Lacey-Chabert Movie Reviews

Eliza is the youngest of the Thornberry's - family dragged across the world by Mom & Dad to document nature ala Attenborough. Unknown to her parents and bratty older sister Debbie, Eliza can talk to the animals - a gift given her when she laved the life of a mystic shaman. Though no human can learn the secret, Eliza's gift has made her a best friend to animals like the chatty chimp Darwin and a family of Cheetahs. When one of the cheetah cubs is captured by a mysterious high-tech poacher, it's Eliza to the rescue (that is, once she can escape back to Africa from a boarding school to which her cartoonish-ly British grandmother consigns her).

There's not much here that will surprise you (i.e., reward the parents who bring their kids to see this flick), and the story doesn't keep to any single ideas throughout the movie, or at least any longer than it would in a half-hour episode on NickToons. Still, my kids were game, and my 3-and a half year old never asked to leave.

The theme of this movie is revealed on the theatrical posters. "You don't have to have extraordinary powers to do extraordinary things." What an empowering message for children saturated by super-powered heros every day of the week, as well as on the big screen!
The Thornberrys are a weekly cartoon and we'd never seen it, but the previews in the theaters looked so good, we thought we'd try it.
Needless to say, at 62, I and my wife were the oldest people in the theater by far.
We weren't disappointed. There was a lot of business thrown in for the younger set, (Mud, food fights, etc.) but also a lot of funny things which appealed to adults. Especially the sarcastic valley girl older sister, who learns some lessons herself. It's the kind of humor animators have been slipping into kids shows on television to keep the adults in the audience too. The story is good if you are willing to go along with it, after all, it is a cartoon!
As soon as I got home, I emailed my sisters suggesting they might want to take their grandchildren to see it. (If they need an excuse to be seen at a "kids" movie.) I'd say there are a few scenes which may be intense for anyone under five, but everyone above that age should really enjoy it, even "grand-parent aged" people.

This movie is great for kids. My uncle starred as Darwin the monkey. Take it from me, your kids will love this movie. Its full of suprises and fun.

Eliza is the youngest of the Thornberry's - family dragged across the world by Mom & Dad to document nature ala Attenborough. Unknown to her parents and bratty older sister Debbie, Eliza can talk to the animals - a gift given her when she laved the life of a mystic shaman. Though no human can learn the secret, Eliza's gift has made her a best friend to animals like the chatty chimp Darwin and a family of Cheetahs. When one of the cheetah cubs is captured by a mysterious high-tech poacher, it's Eliza to the rescue (that is, once she can escape back to Africa from a boarding school to which her cartoonish-ly British grandmother consigns her).

There's not much here that will surprise you (i.e., reward the parents who bring their kids to see this flick), and the story doesn't keep to any single ideas throughout the movie, or at least any longer than it would in a half-hour episode on NickToons. Still, my kids were game, and my 3-and a half year old never asked to leave.

The theme of this movie is revealed on the theatrical posters. "You don't have to have extraordinary powers to do extraordinary things." What an empowering message for children saturated by super-powered heros every day of the week, as well as on the big screen!
The Thornberrys are a weekly cartoon and we'd never seen it, but the previews in the theaters looked so good, we thought we'd try it.
Needless to say, at 62, I and my wife were the oldest people in the theater by far.
We weren't disappointed. There was a lot of business thrown in for the younger set, (Mud, food fights, etc.) but also a lot of funny things which appealed to adults. Especially the sarcastic valley girl older sister, who learns some lessons herself. It's the kind of humor animators have been slipping into kids shows on television to keep the adults in the audience too. The story is good if you are willing to go along with it, after all, it is a cartoon!
As soon as I got home, I emailed my sisters suggesting they might want to take their grandchildren to see it. (If they need an excuse to be seen at a "kids" movie.) I'd say there are a few scenes which may be intense for anyone under five, but everyone above that age should really enjoy it, even "grand-parent aged" people.

This movie is great for kids. My uncle starred as Darwin the monkey. Take it from me, your kids will love this movie. Its full of suprises and fun.

