Not Another Teen Movie (2001) | Review #1

Starring: Chris Evans, Chyler Leigh, Mia Kirshner, Jaime Pressly, Cody McMains, Lacey Chabert
Director: Joel Gallen

Rating: R

Studio: Columbia

Review Posted: 12.16.01

Spoilers: Minor

Rating: 3/4

By Craig Younkin.

There is an old saying about spoof comedy. When it's bad, you can list a hundred things wrong with it, but when it's good, all you can really say is that it's hysterical. That is exactly how I felt when coming out of "Not Another Teen Movie", a film that boasts some of the funniest spoof comedy since "Hot Shots" and "Naked Gun".

The film pokes fun at those bottom of the barrel films that we've seen this year, and in past years, but also gives those fans of 80's teen movies a chance to laugh at their favorite scenes as well. Everything from John Hughes to "American Pie" is covered here, and luckily first time director Joe Gallen and his five screenwriters manage to come up with enough to entertain.

The story itself is a combination of "She's All That", "Cruel Intentions", and "Ten Things I Hate About You". It's set in John Hughes High School (sort of a corny touch), where the most popular jock in school, Jake (Chris Evans), has been dumped by his bitchy cheerleader girlfriend Priscilla (Jamie Pressley).

Following the format, Jake then convinces his friends that he can turn any geek into a prom queen. The target becomes Janey Briggs (Chyler Briggs), a rebellious teen girl who lives on the other side of the tracks with her alcoholic father (Randy Quaid) and horny brother (Cody McMains).

In an effort to woo her affections, Jake is forced to turn to his devious and creepy sister Katherine (Mia Kirshner) for help. She agrees, but there is a catch. If Jake wins, he must keep his promise and have sex with Katherine.

Another character worth mentioning is Areola, a foreign exchange student who talks English with English subtitles, and is a practicing nudist.

"Not Another Teen Movie" is a likable, raunchy, disgusting, and profane spoof that does for teen movies what not even most teen movies could do for teen movies. The film throws in one well-timed sight gag after another, including a very funny opening vibrator scene, and doesn't skip out on senseless nudity and needless vulgarity. I also have to admire the director and screenwriters for putting in a funny, clever and instantly lovable song and dance number setting up the climax at the prom.

There is also a fine list of acting newcomers here, especially Chyler Leigh and Chris Evans, who make up a funny and quirky romance. Mia Kirshner and Jamie Pressley also excel at playing girls at their meanest, while Eric Christian Olsen is perfectly smarmy as Jake's "pretty boy" best friend. The characters are played as ridiculous stretches, but that doesn't kill their obvious charms.

I figured I would have a huge list of problems associated with this movie, but surprisingly I could only think of one. The script sometimes makes the mistake of explaining the joke rather than acting upon it. This makes the movie look cheap and desperate at certain points, but those are barely enough to sidetrack us from the film's humor. "Not Another Teen Movie" knows how to cut loose and have fun with it's subject matter, and you'll have a blast watching it do so.

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