By Kurt Jensen • Catholic News Service • Posted November 18, 2016

NEW YORK (CNS) — A sense of missed opportunities looms over the coming-of-age comedy “The Edge of Seventeen” (STX).

The film features many of its genre’s familiar elements: a precocious, angst-ridden teen girl, awkwardness with the opposite sex, a sense of deprivation despite a loyal friend, a supportive brother and a very compassionate teacher. Yet this is not an update of the old John Hughes formula romances starring Molly Ringwald.

What’s distinct — and disturbing — about “Edge” is that the lead character, Nadine (Hailee Steinfeld), is a 17-year-old high school junior who’s exceptionally foul-mouthed, obsessed with sex and who eventually finds herself in a situation that may make viewers wonder who the target audience for this movie really is.

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Writer-director Kelly Fremon Craig would seem to be up against a paradox, having made an R-rated movie that most teen girls — who would presumably be expected to identify with Nadine — can’t see. With the raunchy language and references to sexual acts halved, this might pass muster — just. Instead it’s a verbal onslaught that culminates with creepy action.

Nadine’s issues are rooted in the death of her idolized father, Tom (Eric Keenleyside), back when she was 13. This only receives superficial mentions.

Krista (Haley Lu Richardson), her best friend from elementary school, has always been there to provide emotional support, even when Nadine’s mother, Mona (Kyra Sedgwick), was too busy venturing out on wildly bad dates.

Nadine’s idealized father figure is teacher Mr. Bruner (Woody Harrelson), to whom she confesses all her anxieties.

The first crisis emerges when Nadine finds her brother, Darian (Blake Jenner), in bed with Krista, an event that snaps her bonds with both. She explores the beginning of a dating relationship with the shy and equally awkward Erwin (Hayden Szeto). But she also pines after Nick (Alexander Calvert), a scruffy bad boy who has only one thing on his mind.

This sets up the second crisis, when Nadine sends Nick a sexually explicit text by mistake. Complications ensue, falling just short of sexual violence.

The goal here would seem to be to have audiences empathize with Nadine, thinking, “Yeah, we’ve all been there.” But this “there” gives off a strong whiff of exploitation.

The film contains a semi-graphic sexual assault, implied nonmarital sexual activity, underage drinking and pervasive rough, crude and crass language. The Catholic News Service classification is O — morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R — restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

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Jensen is a guest reviewer for Catholic News Service.