Not being a fan of the Left Behind series, I was cynical going into this movie, because I heard it was from Jerry B. Jenkins, author of that series. However, I was pleasantly surprised, as the movie wasn't preachy or poorly done like most movies with Christians behind them. This was a very good movie, on any scale. The acting was terrific (if this were a bigger movie, Terry O'Quinn would get an award nomination), Lacey Chabert looked gorgeous (man, has she grown up!), and the music was amazing.

The story wasn't flawless, but by the end, I was swept up in the emotion of this small town and their passion for their football team, and I was really moved. Do yourself a favor and see this movie, whether you like football or not.

I especially recommend getting the DVD, because I saw on the "Legend" website that there's a new Jars of Clay music video that they shot on the set. Can't wait!

I rarely purchase a movie without seeing it first, but I made an exception with "Hometown Legend." I love football movies and Jerry Jenkins novels are so above par, that I had a feeling that this movie would be worth the money. Well, I'm happy I followed my instincts! What a great movie. If you love small town/football movies, you will LOVE this one. When people tell you that it was made for ONLY 2 Million dollars, don't let that keep you from this movie. The cinematography is excellent, the acting is superb and there is absolutely no OVER acting that we so commonly see. Incredible movie! I highly recommend it for the whole family

I'm pretty critical of movies, but this movie definitely ranked as a 5-star movie for me! It's got great moral fiber throughout, has a compelling storyline, great character development, and has a great--but not unrealistic, sugar-coated--ending.

My favorite lines from the movie are when Elvis (the star football player) and the Christian girl who is paired up with him to pray for him are at her house together.

Elvis says, "I'm surprised your dad trusts me to be alone with you."

She responds, "He doesn't. He trusts *me*."

She's a character I hope will inspire my own daughter when she hits her teenage years. I'm definitely buying a copy of this movie.

Not being a fan of the Left Behind series, I was cynical going into this movie, because I heard it was from Jerry B. Jenkins, author of that series. However, I was pleasantly surprised, as the movie wasn't preachy or poorly done like most movies with Christians behind them. This was a very good movie, on any scale. The acting was terrific (if this were a bigger movie, Terry O'Quinn would get an award nomination), Lacey Chabert looked gorgeous (man, has she grown up!), and the music was amazing.

The story wasn't flawless, but by the end, I was swept up in the emotion of this small town and their passion for their football team, and I was really moved. Do yourself a favor and see this movie, whether you like football or not.

I especially recommend getting the DVD, because I saw on the "Legend" website that there's a new Jars of Clay music video that they shot on the set. Can't wait!

I rarely purchase a movie without seeing it first, but I made an exception with "Hometown Legend." I love football movies and Jerry Jenkins novels are so above par, that I had a feeling that this movie would be worth the money. Well, I'm happy I followed my instincts! What a great movie. If you love small town/football movies, you will LOVE this one. When people tell you that it was made for ONLY 2 Million dollars, don't let that keep you from this movie. The cinematography is excellent, the acting is superb and there is absolutely no OVER acting that we so commonly see. Incredible movie! I highly recommend it for the whole family

I'm pretty critical of movies, but this movie definitely ranked as a 5-star movie for me! It's got great moral fiber throughout, has a compelling storyline, great character development, and has a great--but not unrealistic, sugar-coated--ending.

My favorite lines from the movie are when Elvis (the star football player) and the Christian girl who is paired up with him to pray for him are at her house together.

Elvis says, "I'm surprised your dad trusts me to be alone with you."

She responds, "He doesn't. He trusts *me*."

She's a character I hope will inspire my own daughter when she hits her teenage years. I'm definitely buying a copy of this movie.

This made-for-TV version of the classic Broadway show GYPSY is remarkable. It sticks primarily to what to see if you were in a theatre. The show is essentially what you would see if you were on Broadway.

Bette Midler is dynamite as Mama Rose, the ultimate stage mother. She reportedly recorded most of her songs live, without the pre-recorded vocal track. The role had been a dream of Midler's for years. She makes an indelible impression in the role.

