Whatever (1998)

Jersey girl Liza Weil wants to hightail it out of town in Whatever (1998), Susan Skoog's clever tale of a talented teener with big dreams and dandy sweaterbeans. Liza's a painter who's stuck with an obnoxious brother and a lonely mother, and all she wants is to fly the coop and go roost at Cooper Union. If she can get accepted there, she can get started on her art career—and if she can lose her virginity, she can maybe keep herself from going crazy. Palling up with party-loving troubleteen Chad Morgan, Liza seeks out the rebellion and danger she thinks are keys to making great art. And she offers her great parts to another aspiring artist, finally getting rid of that annoying deflowering problem! But her grades start tanking, and her self-esteem doesn't perk up when her sex life picks up. Can Liza get it together before her dreams fall apart?