Don't You Forget About: Election

Sure, it's fun to catch the latest flick at the multiplex, or grab the newest release at a video store, but sometimes you just gotta say, "Out with the new, and in with the unknown." There are plenty of older flicks out there that are worth a rental, but never registered on your radar. In Don't You Forget About, we remember the long-gone gems, so you don't have to.

WHAT it's about: Crazed perfectionist Tracy Flick (Reese Witherspoon) is determined to win the title of student council president (just another accolade among several other high school achievements), against some unlikely competition and the interference of a teacher (Matthew Broderick) who secretly can't stand her.

WHO's in it: Reese Witherspoon, Matthew Broderick and Chris Klein. An odd combo when you think about it.

WHEN it came out: 1999

HOW come you haven't heard of (or just seen) it: You may have seen it, but chances are, you've forgotten about it. The main cast is remembered for other movies. And if they aren't, they aren't remember for much else at all. It received high critical acclaim when it released and was nominated for an Academy Award, but if someone asked you to name a Reese Witherspoon or Matthew Broderick movie, are you really going to say Election?

WHY you need to watch it--immediately!

• It's hilarious! Allow me to illustrate with Tracy's narration: "None of this would have happened if Mr. McAllister hadn't meddled the way he did. He should have just accepted things as they are instead of trying to interfere with destiny. You see, you can't interfere with destiny, that's why it's destiny. And if you try to interfere, the same thing's just going to happen anyway, and you'll just suffer."
• What it if only for Reese as Tracy Enid Flick and the scene when she insanely tears down all the election posters in the hallway until her hands are blistered bloody.
• It's completely self aware, like when Mr. McAllister asks his class the difference between ethics and morals, on the cusp of his own moral/ethical tumult.
• This was the film that really made us fall in love with Reese, closely following Pleasantville and Cruel Intentions. She's perfect as an insane psycho-freak.
• Ferris Bueller is now a teacher! Well, not really, but ironic, right?
• Ever wonder what happens when brilliant writing meets, a tremendous cast and a great director come together? It's dark, awkward, strange and clever.

Don't You Forget About: Best in Show

Sure, it's fun to catch the latest flick at the multiplex, or grab the newest release at a video store, but sometimes you just gotta say, "Out with the new, and in with the unknown." There are plenty of older flicks out there that are worth a rental, but never registered on your radar. In Don't You Forget About, we remember the long-gone gems, so you don't have to.

BEST IN SHOW

WHAT it's about: The top dogs (and their perfect pups!) at a nationally-recognized dog show. Directed and written by Christopher Guest, this mockumentary takes the piss out of every stereotypical pet owner you've ever known, not to mention the dead seriousness of these competitions.

WHO'S in it: All Guest's usual guests, including co-writer Eugune Levy, Catherine O'Hara, Parker Posey and Michael McKean. Plus, Jane Lynch, Jennifer Coolidge amd John Michael Higgins.

WHEN it came out: 2000

HOW come you haven't heard of (or just seen) it:  Like the majority of Guest's straight-faced resume (Waiting for Guffman, For Your Consideration, A Mighty Wind), this film tickles a specific set of funny bones and could be too dry for some people to handle.

WHY you need to watch it--immediately!

• Did you read the cast list? I mean, come on!
• There is a storyline which involves the creation of a faux dog magazine entitled American Bitch.
• One character may have two left feet. Literally.
• The dogs, for the most part, are adorable. And occasionally, their owners are too. But only because they've got that Fido-esque accidentally identical thing going on. 
• If you have, or have ever had a dog, you will find some of the pet owner idiosyncrasies presented HILARIOUS.  See: one scene in which Parker Posey's character breathlessly searches for an identical bee chew toy at a pet store to no avail. (The dog, of course, doesn't really care.)
• Fred Willard plays the best aging play-by-play artiste in the world.
• Mockumentaries are like so hot right now! On TV anyways...
• Stifler's mom and Sue Sylvester play partners...in more ways than one!
• If you're traveling on Air Canada, apparently it's now offered as an entertainment option on flights! (That's where I rewatched it a week or so back!)

Don't You Forget About: Role Models

Sure, it's fun to catch the latest flick at the multiplex, or grab the newest release at a video store, but sometimes you just gotta say, "Out with the new, and in with the unknown." There are plenty of older flicks out there that are worth a rental, but never registered on your radar. In Don't You Forget About, we remember the long-gone gems, so you don't have to.

ROLE MODELS


WHAT it's about: When energy drink salesmen Danny (Paul Rudd) and Wheeler (Seann William Scott) interrupt the towing of their company car, driving it into a school statue, they're sent to do community work with Sturdy Wings, a Big Brothers Big Sisters type program. When Wheeler gets paired with Ronnie (Bobb'e J. Thompson) a.k.a. Chris Rock Jr. and Danny with live action role-player Augie (Christopher Mintz-Plasse, better known as McLovin), things get hilarious.


WHO'S in it: Upcoming star of Wanderlust Paul Rudd and Goon's Seann William Scott, alongside Thompson, Mintz-Plasse, Elizabeth Banks, pre-Glee Jane Lynch and pre-Community Ken Jeong. Plus, for MADtv fans, Nicole Randall Johnson and Keegan-Michael Key!