Cynthia Gibb (THE KAREN CARPENTER STORY) plays Louise, who would blossom into the burlesque stripper Gypsy Rose Lee. She has a pleasant singing voice and charming acting style. She has been highly acclaimed for her performance here.

Peter Riegert plays Herbie, Rose's love interest. In a very under-developed and not very well-written role, Riegert tries his best. He also sings wonderfully.

In supporting roles are Jennifer Beck as June, Christine Ebersole as Tessie Tura, Anna McNeely as Elektra, Linda Hart as Mazeppa, and Jeffrey Broadhurst as Tulsa.

A glittering, lavish, explosive production that can be revisited again and again.

Finally, a film version that does this classic show justice. It keeps the original book intact, along with Jerome Robbin's expert choreography, adds some smart dierection and a tour-de-force performance by Midler. Though Midler may look a little too young to play Mama Rose, she pulls off the part remarkably well. You can see her determination to make her daughters succeed and deep sadness at her own failures in songs like "Some People," "Everything's Comming Up Roses," and "Mama's Turn." The movies fine script really gives Bette something to work with in term of character development and she succeeds. The supporting cast is strong enough to stand up against Bette, which is saying a lot. The actress playing the title character really evolves throughought the show from a meek tom-boy to a successful stripper. She handles not only both ends of the spectrum, but everything in between as well. The music, of course, is wonderful, and it's giving good showing in this production. _Gypsy_ is a wonderful show, and its a good thing someone came along to preserve it the way it should be done.

THIS MOVIE IS EXCELLENT! PLEASE SEE IT, ESPECIALLY ON BROADWAY NOW, WITH BERNADETTE PETERS. I LOVE THE MUSIC, AND THE STORY, AND ESPECIALLY STEPHEN SONDHEIM, THIS IS A MASTERPIECE, IT MAKES YOU CRY.

The Lion King II: Simba's Pride is by far one of the best, if not the best, Disney sequel produced to date. It has sold more copies than any other Disney sequel, and for good reason -- it is a worthy successor to the throne.

The animation is high quality, especially for a direct-to-video sequel. Instead of using hand-drawn characters and computers to color the images, TLK2 was done in traditional cel animation, unlike the original Lion King. This makes the movie even more classic, and easily appreciated not only for its wonderful story, but the artwork involved in creating it.

The story is stunning and picks up basically where TLK left off. Simba and Nala's daughter, Kiara, is being raised to become the future queen. In the meantime, she encounters a cub from a tribe of outsiders named Kovu, and they immediatly become friends. However, both of their families stand in the way of their friendship continuing, and they never see each other again until they are adults - and that's where things really get interesting! Zira, the leader of the outsiders and Scar's mate, is trying to kill Simba, and Kovu figures into the plan. In the end, both tribes clash in all out war. You'll just have to watch to see how the story ends.

Definitely a worthy sequel to the first, get a copy if you can.

I'm not one for Disney sequels but this one is awesome! The Lion King has to be one of my favorite moives of all time. When I heard of this film for the first time I couldn't wait to see it and when I did I loved. The music in it is as good as the music from the first movie. It dosen't bet the first film but is certainly a awesome movie to watch anytime. It is a movie that both children and adults can enjoy watching together and get a good message from.

This movie is a pride to all. The graphics good, and the plot is very good. But if you buy the first Lion King on DVD, buy the second Lion King on DVD, too. I don't own the DVD, but I'm sure it has a lot of good special features.

