If popular culture is anything to go by, Mean Girls was the only teen film that came out in the 2000s. Everyone references it, and it's still as popular today as it was when it was originally released. But contrary to popular belief, in actuality there was a veritable cornucopia of teen comedies that came out between 2000 and 2010, they just never get the attention they deserve. It's easy for people to find one specific film that they think represents the youth of a generation, and then sort of wave aside the rest of the movies that are made. But in any given decade, there are so many movies created that really speak to teenagers, and they deserve to be acknowledged even if they're not the ones that become part of the larger cultural landscape. Youth represents change, and looking at the movies aimed at them from a certain decade is a great way of seeing the direction in which society at large is shifting. What's more, teen films are under no obligation to make a statement or express a creative vision: for the most part, they're just there to have fun. And while you might have to hide your enjoyment of them, teen comedies can be a very satisfying form of guilty pleasure entertainment. So why not seek out those great movies that flew in under the radar?
Audrey Fox is an ex-film student, which means that she prefers to spend her days in the dark, watching movies and pondering the director's use of diegetic sound. She currently works as an entertainment writer, joyfully rambling about all things film and television related. Add her on Twitter at @audonamission and check out her film blog at 1001moviesandbeyond.com.
