Search - Election on DVD

MPAA Rating: R Content Advisory: Not For Children, Adult Humor, Profanity, Sexual Situations, Watch With Your Teen Movie Release: 1999 DVD Release: 10/19/1999 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Audio Tracks: English Subtitles: English SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 43 mins Studio: Paramount Total Copies: 8 Genres: Comedy, Americana, Satire See Also: Election [Widescreen] [Blu-ray], Election [Circuit City Exclusive] [Checkpoint]

In this satirical comedy, a hotly contested high school election becomes a metaphor for the current state of American politics. Jim McAllister (Matthew Broderick) is a popular and well-respected instructor at George Washington Carver High School in Omaha, Nebraska, but lately he's been unhappy in both his personal and professional life, and his anxieties finally come to a head with the school's student elections. Tracy Flick (Reese Witherspoon) is running for student body president, and she certainly seems like the sort of girl who would win a high school election -- she's pretty, popular and takes part in all the right extra-curricular activities. In fact, she seems so perfect she's running unopposed, which offends McAllister's sense of democracy (not to mention the fact he doesn't like her very much). So Jim intervenes and persuades Paul Metzler (Chris Klein) to run against Tracy. Paul is not terribly bright and is entirely unqualified to be student president, but as a star of the school's football team (before a leg injury sidelined him), he's popular enough to at least give Tracy a run for her money. Just as the race begins to heat up, a spanner is truly thrown into the works when Paul's sister, Tammy (Jessica Campbell) announces she's also running for office. Publicly, Tammy's platform is that the student elections are ultimately pointless and if she's elected, she'll eliminate them altogether. Privately, Tammy is out for revenge against her brother; it seems Tammy is experimenting with her sexuality, and a recent fling with a bisexual classmate named Lisa (Frankie Ingrassia) ended when Lisa dumped her to start going out with Paul. Based on the novel by Tom Perrotta, Election was directed by Alexander Payne, who won enthusiastic reviews for his debut feature, Citizen Ruth; Payne also co-wrote the screenplay with Jim Taylor. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Matthew Broderick - Jim McAllister
Reese Witherspoon - Tracy Flick
Chris Klein - Paul Metzler
Jessica Campbell - Tammy Metzler
Mark Harelik - Dave Novotny

One of the sleeper hits of 1999, Election is the first high school film geared for adults since Blackboard Jungle. The DVD boasts a crisp widescreen transfer and Dolby Digital Surround Sound. The only extra is director Alexander Payne's commentary, which is terrific--insightful, articulate and personal. Listening to the commentary, it becomes clear that Payne didn't make a great film by accident, but through a combination of clear vision and methodical craft. Payne is remarkably frank in discussing his subtle devices, which makes for a great lecture for any aspiring filmmaker. ~ Arthur Borman, All Movie Guide