I would never have expected, even with family sequels so prevalent nowadays, that anyone would think of making a movie to track the life of Rasputin's tiny sidekick in Anastasia. I guess I'm not alone in what character traits appeal to me, however. Interestingly enough, some days before I saw Anastasia I woke from a dream in which the villain and sidekick from Disney's Aladdin, Jafar and the parrot Iago, were floating on an abandoned raft during a nighttime lightning storm and lamenting their mistakes together. It seemed foolish when I woke, because those characters were nothing like what my dream made them to be... but when I saw Anastasia, I was amazed at how well Rasputin and Bartok fit the bill. I didn't think anyone else would be so charmed at how the helpful bat-like creature offered sensible advice to his evil liege even while dragging back his fallen-off body parts and displaying a general sort of affection. What a great little guy, I thought, and what a pity he's fallen into such bad company. It was heartwarming to see him turn to the aid of good at the end. All that is why Bartok the Magnificent charmed me so much. It's certainly not a sequel to Anastasia, and I'm sorry the previous reviewer was expecting it to be. It's a spin-off, rather, for anyone curious whether that little whitebat managed to make anything of his life after abandoning his master. What fun to see that he's pursued the life of street showman, which seems oddly appropriate. This movie is casual and makes little effort to establish a setting, which groups it with other sequels/spin-offs and is why I give it only four stars, not five. Chronologically, the characters shown on the Russian throne make no sense and beg the question of what happened to Princess Anastasia. Yet, when we view this Moscow as something of an unreliable fairytale land (and the movie does follow certain tenets of fairy-tales), it seems quite believable. Bartok is obviously the hero of his movie, and he lives up to the role well. He is immodest, an unusual trait among genuine heroes, but it works on him. Of especial note is the fact that while his integrity is questioned at times, hardly anyone ever points out that Bartok is quite small--so how could he make anything of himself? Naturally, this issue itself has been explored time and again in children's movies and books, and is properly treated as a sidenote here. For his part, Bartok is all the more inspiring by how he resourcefully makes use of the physique he has. He is never shown doing anything unrealistic for his size or strength, and neither is there much of the inordinate luck small characters in movies like this often have in besting those larger than them. In my opinion, that implicit honesty makes this movie a real treasure. Bartok is more than just an amusing voice and more than just another unlikely hero--he is an inspiration for those who must confront tasks they know appear far beyond their means to carry out. The tools at hand are determination, perseverance, and ingenuity, all of which are put fully to the test in Bartok the Magnificent, and all of which succeed.

My very favorite Don Bluth film in all the world, and one of my favorite movies of all time, is "All Dogs Go To Heaven". However, I have absolutely no use for the sequel, All Dogs 2. When I sat down to watch "Bartok the Magnificent", I expected the same effect. And was pleasantly surprised! This movie, if not handled in a very careful way, had the potential to be ridiculous. The plot was decent, but not original enough to loosely stand on its own. However, a few twists and turns on the conventional storyline kept this movie interesting. My congratulations to the screenplay writer, who managed to tell a story entertaining for kids but could keep adults interested as well. And KUDOS to Hank Azaria and Kelsy Grammer! They handled their roles with excellence; I wouldn't have enjoyed this movie at all if not for the humor they displayed in their roles. It was a wonderful change from the usual, heart-rending dramatic moments that are displayed in many cartoons and movies. This was simply light and easy, keeping all entertained and laughing. Every actor and actress was having fun with their roles, and it showed. Great, great job. What else can I say? Don Bluth, great job on an excellent family movie!

Get this movie for kids and adults. It's very funny and charming. The animation has the quality of a feature, not a direct-to-video. The cast is first rate: Hank Azaria, Kelsey Grammer, Andrea Martin, Catherine O'Hara.

Teen movies get slammed in the genre spoof "Not Another Teen Movie". The popular high school jock (Chris Evans) makes a bet with his pals to turn the school's social outcast (Chyler Leigh) into a prom queen. If the story sounds familiar to "She's All That", then you are definately right. The movie targets a wide range of teen romances and comedies including "She's All That", "American Pie", "Varsity Blues" and "Bring It On". The movie contains outrageous gags and crude humor, and the cast seemed to have fun while making the film. The story is painfully predictable and many jokes often fall flat. The movie features some amusing cameos by Molly Ringwald (Pretty In Pink) and Mr. T.

Despite the movie's low points, Columbia has assembled a surprising special edition DVD. Presented in a widescreen format, the picture quality is remarkable and quite flawless. The Dolby Digital sound is great. The DVD features cast and filmaker's commentaries, behind-the-scenes featurettes, 18 deleted scenes, a music video, trailers and a teen movie quiz. The animated menus are stunning with catching images. Overall, this DVD scores a "C".

