'Can't Hardly Wait' is a late '90s teen comedy that stays focused on story and character rather than checking boxes for identity politics. Casting and character development largely revolve around relatable teenage archetypes rather than modern-day ideological criteria. Forced representation and unrealistic character invincibility are virtually nonexistent here.

The film offers a classic portrait of high-school life, with standard family, romance, and coming-of-age themes. Traditional masculinity and femininity are played up for laughs rather than subverted, and there's little-to-no rewriting of cultural norms or historical events. It's a snapshot of a less preachy era.

While the film pokes fun at some cliques, a variety of personalities and viewpoints are on display. Traditional perspectives aren't exclusively mocked or villainized. Sure, it’s not a Socratic debate, but there’s no heavy-handed ideological agenda or groupthink here.