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Veronica (Ryder) is something of a reluctant accomplice to the Heathers who half heartedly attempts to fit in with them, though it's obvious she would rather mingle with the rank and file. How she got mixed up with this cadre of backstabbing shrews is never explained, but these characters and their relationships are clearly meant to be symbolic. Though veronica assists the Heathers in working over their classmates, guilt compels her to try and change her three friends for the better, without success. Eventually she begins to feel trapped, longing for a way to bring down the Heathers and return her life to normal without losing face in the process. Ryder outshines much of the cast and lends surprising emotional depth to a character that doesn't stand out in the original script.

Jason Dean (Slater) is a newcomer to the school; a disaffected outsider whose disdain for elitism initially attracts Veronica and ignites a torrid affair between them. Together they devise a plan to take back control of the school, but Dean's ultimate solution proves to be far worse than the problem. It quickly spirals out of control and divides the couple, setting up one of the most simultaneously hilarious and disturbing climaxes in film history. Slater's grating and shameless faux Jack Nicholson impersonation is almost head splitting at times, and is my only true complaint about this film. But the character he creates is a cocksure rebel from Hell - full of seething resentment and violent anger - and it's hard to deny that he does hit all the right notes at all the right times.

Of course, no discussion of Heathers would be complete without mentioning the late Kim Walker. Her spirited portrayal of foul mouthed, sociopathic drama queen Heather Chandler almost walks away with the first third of the film. As leader of the Heathers, she's easily the most colorful member of the cast and her screen time turns out to be unexpectedly short. You will most likely cheer her departure but if you're still watching by then, you're sure to be quoting her most memorable lines of dialogue for the rest of the day.

Heathers is an ambitious, audacious film that covers a lot of ground, but I can't say that it's flawless in its execution. Even ardent fans often have difficulty identifying the main themes, and for every person attracted to the film's offbeat humor, you'll find many more who are mystified by it. One thing is certain - when Heathers was released, not everyone was amused. Grim, ironic comedies peppered with sex, violence and sea salt dialogue were not as common in 1989 as they are today. In fact, I'd place the general level of coarseness here at roughly the Quentin Tarantino level. The violence itself is not particularly graphic, but some may find its context unsettling.

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