WHEN IT CAME OUT: 2008


HOW come you haven't heard of (or just seen) it: Chances are, you have heard of it, but I wouldn't be surprised if you'd forgotten about it. Some critics knocked it as childish and stupid, never fully living up to its potential. Possibly worst of all, an "Apatow imitation." Ouch. Personally, I find it way undervalued, even by those who thought it was "good."


WHY you need to watch it--immediately!

• By far, the strongest part of this movie is the chemistry of the cast. They completely riff off each other and come across as completely believable, like they really do hang out together off-screen, despite Rudd's and Thompson's age gap of 27 years.
• Although they work amazingly as a team, each actor is hilarious on his own: Thompson's one-liners, Scott's idiocy, Rudd's sarcasm and Mintz-Plasse's, well, dorkiness. Perfect blend, right?
• As I mentioned before, MADtv cast cameos! Although this was pre to MADtv's cancellation, I can't help but root for their always small appearances.
• It's charming. No really, it works itself out in a somewhat-cliché but kind of sweet way.
• It's a great follow-up for Mintz-Plasse after Superbad, giving him a shove into the film world and showing us that he's got a lot more promise.
• Paul Rudd is funny! I know I already mentioned the cast, but this deserves its own point. He's had a pretty bad run recently (see: Dinner for Schmucks, How Do You Know, Our Idiot Brother), but it's nice to be reminded of a better time in his career. And with Role Models writer-director David Wain and writer Ken Marino bringing us Wanderlust soon, here's hoping Rudd is back on track.

Don't You Forget About: Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead

 

Photo: impaawards.com

DON'T TELL MOM THE BABYSITTER'S DEAD  

WHAT it's about: A group of siblings who have the summer of their lives after the retched old babysitter their Australia-bound mom left in charge suddenly bites the dust. Instead of calling the hospital or their mother, they stuff the woman in a trunk and drop her on the doorstep of a local funeral home, leaving them to their own, adult-free devices. 

WHO'S in it: Christina Applegate, Danielle Harris, Josh Charles and a then-unknown David Duchovny.   

WHEN it came out: 1991  

HOW come you haven't heard of (or just seen) it:  It got some really bratty reviews, leaving it with a Rotten Tomatoes ratting of 33 % and a just over $25,000 box-office gross. And the name doesn't do it any favours. At least with certain mainstream audiences. (I was all over it when I saw it in my print copy of TV Guide way back when.) 

WHY you need to watch it--immediately!: 

Don't You Forget About: The Cell

Sure, it's fun to catch the latest flick at the multiplex, or grab the newest release at a video store, but sometimes you just gotta say, "Out with the new, and in with the unknown." There are plenty of older flicks out there that are worth a rental, but never registered on your radar. In Don't You Forget About, we remember the long-gone gems, so you don't have to.

THE CELL

WHAT it's about: When serial killer Carl Stargher (Vincent D'Onofrio) falls into a coma, FBI Agent Novak (Vince Vaughn) seeks the help of psychologist Catherine Deane (Jennifer Lopez) who's a specialist in an experimental coma treatment, ie. equipment that allows her to virtually enter the minds of her comatose patients. However, rather than healing him, Deane's task is to find our where he's captured and caged his latest victim before it's too late.


WHO'S in it: Jennifer Lopez, Vincent D'Onofrio and Vince Vaughn. Odd, right?

WHEN it came out: 2000

HOW come you haven't heard of (or just seen) it: Truthfully, you've probably seen it. It was massive when it came out, crushing the box office, not to mention to hype built up toward its release. However, the review came in mixed and for the most part, disappointing. Though praised for its amazing visuals, many critics said the story fell flat. Since then, it's just faded away.

WHY you need to watch it--immediately!

Don't You Forget About: Zodiac

Sure, it's fun to catch the latest flick at the multiplex, or grab the newest release at a video store, but sometimes you just gotta say, "Out with the new, and in with the unknown." There are plenty of older flicks out there that are worth a rental, but never registered on your radar. In Don't You Forget About, we remember the long-gone gems, so you don't have to.

Photo: impawards.com

ZODIAC  

WHAT it's about: The infamous Zodiac Killer, who terrorized and killed a number of people in San Francisco area in the 1970s and Robert Graysmith, the cartoonist who became obsessed with his every, cryptic move and eventually wrote the non-fiction novel of the same name.  

WHO'S in it: Jake Gyllenhaal, Robert Downey Jr., Mark Ruffalo, Chloe Sevingny and Anthony Edwards.

WHEN it came out: 2007  

HOW come you haven't heard of (or just seen) it before: It didn't get the mainstream media attention it should have. Critics loved it, but I don't recall the ad campaign at all. I mean, unless you were a self-proclaimed Gyllenhallic at the time,  it was a pretty tough sell. A nearly three-hour thinking man's thriller with no real resolution is not exactly popcorn muncher bait.

WHY you need to watch it - immediately!...

Don't You Forget About: The Lion King

Sure, it's fun to catch the latest flick at the multiplex, or grab the newest release at a video store, but sometimes you just gotta say, "Out with the new, and in with the unknown." There are plenty of older flicks out there that are worth a rental, but never registered on your radar. In Don't You Forget About, we remember the long-gone gems, so you don't have to.

