The Worst Film Ever

Overrated

It is a performances centric movie

Bad Acting and worse Bad Screenplay

When I hear the name of Matthew Broderick I think of Ferris Bueller. But in this film, Broderick isn't a high school student, he's one of the teachers. Which is a little disorienting because he still maintains the boyish good looks of his early career and doesn't look much older than his students. While this picture had it's fun and laughs, I couldn't help thinking that Broderick's character, Jim McAllister, was one of movie's all time creeps. It began when he took it upon himself to derail Tracy Flick's (Reese Witherspoon) aspirations for Student Council President, and ended up in disgrace over rigging the election results. Not to mention the way he sabotaged his own marriage with a friend of the family. Yeah, like I said, what a creep. I have to echo some of the comments of other reviewers about the inclusion of all the gratuitous sexual situations. The early revelation of a teacher who went to bed with Tracy and got drummed out of school was bad enough, but it was followed up by intimations of lesbian sex and full tilt porno when McAllister needed an excuse to indulge over a lifeless marriage. And speaking of Tracy and her teacher lover, how does something like that get kept a secret in a high school environment? Not very realistic at all, nor was the idea that the two discarded ballots by McAllister would have been left in the garbage can for the school janitor to rat out the teacher. But then again, Jim deserved it, because like I said, he was a creep. So if anyone's looking for role models here, don't bother. The most likely candidate I guess would have to be Tracy herself, though you'd have to disregard her indiscretion with teacher Dave Novotny (Mark Harelik). Her enthusiasm and strict adherence to the discipline required to excel in all those school activities is to be commended. But it makes you wonder as the film closes, if her rise in the political world would have entailed a relationship with the Congressman for Nebraska. Looking on, former teacher Jim McAllister can't understand it himself, and yes, he's still a creep.

I always liked Election back when it first came out, but haven't seen it in years. After watching on DVD last night and again a little bit today with the director's commentary turned on, I like it better than ever. Simple and realistic...and sinister. The director keeps viewers off-balance with his use of superimposed images ("Fill me up, Mr. M."), screen-wipes, real Mid-West locations and real students as extras, etc. And the main actors do a great job representing their unique personality-types: ambitious go-getter, laid back dude, love- smitten teen, comfortably happy teacher with passions that sometimes bubble over.I also like that after the main action of the story is complete, the movie goes on a little longer. Sometimes those appendages can be pointless, but in this case it's reassuring to see Mr. McCallister land on his feet elsewhere and see, too, that his passions are still bubbling.

a must watch before each political election, especially this year... Tracy flick represents every lying, over-achiever-sociopath, who are often presented to the society as a successful person. so if you hate overly ambitious people without any moral compass(which is pretty much most of them ha ha), than this movie is sooo for you. it also makes fun of the election process as a whole, so this movie is totally dedicated to this year's presidential election in the US. the trailer and the picture art however send a totally wrong vibe about this gem. it's a very thought provoking dark comedy about the society and how pathetic most of it really is. can be watched over and over probably even 20 years from now.

I just stumbled across this film on a list of films to watch. And I am glad I did. Mathew, and Reese were great. I loved the characters they played and the scrip was hilarious. they reminded me of some people I used to know in school. Not to mention the election was similar to stuff we see in the real world. I wont say anything else so as not to spoil it.All and all a very good effort, even though I am surprised it grossed so little at the box office.I always look forward to movies with Reese and this was no exception.Make sure to watch it especially now with schools getting under way and all the elections taking place (Canada, 2015, U.S.A. Nominations for 2016).