If you grew up in the late nineties, you know the vibe. The smell of CK One. The sound of a dial-up modem. The crushing anxiety of a house party where you don't really know anyone but feel like your entire future depends on what happens in the next four hours. Honestly, Can Hardly Wait captures that specific, sweaty desperation better than almost any other flick from that era. It’s a time capsule. It’s a mess. It’s perfect.
Most teen movies try to be "about" something big, like losing your virginity or winning the big game. This movie? It’s just about a party. One night. One house. A million tiny heartbreaks and a lot of cheap beer. Released in 1998, it arrived right at the tail end of the Gen X cynicism and the beginning of the TRL-era pop sheen. It sits in this weird, wonderful middle ground.
The Chaos of the Can Hardly Wait Ensemble
You’ve got Jennifer Love Hewitt at the peak of her "It Girl" powers as Amanda Beckett. You’ve got Ethan Embry playing Preston Meyers, the sensitive guy who’s been in love with her since freshman year. It sounds cliché. It basically is a collection of clichés, but directors Deborah Kaplan and Harry Elfont knew exactly what they were doing. They took every high school stereotype—the jock, the geek, the prom queen, the weirdo—and threw them into a blender.
Seth Green’s performance as Kenny "Special K" Fisher is, quite frankly, a masterpiece of cringe. Seeing him try to navigate a party while dressed like a background dancer from a JoJo video is a core memory for many of us. But here’s the thing: everyone knew a Kenny. Everyone knew a Mike Dexter, the arrogant jock played by Peter Facinelli who realizes too late that being the king of high school means absolutely nothing once the diplomas are handed out.
The movie doesn’t judge them. Not really. It just watches them bumble through the night.
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Why the Soundtrack Still Slaps
We have to talk about the music. Seriously. The Can Hardly Wait soundtrack is a curated 90s fever dream. You have Third Eye Blind, Smash Mouth (before they were a meme), and The Replacements. Using "Skyway" during a pivotal moment? That’s high-level filmmaking.
The music isn't just background noise; it's the glue. It captures that transition from the grunge-adjacent rock of the early 90s to the more polished, radio-friendly alternative sound. When "Paradise City" kicks in, you feel the energy of a house party that’s about to go off the rails. It’s nostalgic, sure, but it’s also just objectively good sequencing.
What People Get Wrong About the Plot
A lot of critics at the time dismissed it as another "dumb teen movie." They were wrong. If you look closer, the film is actually pretty cynical about the "happily ever after" trope.
Preston spends the whole movie chasing Amanda, thinking a letter will solve everything. But look at their final scene. It’s not some grand, cinematic wedding. It’s two kids at a diner, realizing they barely know each other but are willing to try. It’s grounded. It’s a little awkward. It’s how real life actually works when you’re eighteen.
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Then you have the nerd subplot. Charlie Korsmo as William Lichter is a revelation. His drunken performance of "Guns N' Roses" is iconic, but his character arc is actually about vengeance turning into acceptance. He starts the night wanting to ruin Mike Dexter’s life. He ends the night realizing he’s actually having fun for the first time in four years. That’s a massive shift in perspective for a "silly" comedy.
The Cameo Game is Strong
If you rewatch it today, it’s like a game of "Where’s Waldo" for famous people.
- Jason Segel is there eating watermelon.
- Selma Blair is a random girl in a bathroom.
- Jenna Elfman is an angel (literally).
- Donald Faison is one of the drummers.
- Clea DuVall is the goth girl who hates everyone (and we love her for it).
The sheer volume of talent packed into one house is staggering. It’s a testament to the casting directors who saw something in these actors before they became household names.
The Cultural Legacy of the Class of '98
Why does this movie still matter? Why do we keep coming back to it?
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Maybe because it’s one of the last "analog" teen movies. Nobody is on a cell phone. Nobody is checking Instagram to see where the party is. They had to use landlines. They had to print out directions or just drive around until they saw a bunch of cars. There’s a physical presence to the social interactions that feels lost in modern cinema.
It also captures the "Waiting for the World to Begin" feeling. High school is over. The safety net is gone. Tomorrow, everyone goes their separate ways. That specific brand of existential dread—masked by loud music and red plastic cups—is universal. It doesn’t matter if you graduated in 1998 or 2024; that feeling of "is this it?" is the same.
How to Revisit Can Hardly Wait Today
If you’re planning a rewatch, don't just put it on in the background. Pay attention to the background characters. The "X-Phile" guys. The girl who spends the whole night locked in the bathroom. The guy who is obsessed with getting his beer back. The writers populated this world with so much detail that it feels lived-in.
It’s also worth comparing it to other "one night" movies like Dazed and Confused or Superbad. While Dazed is about the vibe and Superbad is about the friendship, Can Hardly Wait is about the climax. It’s the grand finale of childhood.
Actionable Takeaways for Movie Lovers
- Watch the "Milestone" Version: If you can find the 10th-anniversary DVD or a high-def stream, the commentary tracks with the directors and cast are gold. They reveal how much of the movie was improvised.
- Check Out the Deleted Scenes: There’s a lot of material involving the "Sheep" (the followers who mimic the popular kids) that adds another layer of social commentary to the film.
- Listen to the Soundtrack on Vinyl: It was recently reissued, and hearing those tracks with a bit of analog warmth really brings back the 90s aesthetic.
- Track the Careers: Follow the filmography of Deborah Kaplan and Harry Elfont. They also wrote Josie and the Pussycats, which is another cult masterpiece that was misunderstood upon release.
The film isn't just a nostalgia trip. It’s a well-constructed, fast-paced, and surprisingly emotional look at the exact moment a person transitions from who they were told to be into who they actually want to be. It’s funny, it’s loud, and it’s heart-on-its-sleeve honest. Honestly, we could use more movies that aren't afraid to be that sincere.
Go find your copy. Turn it up. Skip the intro. Just dive straight into the party. You’ll see why it still holds up after all these years.