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Under her name in the yearbook you’ll also find that she likes to quote Thoreau and has a brassy, cutting voice. Oh also - she had a lurid affair with one of her teachers, who by coincidence happens to be Mr. McAllister’s best friend. Needless to say, “Mr. M” looks upon Tracy Flick very darkly. In fact, when it becomes apparent that Flick will run unopposed for class president, “Mr. M”’s dislike for her begins to affect his judgment. “Mr. M” decides to coerce Paul (Chris Klein), the quarterback of the football team, to run against her. “Mr. M” hits on his wife’s best friend.

“Mr. M” starts to come unravelled.

But Tracy Flick is the kind of person who can do that to you. Maybe it’s the way she sounds like she’s reading off a teleprompter, even in casual conversation. Maybe it’s because she vaguely seems like the kind of person who might actually know how to get their hands on a large quantity of arsenic, and put it in your coffee one morning. Clearly, Tracy is a sexually aggressive, borderline sociopath. But McAllister’s unhealthy fixation on her begins to make him look like just another petty teenager - particularly when it has an unforeseen impact on the election.

There’s nothing sadder than a teacher who can’t separate from the student body.

That’s not just good DVD copy, it’s also just good sense. And by the way, when I say that Election is a “dark comedy,” I need you to understand that I mean that sincerely. If you’re uncomfortable with frank depictions of teenage sexuality, then this film might not be for you. I say that only because this IS a movie about an election, and I DO live in a swing state. Payne keeps things from going TOO dark by keeping his camera nimble, and using humorous visual cues.

Broderick is not only wonderful here, but may intentionally be trying to bring to mind a Ferris Bueller worst case scenario. This is both sobering, and surely itself worth some kind of award. Witherspoon’s “faintly off putting with a dusting of mental instability” take on Flick remains one of her finest performances.

In these turbulent times, I'd recommend revisiting Election. Orr, if you've never seen it before, don't let current events dissuade you. You can do worse than to be reminded that there is humor even in the darkest of processes. And if current events are any indication, we could all use another coat of paint on the difference between Ethics and Morals.

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