On one hand, there is something understated and magnificent about this movie that elevates it above the standard teen romp movie: an amazing cast, the existential questions of whether or not to compromise and what future should one strive to achieve, and the seamless and believable transition from kids to teens. Despite all of that, I didn’t enjoy Dazed and Confused. It felt like the movie version of That 70s Show, which probably owes all its goodness from this movie. It was painful to watch these kids torture each other in their struggle for identity and basically medicate themselves from the impending future.