While the 1990s brought us some iconic comedies that we may still love, some haven’t aged well in terms of their humor and content.
During this decade, some movies pushed the boundaries of political correctness, often crossing the line with jokes that would be considered offensive or inappropriate by today’s standards. While a product of their time, these movies (or elements in them) may now be seen as cringe-worthy or offensive.
Which of the following films do you see as problematic in today’s cultural climate?
1
Blank Check
- Photo:
- Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
Twelve-year-old Preston Waters fills out a blank check for a million dollars and goes on a spending spree. He enjoys his newfound wealth but faces trouble when the criminal who originally had the check tries to get it back. Along the way, Preston befriends an older FBI agent who is investigating the criminal.
Preston takes her out on a “date” and tries to arrange another. She replies, “Why don’t you give me a call in, say, about 10 years?” As they negotiate the time frame further, she plants a kiss on the middle schooler – and it isn’t on his cheek. The sexy sax music swells as she walks off.
Some people who thought the scene was “cool” when they were kids are now (rightfully) horrified by it.
2
American Pie
- Photo:
- Universal Pictures
Exchange student Nadia is secretly recorded getting undressed by Jim and his friends for their personal enjoyment. When he is set to join her on camera, he accidentally sends the feed to the whole school. After the big reveal, Nadia is sent back to Europe, while Jim escapes any real trouble.
While it was one of the pivotal scenes in American Pie, the lack of consent on Nadia’s part and lack of consequences on Jim’s part would not fly today. Even Jason Biggs, who played Jim, is troubled by the scene:
It wouldn’t get made now and it couldn’t get made now. It would be unacceptable what that represents.
3
The Last Supper
- Photo:
- Sony Pictures Releasing
The Last Supper tells the story of five liberal grad students who are roommates. One night, after accidentally killing someone who doesn’t share their political views, they decide to up the conservative body count to what they perceive as the greater good. While everything goes swimmingly for a while, they find themselves divided on killing a conservative teen, and that’s when things start to fall apart.
While fictional and unheard of at the time, it hits a nerve in the modern age. Politics have become so heated, that you can almost imagine this scenario happening from either side of the spectrum.
4
Milk Money
- Photo:
- Paramount Pictures
Milk Money is a coming-of-age film in which three curious boys pool their money together to pay a woman to see her naked. They meet V, a compassionate sex worker who flashes them before making sure they get back to the suburbs safe and sound. One of the boys then comes up with the idea to set V up with his widower father.
Today, the movie’s archaic views on sex workers and its portrayal of V as just a sex object to be ogled, threatened, or rescued make it inappropriate for just
5
There’s Something About Mary
- Photo:
- 20th Century Fox
There’s Something About Mary has a lot that is questionable, but let’s focus on one element – how the movie portrays its disabled characters. Mary’s brother, Warren, cannot function independently, and although he’s an adult, he is always treated like a child, no matter the circumstances.
And don’t forget Tucker, a physically disabled man who is Mary’s bestie. In reality, he’s not disabled in the least – he pretends to be in order to be close to Mary, whom he is secretly in love with.
6
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective
- Photo:
- Warner Bros.
At the end of Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, Ace Ventura discovers that the villain, Lt. Lois Einhorn, is transgender and publicly exposes that fact in a humiliating manner – by undressing Einhorn bit by bit in front of a room full of people. Einhorn then attempts to slash her way out of the situation.
This ending contributes to negative stereotypes about transgender people, which audiences will likely now find insensitive and disrespectful instead of funny.
7
Mallrats
- Photo:
- Gramercy Pictures
At just 15, Trisha is the author of Boregasm, a book written from personal experience that details the sex lives of men up to 35 years old. She’s captured footage of the incidents, too, which helps Brodie win his girlfriend back from Shannon. Trisha’s experience with Shannon leads to his arrest.
At the end of the movie, we learn her book becomes a bestseller, and Shannon is assaulted in prison – which is, of course, played for laughs.
8
Never Been Kissed
Did you know?Never Been Kissed is also ranked #32 of 166 on The Best Movies For Date Night
- Photo:
- 20th Century Fox
Journalist Josie Geller goes undercover as a high school student to write about what it’s like to be a teen. For her, this is an opportunity to overcome her own high school experiences, which were less than stellar. Socially awkward, she never got to experience a first kiss.
