Review of Election (1999) by Jesse O — 22 Jan 2015

Teen movies from the 90s and early 2000s often don't know how to appeal to their crowd, often shoving the theme of teen fun and constant partying in the viewers' faces: Election is so much different, and is one of the best of its genre.

A rather welcoming and helpful but in the end a bit demented history teacher, Jim McCallister, authorizes a high school election for student body president, between the overachieving maniac Tracy Flick, the idiotic but kind jock Paul Metzler, and the angsty lesbian Tammy Metzler, Paul's adopted sister. McCallister's personal life and a will to stop Tracy from winning puts him at a battle with himself and his entire life.

Election is amazing. Teen movies are often written by adults who don't know what teens act like or do, so it's often overexaggerated and cliched. Election not so much focuses on students partying, but a teacher who's had enough. It's excellently written, and the character Tracy Flick is so well done by Witherspoon and is such a great character. Every character in this film is demented, like it or not. It's a great film, though. So well written and a great adaptation.