Filmmaker John Hughes didn’t make the first teen film, but he pioneered the genre in the 1980s.

Hughes directed great films that showed teen life and how teens were affected by the times. What made him stand out, though, was not the time but the timelessness.

From “The Breakfast Club” to “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” Hughes crafted films that were real and teenagers throughout the years have enjoyed them.

This is the beginning of a series of reviews of Hughes, the teen films he made and the impact they still have on the modern world.

1984’s “Sixteen Candles,” starring Molly Ringwald and Anthony Michael Hall is the story of Samantha Baker and how her sweet sixteen is forgotten by her family. This was the first teen film that both Ringwald and Hall had done with Hughes at the helm (Hall starred in the Hughes-penned “National Lampoon’s Vacation” earlier in the decade) and the film made them 80s teen icons.

I loved this film for the acting and the humor of the film. Ringwald is great as Samantha, and Hall is the funniest character as the aptly named the Nerd. Michael Schoeffling is Jake Ryan, the popular kid who Samantha has a crush on; unfortunately, he is bland and flat as the love interest.

Then there is an unfortunately named Asian character who is one of the funniest characters in the movie but is also a bad racist Caricature.

The music is fantastic from Prince to “True,” by Spandu Ballet, I love the 80’s music and the feel it gives the film.

The number of cons is low, but there are a few. One is the Asian character whose name will remain untyped; despite the character having some funny moments, most of the humor is grounded in racial stereotypes, and it hurts the film.

Another problem is Schoeffling who plays Jake Ryan. His forgettable acting and lack of dialogue make for a bland character.

Like many of Hughes’s films, the plot still resonates today. One reason is that many people know what it’s like to feel forgotten. Another reason is that every teenager has had the crush on someone who does not share the same feelings. What Hughes recognizes is that the challenges of a teenager are universal and timeless.

“Sixteen Candles” is a great teen movie that has great morals and acting. Despite a few missteps, the cast is great, and the film still feels fresh and real. It is now one of my favorite teen movies, and that is why I give “Sixteen Candles” 5 Birthday Candles out of 5.