Election

(Paramount)

Alexander Payne's teen comedy for adults finds friendless overachiever Tracy Flick (Reese Witherspoon) running unopposed for school president until civics teacher Jim McAllister (Matthew Broderick) decides to derail her political career by recruiting Paul Metzler (Chris Klein), the popular, sweet, dim quarterback, to run against her. Paul's sister, Tammy (Jessica Campbell), a lesbian whose girlfriend dumped her for Paul, is in turn inspired to run against her brother. Election stays with you long after, in ways that are funny and painfully disturbing.