Election

In the first of this movie (which I assumed would be entertaining in a vein similar to Legally Blonde) a high school student is groomed and has an affair with a married teacher and if it was supposed to be funny or entertaining it was anything but. It was actually quite disturbing because it seems right after that, the movie appeared to be heading toward a flirtatious relationship with another older married male teacher. My high school daughter and I were so sick to the stomach we could no longer watch the movie to see where it would go .A total waste of money and I wish I had never purchased it before reading more about it. Given the #MeTo Movement I’m beginning to think movies with messages like this need to come with a warning box.

Election was a dark comedy featuring Reese Witherspoon as over achieving high school student Tracy Flick and Matthew Broderick as Social Studies teacher Jim McAllister who was determined to take her down a notch. Flick is running for school president unopposed until Mr. McAllister recruits injured football star Paul Metzier (Chris Klein) to run against her.The irony of the film is that Mr. McAllister and Flick see themselves as outstanding citizens, even righteous, but in truth they are both petty and flawed human beings. The story explores how those two personalities clash and it’s not as lopsided as one would suppose with an adult versus a teenager. It also pokes fun at the whole idea of school elections and government as being a farce. As Paul’s sister Tammy (Jessica Campbell) says, they are totally meaningless and won’t change anyone’s lives.C

Reese Witherspoon was at her perfectly perky best with this role. She played the girl in high school who was always the best at everything that must now be class President too. She would do anything to win.Then there was mild mannered Matthew Broderick. A respected teacher who had enough of this perfectly perky teen and decided he just couldn't let it happen and did everything he could to stop her from winning.But Karma's a bitch and he got paid back 10 fold for every action he took against her. He is willing to risk his health, family, career and even his respect to stop her from ruining more lives with her constant success. Of course eventually things don't go as expected and hilarity ensues.The only reason I didn't give this 5 stars is it isn't leaving the best of messages to young people about doing the right thing for the right reasons. Except maybe for Karma paying him back for his rotten deeds, he and her end up OK in the end.Even the support cast did a good job with their parts.I recommend this movie for a few laughs.

On election night Nov '18 I hosted a movie night in my place and this was THE perfect film (for a bunch of guys viewing from Brooklyn.) I have loved this since I first saw it but WOW I forgot about certain moments and details. It's a freaking great movie. WATCH IT

"Election" is an intelligent and creative comedy that goes for drama as well as laughs and succeeds at both. I give 5 stars only to movies that I think are masterpieces, and "Election" doesn't live up to that standard, so I give it 4 stars.I especially liked the use of multiple characters narrating.My only problem with the script is the teacher's animus against the ambitious student, Tracy Flick. Mr. McAlister goes on and on about how she steps on people to get ahead. I see her as a parody of the driven overachiever, not as an evil person. The only reason I can see for McAlister being out to get Tracy is that her affair with his best friend, another teacher, wrecked his career. McAlister views his friend's behavior as reprehensible since he's the teacher who should have prevented the affair from starting. It seems unrealistically cruel for McAlister to hold a grudge against a student in this situation.

I had the misfortune to see Alexander Payne’s “Downsizing” on TV the other week, and what a misguided misfire of a steaming heap that movie is. A cute premise betrayed for a need to get all Woke and ecological and dour, when what we really wanted to see was miniature Matt Damon facing off with a housecat or maybe having to clamber about full size furniture. Matt shaved his head. It was not a good look. Neither was heading to Norway for a gloom-fest.So, as a palate cleanser, I re-watched “Election”. And it’s still great! What a fun, dark, over-the-top and true-to-life comedy. The plot pieces fit together like a machine oiled by corruption in the lowest-stakes election imaginable, a scheme driven by the human weaknesses we all share: ambition, resentment, sex, carelessness and more sex.Reese Witherspoon has done a lot of excellent work since “Election” but it’s hard to think of a role I enjoyed more. She’s adorable and relentless, showing single-minded determination that should’ve warned the other characters to just get out of her way.Matthew Broderick, an actor who I respect without much caring about, is fine as the teacher who’s bored beyond endurance by his own life and yet too proud of his “teacher of the year” status not to resent the sheer unstoppable drive of his star pupil. He’s not going anywhere. Why should Tracy Flick be the one who’ll inevitably grasp the golden ticket out of Omaha? His put-upon demeanor works very well indeed here, all the more so with a wasp-stung eye.And Chris Klein as the dumb jock with a heart of pure gold? How can you not love him? The one character without guile or agenda, all he really wants (and gets) is an epic graduation party and for his sister to be happy.The small roles are equally well cast. Special shout-out for Phil Reeves, who’ll you recognize as “that guy who was in that thing.” Because he does pop up everywhere, and he’s always fun to see. Here as the “what fresh hell is this?” Principal, he’s great.From the enjoyable if overrated “Sideways” to the beautiful and deeply human “Nebraska”, Alexander Payne has a list any director could be proud of. We can skip over “Downsizing” easily enough for the guy who made “The Descendants”. With “Election” he was hitting on all cylinders.I remember the first time I saw “Election” back in the dear old video store rental days. Picked up on a whim, the moment I saw Chekov’s Chinese food hit the faculty lounge floor, I knew we were in good hands. Definitely recommended!

Always a fan of Matthew Broderick . this film is no exception ,was not keen on some of the language in it (don't expect it from him) but a clever and witty script well acted and I think underrated.A worth while addition to anyone collection especially if you a fan of both leading actors.Delivery was prompt and well package .Oh one more thing if I had waited three weeks it's now being shown on sky

This is a fantastic film. So dark, ambiguous and funny. It touches on many sensitive issues. Is it good to be a super ambitious kid, sexuality, the dilemmas that teachers face, whether it is good to achieve or not to achieve, marriage and the machinations of institutions.Jim McAllister, the teacher, is a great character who engages your sympathy, despite his flaws. This film makes you think hard about how to be in life, and makes you laugh when it still doesn't work out.

Funny, chamming underrated film.

This is a great film. Reese Witherspoon is brilliant in her role as a model student. Matthew Broderick's descent into misery is entertaining to watch as is Flick's meteoric rise into politics. It has some really humorous moments and is really worth a watch.

Very Good 🧡