Election (1999)
Starring: Matthew Broderick, Reese Witherspoon, Chris Klein
Director: Alexander Payne
Synopsis: Cutting high school satire... intelligent, and it bites.
Reviewed by: Ali Khan

 

In a year generously sprinkled with 'teen films', one could easily be forgiven for thinking that Election is simply another entry in the same mould. The film even begins in a fairly familiar fashion, but it doesn't take long before Election reveals itself to be something altogether different.

The story is simple enough, revolving around the election of student body president at Carver High School. Tracy Flick is the ambitious, driven, win-at-all-costs student determined to become president. Standing against her are the reluctant and not particularly bright Chris Meltzer and his younger, rebellious adopted sister, Tammy.

It is in the portrayal of these central characters, and what they represent, that Election becomes the biting satire that it is. On the one hand, there is Tracy Flick, representing the intelligent, hard-working and fiercely ambitious middle-class ideal. We also learn that Tracy is driven by an equally ambitious mother who sees in her daughter a second chance to achieve all that she herself never could. It reflects the kind of overbearing parental ambition typified by the parents of sporting prodigies, reminiscent of the Williams sisters and Martina Hingis.

Chris Meltzer, by contrast, is the wealthy boy born with a silver spoon in his mouth. Not especially bright, easy-going and thoroughly likeable, he has never really had to struggle for anything and therefore serves as the complete antithesis of Tracy Flick. The third point of the triangle is Tammy. Adopted, rebellious and unconventional, she represents the outsider, the maverick unwilling to conform. Then there is schoolteacher Jim McAllister. Introduced as an upright, decent and highly respected teacher, he gradually finds the election having an increasingly destructive effect upon his own life.

Viewed in the context of the sleaze and scandal surrounding the Clinton years, Election emerges as a caustic, intelligent and often bitter satire on American politics and society. It is less an outright comedy than a dark parody and succeeds through its sharp writing, strong performances and understated wit.

Reese Witherspoon is particularly impressive as Tracy Flick, receiving excellent support from the ever-reliable Matthew Broderick and the remainder of the cast.