Photo: impawards.com

THE LION KING


BY: Guest Fille, Marissa Medford


WHAT it's about: It's Hamlet for kids. When lion cub Simba is born, he takes the spot for next-in-line to the throne from his jealous uncle Scar. As the king-in-training grows up, he becomes more and more excited about his future as ruler of Pride Rock. He even sings a song about it. However, Scar devises a sneaky scheme to kill Simba's father Mufasa and frame the cub for the murder. Simba falls for it and runs away, leaving Scar to become dictator and king of Pride Rock.

WHO'S in it: It features the voices of an all-star cast: Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Matthew Broderick, James Earl Jones, Jeremy Irons, Nathan Lane, Rowan Atkinson, Whoopi Goldberg, Cheech Marin, Jim Cummings.

WHEN it came out: 1994.

HOW come you haven't heard of (or just seen) it before: When the film first came out, it was a massive box office hit. Seventeen years later, you'd be lucky to find it at your local rental store. Plus, it's locked in the Disney vault. Although parents might remember it, this generation is missing out on the soon-to-be classic.

WHY you need to watch it - immediately!...

Don't You Forget About: Little Children

Sure, it's fun to catch the latest flick at the multiplex, or grab the newest release at a video store, but sometimes you just gotta say, "Out with the new, and in with the unknown." There are plenty of older flicks out there that are worth a rental, but never registered on your radar. In Don't You Forget About, we remember the long-gone gems, so you don't have to.

Photo:impaawards.com

WHAT it's about: Without giving too much away, it's the story of a seemingly unlikely affair and how adults too can be little children. (Wow, that came out a whole lot more concisely than I expected.) Let's leave it at that.

WHO'S in it: Kate Winslet, Patrick Wilson, Jennifer Connelly... all of whom need absolutely no explanation. Plus Jackie Earle Haley of Human Target and our new Freddy Krueger (who also happens to be a paedophile like his character in this film). And Noah Emmerich, the supporting guy from a bunch of really amazing stuff (Super 8, The Truman Show, The Walking Dead...).

WHEN it came out: 2006

HOW come you haven't heard of (or just seen) it before: It was nominated for 3 Academy Awards, 3 Golden Globes and 2 SAG awards. It won none. So, you've probably heard of it, but it comes with this pretty-good-but-not-good-enough vibe. Opening weekend brought in just under $100,000 (though it only opened in five theatres), and in the end, it didn't do super-well. So, considering it didn't do well at the box office and fell short of all nominated awards, despite actually being recognized, there wasn't a whole of incentive to see the film. But...

WHY you need to watch it - immediately!... 

Don't You Forget About: Notting Hill

Sure, it's fun to catch the latest flick at the multiplex, or grab the newest release at a video store, but sometimes you just gotta say, "Out with the new, and in with the unknown." There are plenty of older flicks out there that are worth a rental, but never registered on your radar. In Don't You Forget About, we remember the long-gone gems, so you don't have to.

Photo: Polygram Filmed Entertainment

WHAT it's about: A demure travel book shop owner, William Thacker (God, even his name is dull) gets swept up in a tempestuously hot-and-stone-cold affair when movie star Anna Scott rolls into Notting Hill. Anna's "foul temper" (think Ava Gardner's bravado minus the sailor tongue) keeps the meek Briton at bay, but the poor bloke is nonetheless hooked, showering Anna and her outbursts with equal patience and admiration from his endless well of nice-guy understanding, as needed when crushing on the popular girl.

WHO's in it: Come for the great and beautiful Hugh Grant and well, still beautiful, Julia Roberts. Stay for the backseat hero, William's gamely Welsh roommate, Spike (Rhys Ifans) who can't keep his hands off himself. Directed by Roger Michell, whose latest rom-com, Morning Glory, couldn't recreate the same aw-shucks on-screen chemistry between Rachel McAdams and Patrick Wilson.

WHEN it came out: May 28, 1999

HOW come you haven't heard of (or just seen) it before: You tell me. Seriously. Eleven years ago, your excuse may have been the film's debut was sandwiched between the hotly anticipated releases of summer blockbusters, The Mummy and Star Wars Ep. 1: The Phantom Menace. Even still, the film grossed $363,728,226 US to date worldwide and sits at the 20th spot on the list of highest-grossing Hollywood rom-coms. And don't tell me you've never caught W Network's Saturday night Hugh Grant film spotlight. (I can't be the only steadfast Grant devoter to happily stay in for this...)

WHY you need to watch it-immediately!..

Don't You Forget About: Shag: The Movie

Sure, it's fun to catch the latest flick at the multiplex, or grab the newest release at a video store, but sometimes you just gotta say, "Out with the new, and in with the unknown." There are plenty of older flicks out there that are worth a rental, but never registered on your radar. In Don't You Forget About, we remember the long-gone gems, so you don't have to.

Photo:moviegoods.com

WHAT it's about: Four 1960s teenage girls, who take a weekend vacay to Myrtle Beach in an effort to meet some boys and do a little "Shagging." And not the cheeky, PG-13 Austin Powers kind. I'm talking about the footwork-heavy dance made popular in South and North Carolina around that era.

WHO'S in it: That you'd know - Phoebe Cates, Bridget Fonda and Annabeth Gish.  Also, Scott Coffey, Page Hannah and Tyrone Power Jr.  

WHEN it came out: 1989

HOW come you haven't heard of (or just seen) it before: The movie wasn't a huge hit in theatres. It was brushed off as yet-another exercise in unnecessarily nostalgic, dance-sequence-heavy, post-Dirty Dancing teenage fluff. It's got a bit of a cult following now, but unless you treasure innocent, 1960s-set beachside rom-coms, it's doubtful you're part of it.

