# Election (1999)

### reviewed by
David N. Butterworth

    ELECTION
    A film review by David N. Butterworth
    Copyright 1999 David N. Butterworth

    **1/2 (out of ****)

Pitched as a high-school comedy, "Election" is a troubling movie more suited to an arthouse audience despite its mainstream storyline of a young and motivated overachiever working the system. While at times the film matches the wit and sophistication of Wes Anderson's "Rushmore," a film which sports similar themes, it doesn't apply as consistent an approach, and "Election"'s overall mood is too dark and disturbing to shrug off this weakness.

The laughs are certainly there, even if empathizing with the film's characters is difficult. The actors, however, cannot be accused of turning in less than accomplished performances.

Reese Witherspoon, who seems to be fronting just about every other Hollywood release these days, is bright and confident as Tracy Flick, the perky go-getter who's running unopposed for Carver High's student presidency. That is, until poli-sci teacher Mr. McAllister convinces Paul Metzler, a big lug of a football hero, into running against her.

McAllister is played by Matthew Broderick with just the right amount of murky ambivalence. McAllister dislikes Tracy Flick, blaming her for just about everything that has gone wrong in his life. And he blames her for destroying the life of one of his colleagues, with whom Tracy had a brief but devastating affair. "Some say it was because I never had a father figure in my life," comments Tracy. "I just felt so safe and secure with him."

It's throwaway lines like that which give "Election" its disturbing edge.

Director and co-writer Alexander Payne ("Citizen Ruth") rarely misses an opportunity to make these subtle jabs. Of course, once you're lulled into this predictable pattern, Payne delivers a shocker of a distinctly unsubtle variety.

Payne's turbulent styling extends to his main characters. While clearly a tragic figure, Tracy is so irritating that she alienates everyone's sympathies. McAllister, on the other hand, is painted as a likable schmuck but is almost repulsive in his hypocrisy and self-delusion. It's an odd technique by the director, since you wind up not liking anybody yet feeling sorry for everybody.

"Election" pushes its satirical way through the seemingly good-humored election race, pausing from time to time to blindside you with some jarring realizations about human nature. By the time the campaign is in full-swing, Paul's sister Tammy has submitted her candidacy for president as a knee-jerk reaction to being betrayed by her girlfriend, who doesn't share Tammy's deeper feelings. Tammy's Ross Perot-inspired strategy is one that seems to appeal to the apathetic students of Omaha's Carver High: vote for me and I'll do nothing!

What we have here is not just another pubescent comedy because its moral and ethical observations are shocking and true. Payne understands satire and possesses an innate ability to go for the jugular but sometimes his deft and subcutaneous touch is too uncomfortable.

            "Election" is well done; it's just not very pretty.

    --
    David N. Butterworth
    dnb@dca.net

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