Pick Flick!

This film was one of those movies I'd heard was good but was reluctant to borrow out based on my lack of interest in its topic. American high school politics? I thought. Not the most intriguing premise for an Australian girl.... though I'd heard it was popular globally and decided to give it a try.

And boy, am I glad I did. This was possibly the funniest satire film I've ever seen in my entire life. It's also arguably the best film the two leads (Matthew Broderick and Reese Witherspoon) have made in recent years. The script is witty, the character's hilarious, and - finally! - a film set in high school that isn't pure fluff. It doesn't just make fun of politics, either - it sends up life.

You've probably heard the storyline by now but I'll give it to you quickly: overachieving student Tracey Flick (Witherspoon) is poised to win the upcoming student government election until teacher Jim McCallister (Broderick), exasperated by her get-out-of-my-way go-getter thirst encourages dim popular student Paul Metzler (Chris Klein) to run against her.

It sounds simple but there's so many sub-plots and intruiging characters that it's anything but. The film moves quickly, always intriguing but never confusing, and switches between characters and their lives without losing momentum.

Broderick is good in his role as the bright, passionate teacher who through his own actions slowly sets about bringing his world down around him. It’s entertaining to watch his dismal journey, made all the more humorous and pitiable by the bee sting which deforms his face just when he thinks things couldn't get much worse. (There is a scene where he enters the school looking and feeling like hell only to be greeted by an enthusiastic Witherspoon who is setting up cup-cakes with “pick flick” printed atop in icing. She takes one look at him and his severely battered face, holds up a Pick Flick cupcake and shoves it in his face with a buoyant: "looks like you could do with a cupcake!") Witherspoon is marginally better than Broderick in her role of the relentless go-getter - possibly because as a character she has more to work with. She plays the overachiever to the max, so fierce in her determination to make it that she's almost scary even though she's funny at the same time. You'd almost hate her except for the reprieve she gets towards the end. But possibly my favourite character was Paul Metzler's sister, Tammy. To get back at her brother and his girlfriend (I won't get into it by explaining why) she also decides to run for the presidency, and at every point she's sardonic and hilarious, and you can't help but sit there grinning wildly to yourself in appreciation as she shakes everything up. In fact, she might have stolen the show if it weren't for the strong performances of the leads, though many of the best lines are given to her ("Why is being suspended supposed to be a punishment? It's like your dog pees on the carpet and you give him a treat...")

Overall it's fun and it's honest and I've watched it several times over already without getting bored once. Highly recommended.