'Strangers with Candy' review
Amy Sedaris reprises her role in the big-screen adaptation of the cult Comedy Central series
By Noreen Sobczyk
Published: July 23rd, 2006 | 2:23pm
Jerri Blank, the "boozer, loser, and user" whose unfortunate lack of dental work and fondness for questionable sweaters and lovehandle-hugging turtlenecks, is the hero of this film. After all, who wouldn't love an ex-junkie whore returning from prison to attend high school? Unfortunately for Blank, the answer is just about everyone, despite her awkward but earnest attempts to fit in with the cool kid clique.
Her inappropriate sexual advances are as creepy as they are endearing in this full-length send up of '70s after-school specials. Fans of the television series of the same name will see familiar faces, as well as small parts by Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker. Stephen Colbert is hysterical as the born again science teacher Chuck Noblet, whose preferred text book is the bible. Colbert co-wrote the film along with Amy Sedaris and director Paul Dinello, and all three return to play the characters cult fans have come to know and love.
The plot is simple. Blank tries to win the science fair in order to connect with her long comatose father — the only family member with whom she has a stable relationship. (In fact, at dinner she's more likely to try to shiv her brother than pass the peas.) Broderick plays a legendary science fair champ clearly in favor of "jazz hands", brought in by Principal Onyx Blackman as a ringer to win the trophy — much to the dismay of Colbert's Noblet who wants funding for his creationism crusade. This causes heartache and laughable sexual tension between the on-again, off-again couple Noblet and art teacher Geoffrey Jellineck (Dinello.) Blank falls for the school hunk on the opposing science fair team and they try to use it to their advantage. Parody and hilarity ensue with Blank's "offensive" jokes, cutting remarks, and sight gags.
This is a satire, make no mistake, and a successful one. The plot is beside the point really, because everyone is along for the goofy ride and in on the joke — even if they have never seen the television show. The film knows its audience is clever and able to handle taboos and plays to them perfectly. Strangers with Candy pushes the boundaries of modern comedies, and will leave you laughing out loud as often as it leaves you counting the kitsch items and looking at all of the little jokes found in the details. This film was a labor of love for the writers and it shows on-screen all the way through to the closing credits.
Image Courtesy of TH!NKFilm
Issue #28
Comments
Please login to be able to comment on this article.
more