Election, a black comedy film directed by Alexander Payne, dives deep into the chaotic world of a student council election, set in the halls of Carver High School. What begins as a trivial race to the top soon spirals into a battle of wits, manipulation, and personal vendettas. The film’s brilliance lies in its complex character dynamics, with messy red strings connecting each player’s motives and actions, creating one of the most intriguing and darkly comedic storylines of its time. Election has not only stood the test of time but has left a lasting imprint due to its deeply flawed and unforgettable characters, making it a classic in the genre and a must-watch for every generation.
The characters in Election are one-of-a-kind, with enough shortcomings to knock you into outer space. They repeat their mistakes. They act without thinking. They are calculating and hotheaded, and they suffer dearly for it. Although this is true for all of the characters, it is especially true for Jim McAllister (Matthew Broderick)—a laid-back, well-liked social studies teacher who serves as an unreliable narrator, slowly revealing the truth as the film progresses. Then there’s Tracy Flick (Reese Witherspoon), an overachieving student whose annoying smart mouth and know-it-all attitude make her stand out like a sore thumb. Normally, she is calm and confident, Tracy knows she is the best by a long shot.
Jim first crosses paths with Tracy when he rounds a corner to see her sitting at a booth behind a pine green sign with obnoxiously bold black letters reading, “TRACY FLICK FOR PRESIDENT! SIGN UP FOR TOMORROW TODAY!” There is a palpable tension between them, rooted in the film’s central conflict. A flashback reveals that Jim’s best friend, fellow Carver High teacher Dave Novotny (Mark Harelik), was fired for his immoral decision to engage in a sexual relationship with Tracy. As Dave breaks down his expression twists pitifully as he sniffles and protests, “We’re in love!” Jim watches, unsettled. After their brief interaction, Tracy’s fervent presence leaves an unerasable imprint in Jim’s mind. He lies awake at night next to his wife, thinking obsessively about Tracy and trembling as her voice echoes in his mind. He’s afraid that Tracy will ‘manipulate’ him as she did to Dave, and her power will only grow when she becomes the student council president. Though he despises her and her impervious actions, he can’t ignore his intrigue.
In order to keep a safe distance and avoid Tracy at all costs, Jim enlists the help of Paul Metzler (Chris Klein), a beloved dimwit jock, to run against Tracy in the election. This infuriates Tracy. Her mask of confidence begins to slip as she’s pitted against the most popular guy in school. In an act of blind rage, she tears down all of Paul’s campaign posters. Tammy Metzler (Jessica Campbell), Paul’s sister, complicates things further by joining the race, seeking revenge on her brother for stealing her girlfriend. As the stakes rise, the three candidates become increasingly entangled. The rest of the film unfolds chronologically, with the plot intensifying and the characters evolving in fascinating ways, particularly in their development and depth.
The main character is also the most nuanced—Jim McAllister is both easy to love and hard to root for. He is extremely conflicted, especially with Tracy—cautious around her in the beginning, yet foolishly falls for Linda Novotny (Delaney Driscoll). While he cuts other students some slack in school, he holds Tracy to a higher standard. Despite his rigid morals and comfortable life, Jim impulsively decides to blow it all in the final third of the film. He ends up succumbing to his fatal flaw: impulsiveness, but somehow, it doesn’t ruin his life.
Paul, on the other hand, is scatterbrained and self-centered, viewing the world through a mirror and rose-tinted glasses. He is an underthinker who sees failure as a speck of dust to shrug off. While Paul walks the halls with an arrogant lack of self-awareness, his sister Tammy is the polar opposite. Paul plays the ‘hero’ who doesn’t care enough to succeed, embodying blissful ignorance. Meanwhile, Tammy is the anti-hero and underdog, navigating her challenges with boundless determination. She ultimately comes out victorious (or the closest to it, at least). Their contrasting personalities help emphasize the film’s message of success and failure.
What all the characters have in common is that no matter how they change throughout the film, they revert to who they were in the very beginning. As I mentioned earlier, their fatal flaws do not destroy them. They wind up narrowly recovering and resorting to the same path they previously walked. This is what makes them so interesting—Jim goes back to teaching others, this time as a museum tour guide as if the mishap never happened. Tracy enters a likely romantic relationship with a much older man, remaining bright and starry-eyed. Paul stays the popular dimwit and gets elected both homecoming and prom king. Tammy repeats her same ‘falling in love’ sequence with Jennifer (Kaitlin Ferrell), making lovey-dovey eyes with her on the swing, the whole world slowing down around them. In the end, everything is forgotten, and the characters get on with their lives.
All in all, Election is a must-watch, character-driven film. Although it is light-hearted, it has satirical elements poking fun at real-world issues, namely the ongoing election. Every character serves a definite purpose, each possessing a distinct voice and engrossing personality. The film utilizes many different elements, most often irony, to draw the audience in. I was caught hook, line, and sinker, unable to tear my eyes away from the screen.