WHY you need to watch it - immediately!... 

Don't You Forget About: Lick the Star

Sure, it's fun to catch the latest flick at the multiplex, or grab the newest release at a video store, but sometimes you just gotta say, "Out with the new, and in with the unknown." There are plenty of older flicks out there that are worth a rental, but never registered on your radar. In Don't You Forget About, we remember the long-gone gems, so you don't have to.

Photo: movieposterdb.com

WHAT it's about: Bullying, popularity, isolation and backstabbing. Featured around a clique of popular girls at school, led by one queen bee, it's a darker Mean Girls before Mean Girls. Without giving too much away (the film is only 14 minutes), it's about this film's "Regina George" trying to take school down. Literally.

WHO'S in it: The cast was comprised of primarily unrecognised actors then who have done only little to add to their resumes to date. You might only point out Peter Bogdanovich (who was then primarily a director, though has since gone to act on The Sopranos and various TV cameos) in his role as the high school principal.

WHEN it came out: 1998.

HOW come you haven't heard of (or just seen) it before: It's a short film by Sofia Coppola that she released at the Venice International Film Festival a year before her debut feature-length film, The Virgin Suicides. Besides being buried behind 13 years, it's also never been released on DVD (as far as I know). Though lucky for us, it sometimes airs on IFC and has been so conveniently uploaded to YouTube.

WHY you need to watch it - immediately!...

Don't You Forget About: Starter for Ten

Sure, it's fun to catch the latest flick at the multiplex, or grab the newest release at a video store, but sometimes you just gotta say, "Out with the new, and in with the unknown." There are plenty of older flicks out there that are worth a rental, but never registered on your radar. In Don't You Forget About, we remember the hidden gems, so you don't have to.

 Photo: impawards.com

STARTER FOR 10

WHAT it's about: The post-secondary life of Brian, who has moved to the city for his undergrad—and a chance to fulfill his dream of competing on the televised quiz programme, University Challenge. While there, he learns a whole lot of semi-useless trivia and a little bit about women.

WHO's in it: James McAvoy (Brian), Alice Eve (Brian's teammate/superficial blonde crush), Rebecca Hall (Brian's eventual, politically-charged brunette love interest) and the dude who used to date Amanda Seyfried—in Mamma Mia! and real-life—Dominic Cooper (Brian's badass, imaginary GF-stealing BFF).

WHEN it came out: February 2007

HOW come you haven't heard of (or just seen) it before: Although produced by Tom Hanks' production company, Playtone Pictures, this Brit rom-com got a really limited release in North America. I know I had to trek to a now-closed suburban indie theatre to see it. It also didn't get very much press on DVD, so unless you're a diehard McAvoy or Hall fan, you probably wouldn't have been inclined to seek it out.

WHY you need to watch it—immediately!..

Don't You Forget About: Dumbo

Sure, it's fun to catch the latest flick at the multiplex, or grab the newest release at a video store, but sometimes you just gotta say, "Out with the new, and in with the unknown." There are plenty of older flicks out there that are worth a rental, but never registered on your radar. In Don't You Forget About, we remember the long-gone gems, so you don't have to.

Photo: moviegoods.com

WHAT it's about: A little circus elephant who is teased by the older, grouchy, snotty elephants. And by older, I mean his mother's age. Terrible, right? But he finds support in befriending a cheery little mouse, who helps lead him to discovering he's actually pretty darn talented.

WHO'S in it: Umm... Well, the titular character doesn't have a voice. But Timothy, the mouse, is voiced by Edward Brophy, who starred in the Oscar-winning 1931 film The Champ. He also appeared in The Thin Man, a film that stretched five sequels and made Ebert's Great Movies. But honestly, this is not a film you'll be drawn to for the actors (or voices) at all.

WHEN it came out: October 1941.

HOW come you haven't heard of (or just seen) it before: Because it's pretty much been forgotten. Although it originally won an Oscar and was nominated for another, as well as picked up another at Cannes, and had then (and still) been highly revered, for some reason, it still doesn't make the Disney must-have list. Would you opt for Dumbo over Bambi? Pinocchio? Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs? Probably not. But you should.

WHY you need to watch it - immediately!...

Don't You Forget About: Don't You Forget About Me

Sure, it's fun to catch the latest flick at the multiplex, or grab the newest release at a video store, but sometimes you just gotta say, "Out with the new, and in with the unknown." There are plenty of older flicks out there that are worth a rental, but never registered on your radar. In Don't You Forget About, we remember the long-gone gems, so you don't have to.

Photo: Amazon.com

WHAT it's about: A band of wannabe filmmakers who go searching for the godfather of pitch-perfect teen moviedom (and brains, princesses, basket cases, athletes and neo-maxi-zoom-dweebies), John Hughes. The beloved director, who had a direct line to the adolescent experience (and Molly Ringwald's agent) and communicated it through films like The Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink, Ferris Bueller's Day Off and Sixteen Candles, went into hiding in 1991. They shot this film in 2008, just a year before Hughes' much-mourned death.

WHO'S in it: Said crew of filmmakers (Matt Austin, Michael Facciolo, Kari Hollend and Lenny Panzer) and an assortment of famous stars and fans including Judd Nelson, Andrew McCarthy and Gedde "Long Duk Dong" Watanabe!

