Not Another Teen Movie

Review by By Clint Morris

Spoof Movies are a dime-a-dozen, and it's only occasionally that someone gets it right. The Wayans brothers, of Scary Movie did, but it's all too soon for someone to rediscover that winning edge. Or is it?

Attempting to do for 80's and 90's teen movies what Scary Movie did for teen-slashers, Joel Gallen's Not Another Teen Movie is a far-less inspired outing than one would hope. Its references are deeper than the Atlantic, but its execution leaves a lot to be desired. It must have been a depressing day at the writing headquarters the day this was written, because all the jokes seem either rushed or non-existent.

The plot of such a spoof movie is paper-thin. In this case, there's the high school Jock, the unlikely cubbish girl he hopes to turn into prom queen, the seedy best friend, identifiable token black guy and senior citizen lingering for some French kissing.

Using the blueprint for Miramax's She's all That as it's template, Teen Movie borrows it's particular tale of a boy from the right side of tracks courting the girl from the wrong side of tracks. Of course, to a backdrop of much nudity, gross-out jokes, cameos and movie references.

MTV alumni Joel Gallen knows his teen movies - from the earliest of John Hughes movies to the more recent Freddie Prinze style efforts - but sadly he hasn't the magical wand to work wonders with jokes.

Essentially, the story acts as a shell that holds together a nonstop stream of gross-out gags that run the gamut from toilet humour to incest jokes, with the highlight being a deep and probing kiss - shared by an 80-year-old woman and an 18-year-old sex pot - enhanced by loads of simulated saliva and an added proposal to go down afterwards.

More in-your-face, than laugh-out-loud-funny, Teen Movie gets full points for covering it's bases - Never Been Kissed, Cruel Intentions, American Pie, Pretty in Pink, Bring it On, Varsity Blues et al, but such a recreation is insipid and unfunny.

All too rare-highlights include the impressive recreation of The Breakfast Club, with original star, Paul Gleason, reprising his role as the teacher, and a memorable cameo from a John Hughes alumni warning off the film's token female from the swaggering words of the jock.

While Teen Movie's biggest problem lies in it's script, it's also neglecting the fact that the young viewers most likely purchasing a ticket for this haven't even seen some of the classic John Hughes movies, let alone know who the guy is.

2.5 out of 5

Not Another Teen Movie
Australian release: Commences Thursday 21st March across Australia
Cast: Chyler Leigh, Chris Evans, Jaime Pressly, Mia Kirshner, Eric Christian Olson, Deon Richmond, Mr T, Paul Gleason.
Director: Joel Gallen.
Website: Click here

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