewitt. I really identified with Charlie Korsmo's character, because he was relentlessly bullied like me and also loved science fiction. The only major difference was I never got drunk or sang rock music. Emotionally, I felt a lot like Preston, but didn't have any loyal friends to back me up. the scene where Amanda rages against Preston was like a nightmare when I first saw it, and their reconciliation was what I'd desperately wanted to happen back then with "my Mandy". Sadly, it never did.

I haven't seen the movie in several years, and if an extended cut ever came out, I'd probably avoid it. The core story was good, but there was too much crass garbage to begin with.

[–] Doc110894 10 years ago

"All my Life" by K-Ci and JoJo. I remember that song was everywhere. It kind of takes me back to the summer of 1998 watching this movie.

[–] tonybny 10 years ago

I love this movie. I saw it in the theater when it was originally released and always watch it when I stumble upon it on cable. I feel it stands on its own and is a great teen-angst flick. I would compare it more to Fast Times at Ridgemont High than to Risky Business or American Pie.

[–] FascistAnarchist999 10 years ago

Everyone is forgetting about Ten Things I Hate About You which was another great defining teen movie of the 90's.

[–] luticrist 10 years ago

10 Things was awesome. I even watched the show. This movie is almost 20 years old, blows me away. Saw it in theaters at the end of my sophomore year and dreamed high school could be like that at some point, never did. It's actually a difficult movie to watch because it takes me back to that time far too much, as is anything from that period. Varsity Blues was much bigger though and probably overshadowed this flick.