Rating: 
Summary: one of Broderick's best
Review: Broderick is in one of his best roles as Jim McAllister, a teacher whose life was grand and his career was fine but then it went all down hill. an Election is being held and its competetors for the race are Paul played by Chris Klien(in one of his more better roles) and Reese Witherspoon as Tracy Flick the fluffy and loveable bouncy blonde who wants nothing but to win the damn election, but McAllister sees threw her cute little ways and sabotages the election making Paul win instead of Tracy and then in the end teh janitor finds out and McAllister is fired and McAllister on the other side has his marriage in the pits and she leaves him because he hits on her friend. good comedy includes some lesbianism with Paul's sister, Witherpoons energetic Flick and the bee stung in the face McAllister. funny bit is when at the end Broderick throws his drink at Witherspoons limo and takes off running. a great movie all around
Rating: 
Summary: Faboulous satire
Review: Reese Witherspoon plays Tracy Flick, a highschool student that is determined to win the pesidency over the student body and will do most anything to do so. Unfortunately for her, Mr. McAllister (Mathew Broderic) does not want this overachiever to win because he does not want her to succeed in life and make everone miserable. He wants to nip the problem at the bud. To do so, he sets up an opposing canidate, Paul (Klein), the most popular kid in the school. Now tracy needs to work a little bit more to win and Mr. McAllister needs to try harder to make her lose. Find out what they do to reach their goal and who ends up getting stiffed for it.
Rating: 
Summary: Er...
Review: It could've been better without all of the sexually charged humor. No doubt, this is a very funny movie, but the sexual jokes just make you wince and try to stick it out until the end. Reese protrays her classic over achiever very well, but the movie just isn't as charming as "Legally Blonde" and "Sweet Home Alabama".
Rating: 
Summary: freak show
Review: Maybe the last half makes up for the first half: I could only watch for 45 minutes. It's sophomorically prurient. A production of MTV - I should have known.
Rating:
Summary: Strikingly realistic high school comedy...
Review: As if "American Pie" wasn't realistic enough, here's "Election," an amazingly accurate and very funny film about high school elections. Perhaps the most surprising thing about this film is that it was made by MTV, which seems to be the catalyst for conformity, though their movies (Joe's Apartment, Orange County among others) don't show it. This is a film that knows what's popular and strikes out against it. It couldn't have worked better. Matthew Broderick plays Mr. McAllister, a social studies teacher at George Washington Carver High School and runner of the student government. The incredibly lovely Reese Witherspoon plays Tracy Flick, an over-achiever who seems destined for Student Body President. Since Day 1, it seems, she's been campaigning. She's on yearbook staff, president of many clubs, a reporter for the TV channel, and probably tons of other things. And while she seems nice on the outside, under that layer lies a perfectionist so intent on getting just what she wants that she'll step on anyone to get it. Under that layer is yet another, which is her true colors. She's lonely. Tracy, despite her decided popularity, has no friends. Soon she is "in love" with a teacher at the school (who is also Mr. McAllister's best friend) and now the teacher must resign. McAllister does not want Flick to become president. He does not want what happened to his friend to happen to him. He enlists Paul (Chris Klein, giving his best performance), a likable football player whose sport career is ruined by a broken leg while skiing. One would expect this character to be a real jerk, but on the inside he's a tender, generous, and lovable guy. True, he may not be the most intelligent person, but he's very sincere. Also running is Paul's sister Tammy, who loves people for the person, not for their looks. She also remarks that the only people she's ever loved are girls. She decides to run after Paul takes her girlfriend. Paul is completely unaware of his sister's alternative lifestyle, but we know it wouldn't matter if he did. He really cares for his sister and, in her own way, she cares for her brother. The whole movie is absolutely zany. There are tons of subplots, but all of the characters have enough screentime for us to really get to know them. The comedy comes at full force, but it's different from the comedy in other teen-oriented movies. This humor feels more down-to-earth and genuine. If you haven't seen "Election" and are in high school or older, you must. It's absolutely brilliant. Perfectly written, directed with tactful attentiveness and well paced. It sucks you in from the beginning and allows you to rethink your high school experience. MTV Productions didn't stop there, though. After seeing "Election," check out "Orange County," a quasi-similar movie with the same feel for high school and the same comedic timing. Do enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Most accurate high school movie of all times
Review: This movie is the story of a high school election and, also, how acting on your base emotions can lead to your downfall. All of the elements of high school are there - the striving overachiever living in a modest apartment with her single parent, the football hero underachiever driving a great pickup and living in a huge new house, the students trying out new identities, the geeks, the overbearing principal, the high school teacher who loves his job and looks, dresses and lives exactly as you would expect the underpaid high school teacher to look, and the high school teacher's friends who live in modest houses just where you would expect teachers to live. Not only are the characters and the settings realistic, but the emotions that the film sparks are realistic, too. Who wouldn't hate Tracy Flick and the way she strives and want anyone but her to win. Paul is the perfect ditzy football hero who occupies a seat, but who must not learn a thing in high school. The ending is most perfect - when Jim throws the 7-11 cup at Tracy's limo in Washington D.C. You can tell that he doesn't hate her for what she caused to his careet, but he still hates her for being an overachiever. It is my understanding that this movie was filmed in Omaha at a real high school. I most enjoy the authenticity of the public high school aspects of this movie, and I think that the location adds immeasurably to its realism.
