Barnes & Noble

An insidiously funny black comedy, far superior to the book from which it was adapted, Election returns Matthew Broderick to the milieu that made him famous: high school. But this time he's not Ferris Bueller, and there are no days off for him. Broderick plays overworked teacher Jim McAllister, whose frustration with an unsatisfactory personal life colors his judgment and propels him into conflict with the school's Little Miss Prim. Insufferable overachiever Tracy Flick (Reese Witherspoon in a pitch-perfect performance), running for student body president, will do anything to beat popular, good-natured jock Paul Metzler (Chris Klein in his first major role), a reluctant candidate encouraged by McAllister. The battle lines are thus drawn, teacher against student, and it's anybody's guess who will emerge victorious. Director Alexander Payne, who co-wrote the script based on Tom Perotta's novel, re-creates with amazing fidelity the countless little cruelties, minor disappointments, and petty grievances that often make high school such an interminable ordeal. He's especially perspicacious in his portrayal of the feckless McAllister, whose tiniest indiscretions have a way of snowballing into massive crises. Ironic situations, tart dialogue, deftly limned characters, and dexterous direction are rarely found in such felicitous combination -- and that uniquely winning formula makes Election a minor masterpiece of modern comedy.

All Movie Guide

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 certainly seems like the sort of girl who would win a high school election -- she's pretty, popular and takes part in all the right extra-curricular activities. In fact, she seems so perfect she's running unopposed, which offends McAllister's sense of democracy (not to mention the fact he doesn't like her very much). So Jim intervenes and persuades Paul Metzler (Chris Klein) to run against Tracy. Paul is not terribly bright and is entirely unqualified to be student president, but as a star of the school's football team (before a leg injury sidelined him), he's popular enough to at least give Tracy a run for her money. Just as the race begins to heat up, a spanner is truly thrown into the works when Paul's sister, Tammy (Jessica Campbell) announces she's also running for office. Publicly, Tammy's platform is that the student elections are ultimately pointless and if she's elected, she'll eliminate them altogether. Privately, Tammy is out for revenge against her brother; it seems Tammy is experimenting with her sexuality, and a recent fling with a bisexual classmate named Lisa (Frankie Ingrassia) ended when Lisa dumped her to start going out with Paul. Based on the novel by Tom Perrotta, Election was directed by Alexander Payne, who won enthusiastic reviews for his debut feature, Citizen Ruth; Payne also co-wrote the screenplay with Jim Taylor. Mark Deming

Product Details

• UPC: 097361401942
• Source: PARAMOUNT
• Presentation: Wide Screen
• Sound: Dolby AC-3 Surround Sound
• Editions: Subtitled
• Time: 1:43:00
• Sales Rank: 37,989

This DVD is also available as part of a box set:

• Election/You Can Count on Me

Features: