Coming from the generation that was depicted in the movie, we used to watch that movie and be amazed by it, because it really reflected the way we talked, hung out, etc. Not that we did everything they did with the same sort of consequences, but we appreciated the realism even if the situations/consequences were unlikely for most kids (but certainly not all). I'm surprised you hated it so much, can you explain why? I think it was critically acclaimed for the most part, with mostly social conservatives and antis disliking it for moral reasons (like it promoted pedophilia, underage sex, drugs, etc.). Maybe the movie didn't age well for the younger generations, I don't know. But it definitely got across with my generation.