Old Enough (1984) User Reviews

Coulda Been a Contender

[smitty008 · 5/10 · 15 April 2020]

This movie had all the elements it would take to become one of the defining movies of a generation. It had the right characters, the right setting, and the right themes. Classism, racism, religion, coming of age (on multiple fronts), deep family dynamics, urban violence, and adultery were all touched on and even a minor plot turn could have explored any number of them. However . . .

it seems that the film makers deliberately missed out on this opportunity. The viewer can almost feel the hand wringing and pearl clutching amongst the powers that were as even the mildest of controversial themes was approached. The "bad girl" wasn't all that bad, and the "good girl" was naive almost to the point of imbecility. This is no fault of the performers - the acting was very good (with the possible exception of the brother (played by Neill Barry), who was a little wooden - hey, ya can't win 'em all). Even for the '80s it was just too mild.

I can see how the milquetoast WASP crowd might find this movie enjoyable, but for anyone with pulse it's a pretty dull exploration of a potentially deep movie. I think it could be remade today with a little more depth and a little more internal exploration of a great bunch of characters and people would rave.

a real treat

[nromanosky · 20 June 2001]

I just watched a 13-year-old taped-from-Bravo copy of this film, and let me tell you: it's a delight. Not only does it knowingly tap into the teenage experience of expanding cultural sensibilities, but it does so in a completely unpretentious and earnest way-- no John Hughes slapstick or over sentimentality here, just an honest portrayal of a pivotal friendship.

The two female leads are excellent young actresses, and the soundtrack is really quite unique (think a more primitive version of the "Virgin Suicides" soundtrack by Air).

Plus, you can see what Alyssa Milano was doing before she rocketed to "Who's the Boss?" fame.

Check it out if you can.

Rainbow Harvest!

[BandSAboutMovies · 4/10 · 15 December 2020]

Some people would watch this movie because it's the debut of Alyssa Milano, but those people have no idea who Rainbow Harvest is. Rainbow was in two made for TV movies, a few TV shows and a handful of movies, including Mirror, Mirror and then she disappeared. She's wonderful in this, a streetwise teenager who wins over Milano's rich little girl and teaches her the ways of the world.

Danny Aiello plays her dad and instead of preaching, he beats her up repeatedly.

This won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance in 1984 and is probably the only movie ever reviewed on this site that has honor. So it has that going for it.

I promise to make up for this veer into respectability by watching something morally abhorrent next.

Excellent and very underrated film

[Aw-komon · 10/10 · 21 August 2000]

This is an excellent 'coming of age' adolescent film. Everytime I've caught it on cable over the years I've never been able to stop watching it. Yesterday on IFC it happened again for maybe the 8th time, I've lost count. It's great that a channel like IFC or BRAVO has recognized the worth of this film because in my video guide they gave it the worst score possible (a turkey), which is an abomination. This is one of the most truthful films about kids and in a wider sense Brooklyn or New York City attitudes in the '80s. The director has to be either very good or extremely lucky to get this much truth on film. 'Old Enough' is almost like an updated, early '80s adolescent version of Engel and Orkin's 'Little Fugitive,' or 'Lovers and Lollipops,' two pioneering cinema verite films of the '50s. It is cut directly from the fabric of life and needless to say, shot entirely on location. In fact, it is almost like walking into the lives of these quintessentially 'New York' people, you can almost smell the neighborhood. The two girls playing the leads are just fabulous; it's as if they're just living their real lives and you're eavesdropping on them; you hardly suspect you're watching a movie. In the end, friendship is shown to be stronger than class conflicts but not until the magical and forever vanished world of the 11 to 13 year old that once existed in every soul has been resurrected for re-evaluation and non-sentimental nostalgia.

Honest exploration of friendship and loyalty

[howie73 · 8/10 · 30 December 2004]

This is a rare gem, one that isn't afraid to confront what it means to grow up in 80s America. Set in 80s New York, Silver has lensed an astonishingly authentic view of childhood, surprisingly devoid of sentimentality. She isn't afraid to paint life in realist tones, often shocking the audience with the intrusion of adult behavior upon the young protagonist's life. The issue of class difference is central to the film's development of the two main characters Sarah and Kare; the former a rich Upper East-side innocent; the latter a brash, precocious Italian-Catholic schoolgirl. Yes, this treatment of the different class systems seems rather trite at first, but the complexities of the characters are mapped through until the sombre end, which is a refreshing change from the feel-good nonsense made by Disney et al. This independent film could have been a Disney film; thank Mickey Mouse it wasn't. A testament to the true spirit of independent cinema in the 80s.

