Top 10 Unscripted Moments That Were Kept in Teen Movies
#10: Falling on the Bleachers “The Princess Diaries” (2001)
To say Mia is shocked to learn that she’s the Princess of Genovia is an understatement. And she only has a few weeks to decide whether she wants to accept the crown! Once the news leaks, things get even more pressing. That’s where her best friend Lilly comes in, with a list of reasons why she can’t be a royal. As they pace around the bleachers, Mia falls to the floor and bursts out laughing. Shockingly, everything from the tumble to the reaction was completely unplanned. The surface was wet and as Anne Hathaway tried to keep up the pace, she slipped. The moment is perfectly Mia Thermopolis, so it’s no wonder they used it in the movie!
#9: The Cafeteria Pocket Spin “To All the Boys I've Loved Before” (2018)
A well-crafted story and compelling characters made “To All the Boys” a success in 2018. And it didn’t take long for everyone to fall in love with Peter Kavinsky. After all, the character had more than one swoon-worthy moment. Well, we have the actor behind the role, Noah Centineo, to thank for some of them! Most notably, he improvised the suave moment in the cafeteria where Peter, using the hand he has in Lara Jean’s back pocket, spins her around. And when he subtly saves the bowl of popcorn as a pillow fight breaks out? That was Centineo too! The actor wasn’t afraid to infuse the character with his personality, and it definitely paid off.
#8: The Falafel Hat “She’s All That” (1999)
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Laney Boggs is an artist, the type of teen who doesn’t exactly fit in at school. One way in which her outsider status is reinforced is through her job. Her uniform, which is far from glamorous, really drives the point home. We think it’s safe to say that the most memorable part of the ensemble is the falafel hat. Yet funnily enough, it wasn’t originally part of the look. Rachael Leigh Cook - a.k.a. Laney herself - actually requested it. It may seem like a small detail, but the embarrassing accessory visually depicts the divide between Laney and Zack’s worlds. Its storytelling value aside, it also looks rather delicious! Is anyone else suddenly feeling a little hungry?
#7: Dancing on the Bed “Bring It On” (2000)
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Torrance starts out as a pretty polished character. She’s a cheerleader, after all. But at the end of the day, she’s just a teen girl. Nowhere is that more obvious than when she stars rocking out on the bed to Cliff’s tape. According to director Peyton Reed, they had a pretty good sense of the “idea and emotion” they wanted for the scene. But the specifics of the moment were left up to Kirsten Dunst, and she nailed it. The actress was also responsible for Torrance hiding her mouth before spitting her toothpaste out next to Cliff in the beloved bathroom scene. Clearly, Dunst understood who exactly her character was - and what she needed - every step of the way!
#6: The Cell Phone Flip “She’s the Man” (2006)
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Channing Tatum is widely regarded as a heartthrob, and he’s repeatedly won our hearts in such films as “The Vow” and “Dear John.” But his work in movies like “21 Jump Street” prove that he’s also super funny and his excellent comedic timing is on full display in “She’s the Man.” Remember when Duke answers a call in front of Olivia? It’s a hysterical moment, but it could’ve easily been a basic one. Granted, the phone call was scripted. But the extra flair with which the character flips the cell phone open - and the style with which he answers - were improvised by the actor. Needless to say, Tatum knows how to bring humor and romance together like no other.
#5: Haitians “Clueless” (1995)
Alicia Silverstone made Cher Horowitz an icon in 1995, infusing her with a perfect blend of privilege, naivete, and heart. The character’s debate speech toward the start of the film perfectly encapsulates this essence. In her attempt to make a case for Haitians (NOTE: This could be correct pronunciation) coming to America, Cher completely mispronounces the word. Amazingly, the script never included the flub. Silverstone simply thought that’s how it was supposed to sound! Luckily for all of us, writer-director Amy Heckerling realized right there that she had struck gold. And that was far from being the only unscripted moment in the movie. Elton’s iconic “Rollin with the Homies” dance was also improvised! Sometimes, the most unexpected moments are the best ones!
#4: The Slap “Cruel Intentions” (1999)
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Off-screen improvisation can create some pretty great moments. In fact, it’s what led to Annette slapping Sebastian in “Cruel Intentions.” Their break-up is intense, and you can feel the characters’ pain. He’s trying to hurt her despite the fact that he’s in love with her, and it works. Their argument escalates and culminates in the hit. But the epic moment actually came to be organically. As Ryan Phillippe tells it, he was doing some off-camera improv for Reese Witherspoon to play off of. Evidently he did a good job being ruthless, because whatever he said prompted the actress to slap him. The director then decided that it should be part of the movie, and the rest is history!
#3: Real Tears “10 Things I Hate About You” (1999)
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There are numerous unforgettable moments in “10 Things I Hate About You.” But the most poignant is the one where Kat gets up in front of all her classmates and recites her sonnet. Instead of burying her feelings following the heartbreak she’s endured, she chooses to be vulnerable. Her piece is honest, intense, and truly gut-wrenching. So as she shares her heart with everyone, she understandably begins to cry. It feels like the most natural reaction in the world - and it was. Actress Julia Stiles revealed that the poem brought her to actual tears - not scripted ones. Her reaction was unexpected and raw, which was exactly what the movie needed. If that’s not worth an A+, we don’t know what is!
#2: A Special Handshake “A Walk to Remember” (2002)
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Landon Carter, like most teens, has his tight-knit gang of friends. Among them is Eric, who seems to be his best bro. The duo even share a special handshake that proves just how close they are. Impressively, the elaborate routine was crafted by the actor who played Eric, Al Thompson. Apparently, he wanted to create something that would make the boys “stand apart,” and we’d say he succeeded. Kudos to both actors for actually learning the handshake well enough to recreate it, unprompted, later in the film. In doing so, they established a pattern, which made the gesture feel that much more significant. While Eric was a relatively minor character, Thompson’s creativity definitely made him a great one.
#1: Return the Pink Shirt “Mean Girls” (2004)
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We know that this story is about Cady and the aptly named Plastics. But there’s another character who always stands out for the best reasons. Of course, we’re talking about Damian. His personality is unmatched, and he has an abundance of hilarious quotes. He utters one of his best lines when he’s driving home with Janis as they confront Cady. Most of the argument is between the girls. But Damian leaves his mark at the end, when he demands his former friend return the valuable garment he had previously lent her. As it turns out, the moment was completely improvised by the actor, Daniel Franzese. He’s since called it one of his favorite quotes, and we’re inclined to agree.
