Average Rating: 7.8/10
Reviews Counted: 104
Fresh: 96 | Rotten: 8
Election successfully combines dark humor and intelligent writing in this very witty and enjoyable film.
Average Rating: 7.7/10
Critic Reviews: 23
Fresh: 21 | Rotten: 2
Election successfully combines dark humor and intelligent writing in this very witty and enjoyable film.
liked it
Average Rating: 3.3/5
User Ratings: 56,795
In this satirical comedy, a hotly contested high school election becomes a metaphor for the current state of American politics. Jim McAllister (Matthew Broderick) is a popular and well-respected instructor at George Washington Carver High School in Omaha, Nebraska, but lately he's been unhappy in both his personal and professional life, and his anxieties finally come to a head with the school's student elections. Tracy Flick (Reese Witherspoon) is running for student body president, and she
May 3, 1999 Wide
Oct 19, 1999
Paramount Pictures.
All Critics (104) | Top Critics (23) | Fresh (101) | Rotten (8) | DVD (27)
The treatment of this touchy material is impressive, neither gratuitous nor mincing, but this 1999 satirical comedy doesn't really go anywhere.
An instant classic, Alexander Payne's 1999 high school comedy seems even more scathing now that we're losing control of our own election machinery.
Election at first has the feel of a simple work. But don't let that fool you; it's a complex, deep tale.
You've got to laugh at Witherspoon's tightly wound Little Miss Perfect, rising at dawn to do her hair and encase herself in a preppy look before baking cupcakes to pass out at school as vote-getters in her campaign for student council president.
A dark, insidiously funny satire on the self-involved ways otherwise rational people can allow narrow personal agendas to lead them astray to the point of self-destruction.
What is it about high-school overachievers that gets the goat of movie directors these days?
Payne and Taylor are equal opportunity satirists and their sly wit dismantles everything from high school culture to suburban complacency.
This clever, biting high-school satire is arguably Alexander Payne's most original and accomplished film (and so far he has made only good pictures).
Dark high school comedy is best for older teens.
Surprise! An intelligent, well-written high school story that offers some real ideas to chew on, rather than simply wallowing in nubile flesh.
Took the sleaze of the teen comedy and spun it into something that's both hugely entertaining and extremely insightful.
A funny and horrifying allegory of American politics and adult society, as seen through the prism--or shall we say "prison"?--that is secondary education. [Blu-ray]
...an earnest, somewhat self-congratulatory satire that hits all the right political and social marks. (Blu-ray Edition)
Maybe its only real fault is that it's a little too close to the truth to be as funny as it could be.
[A] wicked, carnal comedy.
The script, based on a Tom Perrotta novel, is tight and elegant.
Alarmingly insightful.
...a surprisingly compelling piece of work..
Kudos to Payne and Taylor for their courage, balance, and humor.
This remarkable film may be set in high school, but its satiric take on moral corruption, political chicanery, adultery and seduction is anything but juvenile.
'Election'. Darkly funny and a witty high school comedy not like the norm. Reese Witherspoon is wonderful, as a ruthless, annoyingly cheerful high school go-getter out to win the top prize of them all. And then there's poor Matthew Broderick, the bumbling, but loved teacher, whose personal and professional life slowly
December 4, 2011
Super Reviewer
Election is a fairly good comedy with a good cast of actors. Now, let me get this out of the way, I'm not the biggest fan of Matthew Broderick, but when he does something good, I'll give him credit, and he is able to make a good film. Election is good little teen comedy with plenty of laughs. Director Alexander Payne
October 13, 2011
Super Reviewer
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