When she returns to high school as an adult, she begins to suffer the same fate but develops a crush on her English teacher, Sam Coulson, who reciprocates but doesn’t “go there,” as he thinks she’s still a student. Still, the attraction between “student” and teacher is more than obvious and very inappropriate.
9
The Nutty Professor
- Photo:
- Universal Pictures
Eddie Murphy’s version of The Nutty Professor is wall-to-wall fat jokes. Murphy plays multiple roles, including the overweight and socially awkward Professor Sherman and his thinner, more confident alter ego, Buddy. Jerry Lewis also played these roles in the original but his character’s weight wasn’t the running joke.
The humor in the film mostly revolves around Sherman’s weight and appearance, with many jokes and gags centered on his struggles with obesity. Even his family, who is mostly played by Murphy, is obese. They are not only the butt of the joke themselves, but they still manage to fat-shame Sherman.
10
Heavyweights
- Photo:
- Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
When a group of overweight boys attends a weight-loss camp, they rebel against the strict regimen imposed by the camp’s new owner who is more interested in turning a profit than genuinely helping kids lose weight.
Fat-shaming is, unfortunately, much of the humor in this movie. Heavyweights uses obesity stereotypes and fat jokes throughout for comedic effect (for example, applause for the “heaviest boy in camp.”)
In today’s cultural climate where there’s a greater emphasis on body positivity and sensitivity towards issues related to weight, Heavyweights comes off as hurtful and offensive.
11
North
- Photo:
- Columbia Pictures
North is looking for parents to replace his own because he doesn’t think he’s getting enough love. He searches the world and meets a governor and his wife, who can’t have children of their own.
The governor tells North, “Hawaii is a lush and fertile land. There’s only one barren area on our islands. Unfortunately, it’s my wife.” A wildly inappropriate to say to anyone, let alone a kid.
12
Jawbreaker
- Photo:
- Sony Pictures Releasing
Jawbreaker focuses on a group of popular high school girls who accidentally kill one of their friends. They try to cover up the death, all while exploring the ups and downs of high school popularity and friendship.
While there’s a lot of cursing and sex talk among the characters, one of the girls attempts to seduce an older barfly (Marilyn Manson) to frame him for the murder. Despite her only being in high school, this plan works.
13
In & Out
- Photo:
- Paramount Pictures
When actor Cameron Drake wins an Oscar for his portrayal of a gay man, he thanks his teacher, Howard Brackett, in his acceptance speech, outting Brackett to the world. This shocks Brackett, his girlfriend, and the conservative community where he lives.
Brackett begins to question his own sexuality and spends the majority of the film trying to hide it. The movie plays into stereotypes about gay people and shows a character outed against their will, insinuating that their sexual orientation was something to be hidden or ashamed of.
14
Ladybugs
- Photo:
- Paramount Pictures
This 1992 film stars Rodney Dangerfield as Chester, a businessman who’s always looking for a way to make a profit. He’s unwillingly tasked with coaching a girl’s soccer team that has no chance of winning any time in the near future. Chester sees dollar signs and comes up with a plan.
He dresses up his girlfriend’s son Matthew and puts him on the team as Martha. A winning streak (and hilarity at the expense of the trans community) ensues.
15
Can’t Hardly Wait
- Photo:
- Song Pictures Releasing
Can’t Hardly Wait is a standard 1990s teen comedy that takes place at a high school graduation party, following various characters and their romantic ups and downs throughout the night.
What stands out as problematic today is Seth Green’s “blaccent,” a term referring to a fake, racist accent attempting to mimic Black people. Green plays Kenny Fisher, whose whole schtick is cultural appropriation, and it’s hard to watch today.
16
Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery
Did you know?- Photo:
- New Line Cinema
To be fair, when the character of Austin Powers is unfrozen after 30 years, he is already a fish out of water. Even in the 1990s, his humor and general character are old hat and sometimes offensive, which the movie acknowledges to the audience.
But one scene in particular wouldn’t fly today because it mocks transgender people. In it, Powers attempts to pull a wig off of Basil’s mother and says, “That’s a man, baby!”