Rating:
Summary: Pick Flick!
Review: I thought that this movie was exceptionally well acted by Reese Witherspoon, Matthew Broderick, Chris Klein and Jessica Campbell. It was also very well directed by Alexander Payne. While listening to the director's commentary you could see what Payne was trying to achieve in each scene. There was lot's of symbolism in the movie as well, like for example the continual use of rubbish. Payne also used to good effect, voice overs and freeze frames to add to the film. The DVD was pretty good, but it really needed some extras like a cast bio, behind the scenes or cast interviews. But back to the film, my only complain about it was the rather boring sub plot of Jim's affair with Dave Novotney's wife. I found myself fowarding through this part everytime I watch this movie. Everything else was done perfectly. Each of the actors made their characters believable and made the audience care about them. The one actor who stole the show was the incredible Reese Witherspoon. She played the over zealous high school achiever Tracy Flick. Her performance was just dead on and perfect in every way. From the narrowed eyes to the flared nostrils to the pursed lips to the squared jaw, she had Tracy down to a tee. Every pronunciation of her words were precise and sharp and she walked like she had a stick shoved up her ... Reese embodied the character of Tracy and brought her to life in the most emphatic of ways. This character could have easily been one dimensional and annoying, but Reese made you like her and hate her at the same time. What should have been annoying was rather humourous and well acted. Her jumping up and down after she thought she had won the election will go down as one of the funniest and classic scenes I have ever seen in the movies. The Oscars were stupid to have ignored this incredible performance by Reese, but the fact this movie was labeled a teen movie and she herself is a young actress went against her. They should be ashamed of themselves. This was her defining role in her already impressive career and she is now receiving the recognition she derserves. Overall, this movie was well made and was boosted by 4 great pieces of acting. A definate must see!
Rating:
Summary: Five Stars for a funny but troubling film
Review: Election is intelligent in it's humor, painfully accurate in it's satirical critique, and troubling in it's conclusions. Is infidelity okay if "true love" is the reason? What if the lovers are teacher and high school student? And if it's not okay, who's fault is it? Is ambition wrong? Can people--especially young people--ever really "overachieve"? Election critiqued the sloppy morals of society. However, I also sensed a resignation, a hopelessness. Is it really too much to expect righteousness from one another? Thus, by movie's end, I was troubled. The acting was top-notch. Flick was indeed the prototypical--yet believable--overachieving student--from a low-middle income one-parent family to boot! The quarterback-turned-politician, was wonderful--a good-hearted, popular, optimistic young man of barely average intelligence. "Mr. M" was most convincing in his slide from teacher-hero to hypocrite, adulterer, and thief. Other minor characters also fleshed out this tale convincingly. Election is a story of moral flabbiness that plays out hilariously, suspensefully, and almost realistically. Satire, of course, must push the edges of believability, and this film finds the perfect balance. The bottom-line is that this is a story that gives much food for thought, and can be quite entertaining. The acting is A+! P.S. One caveat is that those who disapprove of sexual alternatives and promiscuity being portrayed minus outright condemnation will want to avoid this movie.
Rating:
Summary: Twisted, Disturbing, Hilarious
Review: In a film whose most disturbing moments make "Clerks" look like a morality tale, director Alexander Payne makes all the right moves to please those who appreciate what has been absent in so many of today's teen comedy misfires: HUMOR. Matthew Broderick and Reese Witherspoon shine as the veteran civics teacher and classic overachiever, respectively. Chris Klein does about all he can as the sickeningly sweet, leadenly dumb Paul Metzler (you Betzler!), which for this movie serves quite well. Also in good form is the actress who plays Paul's sexually confused sister Tammy, whose name eludes me at the moment. If there's one drawback to the film, it's that the heavy dose of sexual deviance takes a while to get used to. Once you've gotten into it though, you can't help but laugh. The sharp writing and excellent music score (particularly the song played whenever Tracy sees Paul's poster) make this a cinematic yahtzee. By the way, the DVD sucks, so just get this one on VHS. P.S.: To Sharon, whoever that esteemed individual may be: you are quite possibly the dumbest person alive. This movie's plot is incredibly easy to understand. I pity you deeply.
Rating:
Summary: Reese At Her Best
Review: This is an awesome dark comedy. I think the other really long reviews already took all the words from my mouth. Also, this movie is now shown on cable often, so you don't have to drag yourself to Blockbuster to rent a great movie.
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