Common Sense Note
Parents should be aware of the movie's overall negative overtones. Almost everyone engages in bad behavior as they set out to win at all costs. The film also includes questionable sexual situations (statutory rape, extramarital affairs, and teenage sex), foul language, and an irreverent attitude toward religion. All in all, both teens and adults appear untrustworthy and unethical.
Older teens may be mature enough to watch this film. If parents allow their teens to view, they may want to discuss issues relating to ethics. Throughout the film, characters make unethical choices. Parents may want to ask their kids to identify those actions. They may also want to use this time to discuss issues related to school. Does this film remind teens of their own school experiences? Do they know people like the characters? What are politics like at their schools?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Kelly Kessler
After years of joyfully teaching high school, Jim McAllister (Matthew Broderick) -- every kid's favorite guy -- finds his professional and personal lives spinning out of control. After the school over-achiever Tracey Flick (Reese Witherspoon) raises her hand one too many times, McAllister sets out to foil her plan to win the position of student council president. Challenged (at the behest of McAllister) by a clueless yet lovable jock (Chris Klein) and his antisocial lesbian sister (Jessica Campbell), Flick will stop at nothing to win her student council seat. Both teacher and success-craving student make suspect choices as the plot speeds toward an end that will decide the fates of its dueling leads.
ELECTION is simply one in a line of quirky comedies directed by Alexander Payne (Citizen Ruth [1996], About Schmidt [2004], and Sideways [2004]). Like his other contributions, ELECTION combines fascinating character types, tragic life events, and dark comedy to produce painfully poignant images of contemporary life. The film does a fine job of presenting high school though the jaundiced eyes of both teacher and student, while throwing in a selection of stereotypes for good measure. A turning point in the careers of three of its main performers, ELECTION brought Broderick's career full circle as he shed Ferris Bueller's sweater vest for the shirt and tie of the "man." Additionally, this film launched Witherspoon into A-list stardom and catapulted the career of Klein, whose portrayal of the lovable jock led to leading roles in such high profile films as American Pie (1999) and 2 (2001) and We Were Soldiers (2002).
Rate It!
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Sexual ContentInappropriate relationship between a teacher and student, infidelity by the main character, main character watches porn, brief teenage lesbianism, teenage sex, semi-graphic sex. |
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ViolenceHumorous skiing accident and bee sting incident. |
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LanguageSexually explicit language. |
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Social BehaviorPretty much everyone in film serves as a negative role model. Characters are driven to unethical acts by greed, jealousy, and lust. This film makes it difficult to divide characters into "good" and "bad." Even the "good" characters make choices that throw their status into question. |
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CommercialismCoke and Pepsi placement. |
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Drug/Alcohol/TobaccoBrief moments of teen drinking and pot. |
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