Speaking as a long-time fan of teen movies, I was quite impressed by the scope and quality of this motion picture. I don't generally go for gross-out humor, but this film takes a slightly higher road than, say, Scary Movie, actually striving to encapsulate all of the bits and pieces of years of other movies into a coherent plot. Sure, there are a few aspects of real raunchiness included here, with two scenes in particular being pretty disgusting, but the movie never sunk to the level of becoming distasteful to my eyes. I also have to admire the verve with which the filmmakers went about their tasks; if you are going to do a full-fledged parody, I say don't hold back, and Not Another Teen Movie does not hold back at all, especially in terms of the language. This movie is brash and unafraid, and that is a real factor in its success.

I was amazed by the vast number of movies that found themselves ridiculed and incorporated into this film; I was expecting send-ups of teen comedies from the past ten years, but this movie draws heavily from a number of classic 80s films and even snatches a few things from 1970 classics such as Grease. Even a number of films I wouldn't consider teen movies (but which do feature teens) are pulled into this satirical universe - e.g., American Beauty. This could almost be a weakness because today's teens may be unfamiliar with a lot of the parodies involved in this production; having come of age in the 80s, I easily spotted the references to classics such as Pretty in Pink, Sixteen Candles, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, etc., but I wonder how many of today's teens pick up on little things such as the name of the high school (John Hughes High), understand the origins of a character such as Ricky, or see the significance of the prom dress Janey Briggs wears. Of course, the most obvious nod to 80s teen movies comes in the form of Molly Ringwald's unusual cameo appearance and the impressive homage to The Breakfast Club, which I admit left me feeling a little older than I would like to be. I think it is safe to say that those unfamiliar with teen movies of the last twenty years will get little enjoyment out of Not Another Teen Movie; you have to know the source of the parodies in order to really "get" them, and the mere task of trying to count the number of different movie reference can be a source of amusement in and of itself.

The DVD comes loaded with extras. If you have only a limited knowledge of teen movies, you may want to start by taking the Teen Movie I.Q. Quiz; if you score less than 50% on the quiz, you would do well to bone up on your teen movie knowledge before taking the step of actually watching Not Another Teen Movie. The list of additional special features, I must say, is legion: commentaries by both filmmakers and cast, 18 deleted scenes including the original ending, three behind-the-scenes featurettes, cast promos, an illuminating yearbook montage featuring the class of John Hughes High, a collection of cast member auditions, movie trailers, Meet the Cast promos, and a track of teen movie factoids. But wait, there's even more. First-time feature film director Joel Gallen's first short film is thrown into the mix, alongside a Behind the Video look at the unrated version of Marilyn Manson's Tainted Love video. If you think the likes of Mia Kirshner, Chyler Leigh, and Jaime Pressly are hot in the movie (and I don't know how you could think otherwise), you really want to see this video.

Not all movies are designed to be timeless classics. Some movies are just designed to make you laugh, think or make you look twice. This is a movie that can make you laugh if you have the right mindset going in. A movie designed for parody or satire is designed to make you laugh. Some people want every movie to be on Golden Pond or Tombstone.

Just like if you attend a concert not caring for the music style being played, you will not enjoy it; so it is with this movie. Sit down, free your mind and just enjoy the gags. There are scenes that are exceptionally funny and some that I was less enthused about, but all in all I simply enjoyed the laughs and even some of the gross humor. You have stereotyped teen movie characters that are absaloute parodies of the genre but easily identified with the movie being parodied. Scenes that are just totally turned on their ear for laughs and moments that are just simply enjoyable. The movie does lose steam at the end but by then, if you enjoy gross parodies, you will be tired from laughing and are ready for the end of the movie.

I say enjoy the show

where do I start with this sucky potstinky, crappy, smelly, awful, spoof of spoofs that really suck. though my favorite person here is the wannabe chinese kid. otherwise it is like, kill me now. how awful could it of gotten, awful. with crude and distasteful jokes that just get to old, this one shouldnt of happened period.

Not all movies are designed to be timeless classics. Some movies are just designed to make you laugh, think or make you look twice. This is a movie that can make you laugh if you have the right mindset going in. A movie designed for parody or satire is designed to make you laugh. Some people want every movie to be on Golden Pond or Tombstone.