WHEN it came out: November 2009.

HOW come you haven't heard of (or just seen) it before: The film had a pretty limited release and wasn't nearly as publicized as it should have been, which is a real shame. While it's definitely not perfect, this sweet tribute to the man who brought us Jake Ryan and that, uh, unforgettable Simple Minds song (it was written especially with The Breakfast Club in mind), is really charming.

WHY you need to watch it - immediately!...

Don't You Forget About: Velvet Goldmine

Sure, it's fun to catch the latest flick at the multiplex, or grab the newest release at a video store, but sometimes you just gotta say, "Out with the new, and in with the unknown." There are plenty of older flicks out there that are worth a rental, but never registered on your radar. In Don't You Forget About, we remember the long-gone gems, so you don't have to.

 Photo: impaawards

WHAT it's about: Glitter, drugs and glam rock n' roll. Or more specifically, the highly internalized investigation one journalist (Arthur Stuart) takes on to get to the heart of those things, by way of a memorial on Brian Slade, a faux glitter pop rock icon whose mysterious mid-concert murder may not have happened at all. And whose deliciously destructive love affair with fellow stereotype-smashing badass, Curt Wild, may have totally inspired Arthur's sexual awakening!

WHO's in it: Christian Bale (Arthur Stuart), Jonathan Rhys Meyers (Brian Slade) and Ewan McGregor (Curt Wild). Also, Toni Collette and Eddie Izzard.

WHEN it came out: November 1998

HOW come you haven't heard of (or just seen) it before:  With its explicit man-on-man action, non-linear storyline and fabulously fantastical musical interludes,  it's certainly not everyone's cup of laced tea. Although it received one Academy Award (Costume Design) nomination and praise from the gay community, its unique atmosphere tragically turned off most of the movie-going public.

WHY you need to watch it - immediately!..

• To remind yourself, once again, how ridiculously professional Christian Bale and his constantly evolving (and devolving!) body of work really are. This character is the exact opposite of his drug and attention addicted character in The Fighter - shy, uncomfortable in his own skin and more than a little sexually confused.
• It's basically a hallucinogenic, music history lesson with overwrought dystopic undertones. Think Across the Universe, with better songs (sorry Beatlemaniacs!) and honest-to-goodness homoeroticism.
• The soundtrack is pitch perfect. Featuring actual tracks from the period (Brian Eno, Gary Glitter, David Bowie, Roxy Music, Lou Reed) mixed in with instantly-addictive songs created exclusively for Brian and Curt (which evoke the same, sassy sex vibe), it's a glam rock lover's wet dream. 
• Rhys Meyers and McGregor actually sing their parts. And they sound way hot-and-heavy. 
• Their characters re obviously based on David Bowie and Iggy Pop - futuristic man whore make-up, reckless nudity and all!
• Did I mention that they have a wild, unadulterated affair with each other? And that it's ORGASMICALLY good. 
• CASE IN POINT (NSFPeopleWhoDon'tDigMusicalFellatio)....

Don't You Forget About: Classroom Comedies

We all feel down this time of year. Hot summer evenings are gone and early chilly mornings are back, heavy textbooks and bulky backpacks in tow, as you begin to the dread the endless nights of cramming and coffee. Aside from school getting cancelled until the end of time, there's not much that can cheer you up. But I can try with this line-up of hilarious forgotten school-themed comedies.

5) Orange County

If you haven't seen Orange County, you cannot profess to be a Jack Black fan. This film is Black at his best: stoned and insane. Shaun Brumder (Colin Hanks) would have gotten into Stanford, even despite a grade transcript mix-up, had it not been for his underwear-frolicking older bro Lance (Black) and his unlabelled drugs. As if that weren't enough, Lance also seduces the admissions secretary and sets the building on fire with their post-sex cigarettes. Yeah, Shaun, your moronic bro just completely ruined your future. And your relationship with your girlfriend. And your entire life.

Photo: allmoviephoto.com

4) Never Been Kissed

Josie Gellar (Drew Barrymore) has "never been kissed." Now she's got the chance to re-write her high school life and try to win over Mr. Right. Cliché? Well, yeah, but it's also one of the sweetest rom-coms ever! Josie Grossie (as she was referred to back in her real high school years) is copy-editor who wants out of the mundane crossing Ts and dotting Is, so when she gets assigned the task of reporting undercover at a high school, she's more than ready to return to school and face her frightening brace-faced memories of her own time there. But this time, she's determined to make it different. She's going to be cool this time. Except her mistaken conception of cool is white jeans with a feathery frock, getting every answer right in class and calling her gal pals "girlfriend." You also know it's bound to be good when it fits into the Barrymore filmography right after The Wedding Singer and Home Fries.

Photo: fanpop.com

3) Election

Tracy Flick (Reese Witherspoon) is madly obsessive. Paul Metzler (Chris Klein) is a complete idiot. Tammy Metzler (Jessica Campbell) a rebel who just wants revenge against her brother for stealing her girlfriend. And they're all running in the high school election while poor Mr. McAllister (Matthew Broderick)  has to monitor it all. Like the two previous films, this film is heightened to awesomeness thanks to one actor and in this case, it's Witherspoon. As the uncontrollable, out-of-her-mind main character, Witherspoon delivers what may be one of the best performances in her entire career. She's so perfectly psychotic as perfectionist Tracy, who is determined to win the election because she can settle for nothing less than the best. If you don't believe me, just watch the scene when one of Tracy's campaign posters won't stay pinned to the wall so in a burst of frustration and madness, she runs rampant through the school tearing down Paul's posters until her hands are bloody. Crazy much?

