Frankie Ingrassia and Chris Klein in "Election."

MOVIE INFORMATION

With 10 as a must-see, Jack gives this film a: Stars: Matthew Broderick and Reese Witherspoon Director: Alexander Payne Rated: R, with profanity and strong sexual innuendo Length: 104 minutes

ROCHESTERCRITIQUE

Having seen this film, how would you rate it? 10 5 9 4 8 3 7 2 6 1

By Jack Garner
Democrat and Chronicle

(May 7, 1999) -- Tracy Flick is the consummate overachiever at George Washington Carver High School.

The pert blonde (Reese Witherspoon) is a member of every worthwhile club in school, and an officer in most. She eagerly raises her hand to answer every question. She's a straight-A student, on the fast track in a relentless pursuit of excellence. And now she's running, unopposed, for school president.

In other words, she must be stopped.

Election, a wonderfully subversive new comedy, details the efforts of respected educator Jim McAllister (Matthew Broderick) to do just that.

A three-time "Teacher of the Year" at the Omaha, Neb., high school, McAllister risks his reputation to undermine Tracy's election campaign. He recruits Paul, a popular, dim-witted football player (Chris Klein) to run against her. He's even prepared to fix the results, if necessary.

But McAllister underestimates Tracy's determination and wily conniving. And he's shocked when Paul's younger sister, Tammy (Jessica Campbell), enters the race. She's an alienated young lesbian whose political platform is simple: Eliminate student government.

The election is only part of the story in this clever, witty, downright devious movie. It's really about the manipulative relationships that develop between two generations -- the students and their teachers and parents.

About a half-hour into the film, the satire suddenly turns darker, with a sexual relationship between a student and teacher adding fuel to the already volatile proceedings.

The result is a teen comedy with a sophisticated adult edge. Like Heathers or Fast Times at Ridgemont High, it transcends the genre.

Based on a novel by Tom Perrotta, Election has been adapted for the screen by director and co-writer Alexander Payne, a fresh talent previously responsible for the button-pushing abortion satire Citizen Ruth.

For Election, Payne went back to his Omaha hometown for middle-American school settings and neighborhoods. He also discovered two young Nebraska actors, Klein and Campbell, who are utterly believable as Paul and Tammy.

Broderick is perfectly cast as the slightly rumpled teacher with delusions about how far he should go to teach a particular lesson.

It's also fun to see Ferris Bueller -- Broderick's memorable, school-skipping character in the 1986 film Ferris Bueller's Day Off -- back in the classroom, but on the other side of the desk. McAllister's crusade is perfectly in line with what a grown-up Bueller might do.

As the irrepressible Tracy, Witherspoon is a potent opponent, a clever monster of ambition who'll stop at nothing till she's queen of all she surveys.