Has stood the test of time

[slavalos · 10/10 · 10 February 2009]

I was also surprised to see the low rating of this great little film. I saw it as a teen in the mid 80's on cable and, like so many others, was unable to stop watching this story through to its end. Even though it now looks so dated, I mean, no dot coms, facebook or cell phones here, the meat of the story holds true now, as it did in '84. The acting is fine and the issues are realistic. Speaking for myself, as a young teen-aged girl growing up in New Orleans, I could totally relate to the emotions expressed by the two lead characters, both New Yorkers, because the feelings were universal. If you're a female, you'll probably get it (and let me just say, I don't usually enjoy 'chick-flicks'). Like someone else has already posted, I, too, look forward to my own daughter viewing this film. It's still one of my all-time faves & whenever I catch it on TV, I still have to watch it, all these years later. I'd say it has stood the test of time.

This was like watching my private life as a young girl

[sheena708 · 10/10 · 26 August 2007]

I could not remember the name of this movie. In 1984 I was 11 years old and I watched this movie every time it was on. This movie moved me. When I was 9 years old I was a lot like the innocent girl. A new girl moved across the street from me. She was from a city. I was from a very small town. She had me wanting to be like her. I even helped her steal a mini-skirt outfit for her school pictures. She was the one who told me about the "period". She used curse words, she wore makeup, and her mother used to drink vodka all day long. After she got into some trouble, her mother said I was a bad influence and we were no longer allowed to hang around anymore. She moved away 2 years later and I never saw her again. When this movie started showing on cable when I was 11 I was drawn in forever. This movie is wonderful and so real. This movie was able to show exactly what I had lived and that I was not the only one. Nobody knew then or knows now that these things had happened to me. Im glad I finally found the name and now I will look for its next showing on bravo or IFC. I will record it and have it for my daughter.

great flick, couldn't put it down

[margoletta · 10/10 · 13 December 2002]

This is a story of a friendship between an unlikely pair but kids don't care. One young girl comes from a well-bred upper class family and another girl is a street smart daughter of a New York apt. building super. They learn from one another about a different culture and the dialog is fantastic - extremely believable. I'm sorry the overall rating this movie received was so mediocre. The low scores were obviously given by persons out of touch with real life, especially from the perspective of a young girl.

Summer in the City

[chris-arrieta · 9/10 · 10 March 2019]

This movie has a very very special quality to it. Yes, I understand it's dated. You don't have to tell me the dialogue is totally basic nearly throughout. This is a classic 1980's movie. This movie touches on something. The ending scene very nearly spells it out, but it keeps its message veiled, and leaves it for you to figure it out, like all good movies should.

A cool little film

[seashellz · 10/10 · 22 March 2001]

Enjoyable little film about friendship, the fun and pains of growing up, and incidently, growing up on the streets of New York; Though not for everybody, this is still engaging to watch. 4/5 stars.... Maybe we see on DVD one day, no?

"Old Enough" what an original idea!

[cybersongs · 10/10 · 24 August 2006]

Living in New York City at the time of this film, and doing more than a few performances there, around the corner from my apartment at 4th & LaFayette Streets, I often wonder how films like "Old Enough" get made. I mean, where do they start and how do they develop? I'm sure that this is a great 'coming of age' film, but where does the inspiration start and why doesn't IMDb have pictures of the lead character {they only seem to have pictures of A list people}.

Strange, I don't remember any "Old Enough" before I wrote "Old Enough" which you can find under /Artists/TerryJames/Lyrics/OldEnough/OldEnough.html which John Hughes used in "Home Alone." Like IMDb, there seemed to be a lack of listing the song credits here too.

But make it worth your while to go see this film, it's worth it.

I just love "original" ideas!

Great stuff!

[bspolj1442 · 10/10 · 25 September 2022]

This movie is such an underdog. It is such a great movie that will never be captured again. Innocence, growing, great acting for such young people. The eyes alone tell the story. I highly recommend this movie. And Danny Aiello Is great as usual. These are people that never went anywhere and should have. The director was 24 years old. It encompasses everything a naive young girl, or woman would see in the city being from a rich foundation. Her compadre is just as naive towards the rich. She doesn't even know what to do as far as opening or closing doors with a maid. Simply gratifying movie that has been left in the dust.