Photo: starpulse.com

2) Saved

Saved takes place at all-Christian school where the convo through the halls is all Christ-love and de-gayification. It's all satirically hilarious fun in a film where friendships fall apart, teenagers fall in love, sexual identities are questioned and loyalty to the Lord is reconsidered. Like I said in my column in June, it's a film brought to life by characters. Jena Malone plays Mary, the girl whose boyfriend just came out of the closet this summer so she decided to try to "help" him by having sex with him to revert him to heterosexuality. Mandy Moore plays Hilary Faye, the leader of singing ensemble the Christian Jewels, who is secretly a Bible-pitching bitch. There's also Patrick (Patrick Fugit), the sweet, understanding new guy who's smitten with Mary. Then there's couple paraplegic Roland (Macaulay Culkin) and badass Cassandra (Eva Amurri), freely defying all rules. As I said before, it's a film all about that "mucky mess that is adolescence."

Photo: YouTube screencap

1) Billy Madison

Until his most recent letdown of films (see, or rather don't, Funny People and Growns Ups), I was convinced an Adam Sandler film could be nothing short of hilarious. Yeah, I know, Mr. Deeds only had a 17% freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes and most of his other films only did marginally better than that. But I like to think Sandler films are an acquired taste. Because if you ask me, anything from Billy Madison to You Don't Mess with the Zohan more than rocked my silly socks off. For me, this back-to-school film was the one that started the Sandler saga. In this film, he plays a rich guy who flunked school and has been given the chance, thanks to a little green, to do a crash course through school again to get his degree. I cannot do justice this film's hilarity by explaining. I can only say that if lines like "So hot. Want to touch the heiney." and "Billy's not here. I'm a dog." do not get you then you are missing out on some hilarious, numskull humour.

Photo: source unknown

Don't You Forget About: Sky High

 

Photo: Movieposter.com

If you've read any Scott Pilgrim vs. the World reviews recently, you've probably heard a lot about Mary Stuart Winstead. In that flick, Winstead plays Ramona, a hipster Amazon.com delivery gal who catches way too many lame guys eyes, including an gawkward bass player named, you guessed it, Scott Pilgrim. While the movie has epically failed to light up the box-office, it has gotten some serious praise from pundits, mostly for Winstead's sassy-yet-serious performance. They say she's some sort of new-age It Girl, a Ghost World-era Thora Birch. I say, they're late to the party.

Scott's hot-haired heroine has always managed to superbly woo the nerd herd. She just hasn't always been as nice about it. Back in 2005, Winstead warmed Michael Anganaro's wimp heart as Gwen Grayson in truly underrated tween action-comedy, Sky High. Unlike Ramona, who works extra hard to stand out in her bug-eyed goggles and all-over-the-place haircut, Gwen just wants to be popular, and is willing to do just about anything to get there - even if it means fake-wooing her high school's nerdiest superhero.

Gwen doesn't go to your typical American secondary school. She goes to Sky High, a special school for the sons and daughters of the world's top superheroes. As soon as a student enters Sky High's cloud-bound halls (it's literally located up in the air), they get sent to an oversized gym for their first exam. While their new classmates watch, they have to display their special power on command. The usefulness (Useful being super strength, firestarting, not-so useful being turning into a guinea pig) of said display will determine whether they're considered a Hero or a Sidekick. Most students are happy with their placement, settling for their biologically predetermined fate/friends (Even superheros are no match for cliques!). Well, except Will Stronghold.

Will (Anganaro) is the son of two of the most famous superheroes of all-time, Jetstream (Kelly Preston) and the Commander (Kurt Russell). As a result, everyone and their lab partner expects him to be a larger-than-life success, capable of beyond-big things in school and in life. Unfortunately for Will, the family's awesomeness seems to have skipped a generation.

Unlike his parents, Will's completely powerless, (although, he pretends to have his dad's super strength, using fake weights in his bedroom), not to mention unpopular, rocking a pre-Bieber bangy mushroom cut and a socially-awkward disposition. All he's got going for him is a few loyal friends (most notably his BFF with occasional, strained benefits, Layla (Danielle Panabaker)) and an adorakable smile. If only he could man-up and get close to Sky High's hottest senior (Hello, Gwen!).

The rest of the movie is straight out of every-other teen comedy transformation you love (Will finally discovers his powers, becomes popular and forgets about his old friends - at least for a little while). However, it comes off a lot cooler. With it's funky backgrounds, which are filled with comic book colours, and zippy, innuendo-filled one-liners, Sky High turns typical teenage angst into junk food. And once you get a taste, you won't be able to turn away, especially if you're a geek at heart. Don't believe me? Three words. Bruce. Campbell. Cameo. Two more words. Lynda. Carter.