Just like if you attend a concert not caring for the music style being played, you will not enjoy it; so it is with this movie. Sit down, free your mind and just enjoy the gags. There are scenes that are exceptionally funny and some that I was less enthused about, but all in all I simply enjoyed the laughs and even some of the gross humor. You have stereotyped teen movie characters that are absaloute parodies of the genre but easily identified with the movie being parodied. Scenes that are just totally turned on their ear for laughs and moments that are just simply enjoyable. The movie does lose steam at the end but by then, if you enjoy gross parodies, you will be tired from laughing and are ready for the end of the movie.

I say enjoy the show

Speaking as a long-time fan of teen movies, I was quite impressed by the scope and quality of this motion picture. I don't generally go for gross-out humor, but this film takes a slightly higher road than, say, Scary Movie, actually striving to encapsulate all of the bits and pieces of years of other movies into a coherent plot. Sure, there are a few aspects of real raunchiness included here, with two scenes in particular being pretty disgusting, but the movie never sunk to the level of becoming distasteful to my eyes. I also have to admire the verve with which the filmmakers went about their tasks; if you are going to do a full-fledged parody, I say don't hold back, and Not Another Teen Movie does not hold back at all, especially in terms of the language. This movie is brash and unafraid, and that is a real factor in its success.

I was amazed by the vast number of movies that found themselves ridiculed and incorporated into this film; I was expecting send-ups of teen comedies from the past ten years, but this movie draws heavily from a number of classic 80s films and even snatches a few things from 1970 classics such as Grease. Even a number of films I wouldn't consider teen movies (but which do feature teens) are pulled into this satirical universe - e.g., American Beauty. This could almost be a weakness because today's teens may be unfamiliar with a lot of the parodies involved in this production; having come of age in the 80s, I easily spotted the references to classics such as Pretty in Pink, Sixteen Candles, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, etc., but I wonder how many of today's teens pick up on little things such as the name of the high school (John Hughes High), understand the origins of a character such as Ricky, or see the significance of the prom dress Janey Briggs wears. Of course, the most obvious nod to 80s teen movies comes in the form of Molly Ringwald's unusual cameo appearance and the impressive homage to The Breakfast Club, which I admit left me feeling a little older than I would like to be. I think it is safe to say that those unfamiliar with teen movies of the last twenty years will get little enjoyment out of Not Another Teen Movie; you have to know the source of the parodies in order to really "get" them, and the mere task of trying to count the number of different movie reference can be a source of amusement in and of itself.

The DVD comes loaded with extras. If you have only a limited knowledge of teen movies, you may want to start by taking the Teen Movie I.Q. Quiz; if you score less than 50% on the quiz, you would do well to bone up on your teen movie knowledge before taking the step of actually watching Not Another Teen Movie. The list of additional special features, I must say, is legion: commentaries by both filmmakers and cast, 18 deleted scenes including the original ending, three behind-the-scenes featurettes, cast promos, an illuminating yearbook montage featuring the class of John Hughes High, a collection of cast member auditions, movie trailers, Meet the Cast promos, and a track of teen movie factoids. But wait, there's even more. First-time feature film director Joel Gallen's first short film is thrown into the mix, alongside a Behind the Video look at the unrated version of Marilyn Manson's Tainted Love video. If you think the likes of Mia Kirshner, Chyler Leigh, and Jaime Pressly are hot in the movie (and I don't know how you could think otherwise), you really want to see this video.

Teen movies get slammed in the genre spoof "Not Another Teen Movie". The popular high school jock (Chris Evans) makes a bet with his pals to turn the school's social outcast (Chyler Leigh) into a prom queen. If the story sounds familiar to "She's All That", then you are definately right. The movie targets a wide range of teen romances and comedies including "She's All That", "American Pie", "Varsity Blues" and "Bring It On". The movie contains outrageous gags and crude humor, and the cast seemed to have fun while making the film. The story is painfully predictable and many jokes often fall flat. The movie features some amusing cameos by Molly Ringwald (Pretty In Pink) and Mr. T.

