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Amos Lassen wrote on 07/09/2012:

Set in the 1980’s, “Edge of Seventeen” is still considered by many as one of the best gay movies ever and is a gay classic. It is sexy, funny and is even sad at times. Set in Sandusky, Ohio (not to be confused with that other Sandusky), where 17 year old Eric (Chris Stafford) is finishing his junior year of high school and takes a summer job selling food at the local amusement park. His best friends are Maggie (Tina Holmes) and openly gay Rod (Andersen Gabrych). Their summer is one of flirting and fun and we move towards a party at which Rod plays around with Eric as Eric makes out with Maggie. Eric’s boss, Angie (Lea DeLaria), a butch lesbian, decides to help Eric come to terms with himself. She leads him through the local gay spots and Eric soon finds himself. He comes out to his mother is a heart-wrenching scene filled with tears and then Maggie rejects him because she loved him. We fast forward after having some bedroom activity and cute boys and Eric is gay and at peace and Maggie has opened a gay bar, “Universal Fruit and Nut”.

The time of the movie is important to what we see—in the background we hear 80’s music and we watch Eric change as he becomes more and more comfortable with his gay self.

The movie brought back many memories of my own coming-out and self-acceptance and I think that is one of the positive aspects of the film—the fact that the journey is identifiable.

The acting is excellent all around and the script is well-written. Eric felt what so many other gay teens feel and Rod’s character was important because he showed us a gay character with no apologies. There are many like him and he is not the disgusting character that others have painted him to be. He is who he is.

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!

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.

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.

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.