While it's certainly not perfect (the villain is a tad ridiculous, especially in the finale), Sky High is way too fun to pass up. Especially for families who are weary to take their kids to see Paulie Bleeker fight off ex-boyfriends with a lightsaber. Sure, the special effects are nowhere near as cool (no on-screen onomatopoeia here), and the acting is a little hammy (yes, even Winstead), but it's way better than most kiddie fare out there today. Hell, it's better than most movies out there right now. So instead of catching that 6:15 screening of Cats and Dogs, grab some Jiffy pop and high-tail it to the local Blockbuster. Whether you're sharing it with a few friends, family members or just yourself, by the end of the night, I guarantee you'll feel like a movie night hero. Or at least, a super cool sidekick.

Don't You Forget About: Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge

Sure, it's fun to catch the latest flick at the multiplex, or grab the newest release at a video store, but sometimes you just gotta say, "Out with the new, and in with the unknown." There are plenty of older flicks out there that are worth a rental, but never registered on your radar. In Don't You Forget About, we remember the long-gone gems, so you don't have to.

Photo: source unknown

Before Shahrukh Khan and Kajol fell in love in Kabhi Kushi Kabhie Gham, before they fell in love in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, they fell in love in Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. They also fell in love in a dozen other movies and this wasn't the first but this was the first time it wasn't Shahrukh Khan's character in disguise or as a reincarnation! And for that reason and a whole lot more, it's one of the realest, revered and memorable of Hindi films.

Simran Singh (Kajol) is a teenage girl. She's a hopeless romantic who writes poetry in her diary and she's in love, except she hasn't met him yet. She's seen him in her dreams and she knows she loves him. She doesn't know what he looks like or where he is, but he's out there. The day after she confesses to her mother about far-off, mysterious lover, her father gets a letter in the mail. The boy she was promised to as a child was now of age and ready to get married. It's OK to dream, her mother tells her that night, but not to expect any dreams to come true. Simran, wanting to make her father happy, agrees to the marriage on the condition that she's allowed one month to freely live her life on a trip to Europe. He allows her. Meanwhile, rich kid Raj Malholtra (Khan) has just failed college and plans a trip to Europe just for kicks. You know what happens next.

Many Hindi films have one similar theme. It's all about love succeeding. That's not to say that DDLJ strays far from that but what makes this film different is it's all about questioning the idea of love succeeding. Is there anything more important than love? More important than your happiness? More important than being with the one you've dreamed of? One of the clear challenges this film tackles is the tradition of arranged marriages, and where family wishes and culture fit into following your heart. It's about making choices, weighing what's logically right and what just feels right. In this, the film also questions how much you should rely on fate, and whether you the viewer should trust Hindi film formulas. They're supposed to be together; they're in love. In Hindi films, love is supposed to trump all, but what if that doesn't happen?

What's also great about this film is the soundtrack and the musical scenes. In contrast to many Bollywood musical numbers, they're really subdued and emotional, beautifully illustrating what's going on in the film at that point. It's not about showing off choreography abruptly mid-scene, but rather about moving the narrative along through music.

We also see in a couple of the musical numbers bright saris scattered, spinning, dancing through a field. DDLJ makes stunning use of fields, which is clear even on the film's poster. Cinematography in this film is gorgeous as a whole. Whether it's Kajol running through a spanning field from above into Shahrukh Khan's arms or a quick close-up on her hazel eyes, it's brilliant. Being set in the European countryside, of course, helps.

If you're new to Hindi films, DDLJ is possibly the perfect film to start with. It's heartfelt, beautiful and you'll wish you spoke Hindi to sing along with the songs, not to mention, it's Bollywood mega-stars Shahrukh Khan and Kajol in one of their best.

Don't You Forget About: My Girl

Sure, it's fun to catch the latest flick at the multiplex, or grab the newest release at a video store, but sometimes you just gotta say, "Out with the new, and in with the unknown." There are plenty of older flicks out there that are worth a rental, but never registered on your radar. In Don't You Forget About, we remember the long-gone gems, so you don't have to.

Photo: impaawards.com

When I was about 8-years-old, there was only one movie that I wanted to watch over and over again. In fact, I not only wanted to watch it, I wanted to be in it. I was obsessed with the main character, and thoroughly convinced that I'd become her when I grew up a few years. I wanted her tomboy attitude. I wanted her nerdy BFF. I wanted her quirky one-of-a-kind name. I wanted her perfectly oversized pocket tees. I wanted her weird home life. And most of all, I wanted her perfectly oval dollar store mood ring. Right now I guess you're probably saying to yourself what non-Disney movie character could possibly make me feel this way? Why Vada Sultenfuss, of course. 

In case you're still confused (and let's face it, you probably are), I'm talking about the girl in My Girl. You know the movie. The semi-romantic Macaulay Culkin dramedy that was released in between Home Alone and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. Okay, maybe you don't. But you should. Because the 1991 family-friendly flick wasn't just about giving Mac a break from all the face-slapping shenanigans. It was, and still is, it's own little big deal. 

As the famous song says, My Girl is like sunshine on a cloudy day. It's sweet, pleasantly surprising and undeniably warm.The Temptations-inspired title refers to the aforementioned Vada (Anna Chlumsky), an 11-year old hyperactive hypochondriac who lives with her widowed dad, Harry (Dan Aykroyd) and near-death's-door grandma in a suburban funeral home. Vada is somewhat of a self-imposed loner, pining after her young teacher, Mr. Bixler, rejecting the girlie girls at school and occasionally hanging with bespectacled boy, Thomas J. (Culkin). But things start looking up when her dad hires a cool, hippie chick named Shelley (Jamie Lee Curtis), who provides her with some make-up, sneak-peaks at romance novels and some money for Mr. Bixler's creative writing course. Well, the last part isn't quite a gift. Vada steals it.

