While it may seem like a harmless "wacky teen romp", John Hughes' classic 80's film SIXTEEN CANDLES actually contains many timeless archetypes and allegories of universal relevance.

The main character Samantha, or "Sam" as she prefers, is the subject of several betrayals throughout the film. The most notable of which is her parents forgetting her all-important sixteenth birthday. It is important to note here that the passage into the sixteenth year is often considered the age in which adulthood is visited upon the child. The occasion is also usually accompanied by a "rite of passage", sometimes a violent and harrowing experience for the child involved. The rite that "Sam" endures is no less severe.

The film is structured in a "slice of life" format not unlike Homer's ODYSSEY. But the similarities between these two works do not end there. "Sam's" journey through the obstacle-riddled 24-hour period that the film covers is a test of will power and patience and intelligence just as Odysseus' journey must have been.

The character of "the Geek" (portrayed with stunning naïveté by Anthony Michael Hall) is like the Cyclops in the ancient story. A "monster" to avoid and defeat. However, in the film, the protagonist and the "Cyclops" put aside their differences and become "friends" through a series of favors and "bonding" experiences. In the end both characters become better people and gain insight into each other's "alien" lifestyle.