Alright folks, it’s time for an oldie but a goodie! I had the pleasure of re-watching Edward Scissorhands the other day to celebrate it’s 30 year (yes, you read that right) anniversary. It’s hard to believe that this movie is as old as I am, and yet it still stands the test of time.
I grew up a huge Johnny Depp fan. When I was in high school, I remember doing a biography project on him because I was so fascinated with everything he did. When I used to watch, I loved the movie because he was charming, funny, sweet, and there were so many good feelings to go around. Now that I’m older, I watch Edward Scissorhands knowing it’s so much more than that.
The movie follows Peg Boggs (Dianne Wiest), a suburban mom and local representative of Avon (for those of you too young to remember, they were door-to-door versions of your current-day MLM reps) who is having a hard time making sales. She lives on a colourful, cookie-cutter street filled with nosey neighbours, overly-green lawns and white picket fences, but decides to try her luck pitching to the ominous dark castle atop the hill of her neighbourhood. There she meets Edward, a strange but kind man with a heart of gold – and scissors for hands. When he confides in Peg that his Dad never came home, she decides to take him home to live with her and her family. Of course, if you’ve ever lived in a small town, you know how quickly new people become gossip to the locals, and you can only imagine the difference when that new addition is wielding weapons and the ends of their arms.
While this movie is obviously a little strange, it is nothing short of charming. I often find myself audibly giggling at little things he does and how he learns to interact with his new neighbours. Like any movie from the 90s, there’s some language and thoughts that haven’t aged well and you have to take that with a grain of salt, but overall there’s so many feel-good moments that you can’t help but love it. While Edward is learning to navigate his new life, he also finds himself falling in love with Peg’s daughter, Kim (Wynona Ryder). While competing against her boyfriend (Anthony Michael Hall) for her affection, a lot of madness ensues. Part of the reason that this movie works so well is because it feels like you’re watching a child grow, but with the added benefit of a completely ridiculous environment and an adult body. You quickly fall in love with how he stumbles his way into his new life.
This movie is everything you’d expect from a Burton-Depp mash-up, but more. It’s aesthetically pleasing, fun, a little off-beat, and enjoyable to sit through. On top of that, it reminds us that being “different” doesn’t have to be a bad thing. In fact, it boasts that the things that make us unique are what make us special. There is only one version of you, and nobody else like it. The things that make Edward stand out, are also the things that make him who he is. It may not be the most dramatic movie, nor is it going to change your life, but I can bet you’re going to have a great time watching it and by the time the credits roll you will have a smile beaming from ear to ear.
Edward Scissorhands is available to stream on Disney+ or to rent/buy from iTunes, Amazon, or Youtube
The UnderSCENE 