Like the mood ring Vada wears religiously, My Girl smoothly moves back and forth between emotions, playing out like a 12-year-old girls' overactive imagination on a humid August afternoon. In one sense, it's like Six Feet Under for tweens, bringing light to the most morbid of family businesses and what it does to the living. But it's also a fun and carefree summer coming-of-age story,  guaranteed to make you nostalgic for the days when bikes were your best friend, you only wanted to be home for dinner, jumping fully-clothed into a lake seemed like a great idea and boys were still kinda icky. It sounds like an odd combination in theory, but it's kind of perfect in practice. Because when you're a tweenage girl, everything seems like it's a matter of life and death.

Anna Chumsky is pitch-perfect as the vivacious and vindictive Girl in question, delivering the character's quips quick and naturally, almost like they're her own. While she undoubtedly nails the stubborn sasspot side of Miss Sultenfuss' personality, she also manages to bring a sense of vulnerability to the otherwise confident character. Her wide-eyed face as she sees her dad kiss Shelley is devastating, showing us, without a word, that although she's seemingly ready to deal with all the lost lives around her, she's still not ready to accept the death of her parents' late romance.

At another point, Vada gets her first period and has a mini-meltdown, thinking that she's "hemorrhaging." After she learns the truth about the bloody mess, she still keeps up the drama, telling Thomas Jay to not come around for "five to seven days." It seems funny - and totally is - but it' strictly serious to the little lady. Although she's got a big personality and a big mouth, Vada also has a big heart, and every time something chips away at it, she gets one step closer to the breaking point. So when something actually major happens near the end of the movie, she falls to pieces. And so will the little not-so-tough tomboy inside of you.

Don't You Forget About: Stranger than Fiction

Sure, it's fun to catch the latest flick at the multiplex, or grab the newest release at a video store, but sometimes you just gotta say, "Out with the new, and in with the unknown." There are plenty of older flicks out there that are worth a rental, but never registered on your radar. In Don't You Forget About, we remember the long-gone gems, so you don't have to.

Photo: movieposter.com

This is a movie about Harold Crick. He's a man in a novel who begins to realize that he's a man in a novel. For a debut screenplay from Zach Helm, it's a hell of a kick-off. The idea alone is so beautiful but under the direction of Marc Forster, it seems perfect. You know how sometimes you watch a movie and wish it was a novel? Or watch a novel adaptation and wish it had never been touched? Well, Stranger than Fiction is a film about a novel that best exists as a film about a novel. It's the best of both worlds, as our fictional author, Karen Eiffel (Emma Thompson), reads us her novel about Mr. suit-and-tie, to-the-minute, dull-as-cardboard Crick (Will Ferrell). It's an omniscient, omniscient novel in film form.

In Stranger than Fiction, we follow Harold Crick toward his "imminent" death while his creator contemplates his fate. However, as she writes, her words begin to narrate Harold's life. While Karen searches for inspiration in sickly hospitals, in a thunderstorm at the roadside and at edges of buildings with her assistant Penny (Queen Latifah), Harold rules out that he's insane and begins to seek advice from English professor Jules Hilbert (Dustin Hoffman). He's also busy keeping up with his "life" as a IRS agent auditing local baker Ana Pascal (Maggie Gyllenhaal).

Only because we most recognize him as Ron Burgundy or Ricky Bobby, it's surprising to see Ferrell fit right into this dramedic role. He's the most boring man in the world who is about to die. He's so real yet so fabricated. No one really (hopefully) lives their life to the second on their wristwatch, yet when Harold realizes that his impending death is real and his eyes well up, I just want to hug him.

The struggle between reality and fiction is a main theme in the film. Is Harold actually real? If he isn't, are the people he meets real? Is his world real? Is Karen's world real? The film really plays off this in subtleties, like the clouds on a mural moving when Harold speak about his feelings of Ana or the way Harold's wristwatch seems to possess a mind of its own.

Hoffman also makes us believe in his weirdly yucky character (yes, I said yucky) who works at the pool, passing through showers of bare-naked butts daily, wearing brown on brown at work and snacking on plain yogurt. It's just kind of icky. But I know it, that man is out there somewhere teaching English.

He's also really funny, with some of the best lines in the film done with a strictly-business face, like when he questions Harold about his life, ruling out novels he might be in, asking if he's king of the lanes or king of the trolls or if he finds himself "inclined to solve murder mysteries in large luxurious homes to which [he], let me finish, to which [he] may or may not have been invited?"

The whole film is littered with hilarious, plainly-stated jokes, like when Karen chimes in mid-convo, "Why was Harold talking to this man? This man was an idiot; this man used words like 'wibbly-wobbly' and 'convo,' and explained that trees were trees. Of course trees were trees; Harold knew that trees were trees." There are some truly brilliant lines in this film.

But the most beautiful part of this film is its storytelling. It's so layered, complex and significant. There are worlds within worlds, lives within lives, reality meshing with fiction and great dialogue. Characters are detailed with annoying habits and a lot is unpredictable. Watching this film actually leaves the feeling of fulfillment of completing a poetically-written novel, one that you'll want to savour again and again.