Jim McAllister - Matthew Broderick
Paul Metzler - Chris
Klein
Director: Alexander Payne
Election was not a highly publicized movie, at least not from the aspect of being a movie about high school, a cinematic trend that has steamrolled in popularity over the past year, with mostly unsuccessful results. So when I walked into the theater to see it, I knew very little, except for the fact that it starred Reese Witherspoon, one of my favorite young actresses, and marked the coming of full circle, for Matthew Broderick,from teacher to student. Call it "Ferris Bueller Gets A Job" if you must, an interesting twist of irony I believe. What I expected, was basically another brainless, predictable, maybe mildly entertaining teen-slice of life comedy. I couldn’t have been further from the truth.
Election begins harmlessly enough, with a voice-over from Broderick, foreshadowing about how things got so messed up, typical, I am thinking at this point, flashbacks are nothing new in teen movies, Can’t Hardly Wait, and She’s All That, both respectable fluff entries, both used them. But then, as the movie starts into its opening act, the lights of normalcy go out, and that dark light, that usually only exists in Coen brothers' movies, and more recently, Todd Solondz faire, takes over, and this movie goes places that you could never dream.
Several taboo subjects are delved into here, all resulting from obsession. One teachers obsession to obstruct, and one students obsession to succeed. Lesbianism, adultery, underage sex, fraud, manipulation, vandalism, all are dealt out here, in a sensible, flowing manner, that comes naturally to director Alexander Payne, who appears to have a deft touch for dark comedy. The performances are headed up by Witherspoon, at her contrasting best. She shows every aspect of her unlimited acting ability, by being sweet and innocent one minute (Pleasantville. Man In The Moon), and vengeful and wicked the next (Freeway).. Here, she combines it all together, and shows why she should finally be taken seriously as an actress. Broderick, recovering from his Godzilla fiasco, uses his youthful innocent looks, to mask a painful yearning anger. Always looking composed on the outside, his insides seem to go volcanic, leaving him to manage his conflicted emotions, in his best Buelleresque modified facial tones. The supporting cast is effective in the roles that each is given. Most noticeable, is Chris Klein, a recent graduate of the Keanu Reeves Clueless Acting drama clinic, who as Paul, Broderick’s choice to oppose Witherspoon dumbs it up it with the best of them, and yet seems so natural in doing it.
Ultimately, the darkness consumes most of the characters, with a few virtuous ones remaining unscathed, because they basically just do not know, or realize what to do. The lesson here: walking through life blindly, and taking what it gives you, can ultimately get what you desire, and more truthfully, what you deserve. Election plays out like Westerburg High’s (Heathers) if they elected officials. It’s dark, yet probably not that far from how school really is in the 90s. In an era where directors feel that to represent high school, you just take the nearest pretty face (Dawson’s Creek/Scream/Buffy alumni), and throw in a fluffy unpredictable plot, bam, instant success. While the dollars may roll in, the movie will fade faster than Louie Anderson in a marathon. What works best for most movie fans, is a movie that hits close to home, that they can relate to. Hughes realized that, and tapped a vein by not being afraid to go against norms. Now, Payne has done the same thing. Election is bleak, realistic, and may make you laugh nervously, realizing that this could be your child’s school, and being afraid of the same fact.. ($$$ of $$$$)
Actor and movie information courtesy of the Internet Movie Database
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