Despite the movie's low points, Columbia has assembled a surprising special edition DVD. Presented in a widescreen format, the picture quality is remarkable and quite flawless. The Dolby Digital sound is great. The DVD features cast and filmaker's commentaries, behind-the-scenes featurettes, 18 deleted scenes, a music video, trailers and a teen movie quiz. The animated menus are stunning with catching images. Overall, this DVD scores a "C".

Speaking as a long-time fan of teen movies, I was quite impressed by the scope and quality of this motion picture. I don't generally go for gross-out humor, but this film takes a slightly higher road than, say, Scary Movie, actually striving to encapsulate all of the bits and pieces of years of other movies into a coherent plot. Sure, there are a few aspects of real raunchiness included here, with two scenes in particular being pretty disgusting, but the movie never sunk to the level of becoming distasteful to my eyes. I also have to admire the verve with which the filmmakers went about their tasks; if you are going to do a full-fledged parody, I say don't hold back, and Not Another Teen Movie does not hold back at all, especially in terms of the language. This movie is brash and unafraid, and that is a real factor in its success.

I was amazed by the vast number of movies that found themselves ridiculed and incorporated into this film; I was expecting send-ups of teen comedies from the past ten years, but this movie draws heavily from a number of classic 80s films and even snatches a few things from 1970 classics such as Grease. Even a number of films I wouldn't consider teen movies (but which do feature teens) are pulled into this satirical universe - e.g., American Beauty. This could almost be a weakness because today's teens may be unfamiliar with a lot of the parodies involved in this production; having come of age in the 80s, I easily spotted the references to classics such as Pretty in Pink, Sixteen Candles, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, etc., but I wonder how many of today's teens pick up on little things such as the name of the high school (John Hughes High), understand the origins of a character such as Ricky, or see the significance of the prom dress Janey Briggs wears. Of course, the most obvious nod to 80s teen movies comes in the form of Molly Ringwald's unusual cameo appearance and the impressive homage to The Breakfast Club, which I admit left me feeling a little older than I would like to be. I think it is safe to say that those unfamiliar with teen movies of the last twenty years will get little enjoyment out of Not Another Teen Movie; you have to know the source of the parodies in order to really "get" them, and the mere task of trying to count the number of different movie reference can be a source of amusement in and of itself.

The DVD comes loaded with extras. If you have only a limited knowledge of teen movies, you may want to start by taking the Teen Movie I.Q. Quiz; if you score less than 50% on the quiz, you would do well to bone up on your teen movie knowledge before taking the step of actually watching Not Another Teen Movie. The list of additional special features, I must say, is legion: commentaries by both filmmakers and cast, 18 deleted scenes including the original ending, three behind-the-scenes featurettes, cast promos, an illuminating yearbook montage featuring the class of John Hughes High, a collection of cast member auditions, movie trailers, Meet the Cast promos, and a track of teen movie factoids. But wait, there's even more. First-time feature film director Joel Gallen's first short film is thrown into the mix, alongside a Behind the Video look at the unrated version of Marilyn Manson's Tainted Love video. If you think the likes of Mia Kirshner, Chyler Leigh, and Jaime Pressly are hot in the movie (and I don't know how you could think otherwise), you really want to see this video.

Not all movies are designed to be timeless classics. Some movies are just designed to make you laugh, think or make you look twice. This is a movie that can make you laugh if you have the right mindset going in. A movie designed for parody or satire is designed to make you laugh. Some people want every movie to be on Golden Pond or Tombstone.

Just like if you attend a concert not caring for the music style being played, you will not enjoy it; so it is with this movie. Sit down, free your mind and just enjoy the gags. There are scenes that are exceptionally funny and some that I was less enthused about, but all in all I simply enjoyed the laughs and even some of the gross humor. You have stereotyped teen movie characters that are absaloute parodies of the genre but easily identified with the movie being parodied. Scenes that are just totally turned on their ear for laughs and moments that are just simply enjoyable. The movie does lose steam at the end but by then, if you enjoy gross parodies, you will be tired from laughing and are ready for the end of the movie.

I say enjoy the show