Blake Lively’s Sister Stars In Iconic ’80s Fantasy Comedy, Stream On Tubi
Long, long before Blake Lively hit Hollywood, her big sister, Robyn Lively, was a true star of the ’80s in a film called Teen Witch. If you’re nostalgic for that long gone time, or you’re just interested to see what kind of star power the family holds, check it out on Tubi this weekend.
Teen Witch’s Impact On ’80s Kids
As a child of the ’80s who forever longed to be a witch, I read and watched everything about witches I could get my hands on. So when Teen Witch arrived on my living room television, I watched the movie over and over. I loved it so much, I even went looking for more movies and shows with Robin Lively.
Sadly, there wasn’t much to choose from.
It’s Either A Blessing Or A Curse
Teen Witch is a movie about a girl who wishes she was popular at her high school. Louise (Robyn Lively), and her nerdy friend, Polly (Mandy Ingber), feel like the low women on the totem pole, with no hope of that ever changing. Louise has a major crush on a boy at school, Brad (played by the high school hunk of the ’80s, Dan Gauthier), but he doesn’t seem to notice her. One day, she meets a psychic, Madame Serena (the always fabulous Zelda Rubenstein) who tells her she’ll become a witch on her 16th birthday.
On her birthday, Louise’s teacher gives her an amulet and tells her it will bring her good luck. That night, she comes into her teen witch powers. From there, the movie becomes the classic tale of a girl making wishes that come true, and then having to contend with the results, which aren’t always what she expects.
People get hurt (only mildly), and Louise starts to wonder if she’s blessed because of the amulet, or if she would be much better off without it.
Fans Liked It More Than The Critics
Teen Witch is fun, cheesy, and sweet. Louise’s character is the perfect blend of endearing and mischievous —- a teenager. The writers and director clearly knew what they were doing as, although the critics have only given the movie 43 percent positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes, audiences have it at a much higher 74 percent. It’s become a true cult classic worthy of watching when you’re in an 80s witchy mood.
Released in 1989, the film paved the way for many of the witchy movies and series that would become the entire mood of the 90s like Hocus Pocus and Practical Magic.
The Lively Lineage
All these years after Teen Witch, it was interesting to find out that Robyn Lively is the much older sister of the now quickly-becoming-infamous Blake Lively. Robin was born in 1972 to her mother, a talent manager, Elaine Lively and her father Ronald Otis Lively. Elaine and Ronald have two other children together, but divorced shortly after Robyn’s birth.
What’s funny is that when Elaine married her second husband, Blake’s father, Ernie, he took Elaine’s previously married name. So he became Ernie Lively, and their two children also took the name Lively, which is how we got the fabulous Blake Lively. I guess Elaine decided it was a better professional name for herself and her kids.
Streaming Teen Witch On Tubi
GFR SCORE
While Blake has clearly outshone her older sister by this point in their careers, Robyn can still be found playing the mom, the aunt, or the helpful doctor in town in movies to this day. Just this year alone, Robyn has a starring role in the romance drama, Someone Like You. Though Teen Witch is what I will always remember her for, it’s fun to make these Hollywood connections and learn the stories behind them.
As of this writing, you can stream Teen Witch for free on Tubi.
